Washington Administrative Code
Title 246 - Health, Department of
HEALTH INFORMATION
Chapter 246-500 - Handling of human remains
Section 246-500-020 - Contact with human remains
Universal Citation: WA Admin Code 246-500-020
Current through Register Vol. 24-18, September 15, 2024
(1) Funeral directors, embalmers, medical examiners, coroners, health care providers, and others directly handling or touching human remains must:
(a) Wash hands
and other exposed skin surfaces with soap and water or equivalent immediately
and thoroughly after contact with human remains, blood, or body
fluids;
(b) Use barrier precautions
if a procedure involves potential contact with blood, body fluids, or internal
tissues of the deceased or hazardous chemicals, dust, or other potentially
hazardous material;
(c) Not eat,
drink, or smoke in areas where handling of human remains or body fluids takes
place;
(d) Use reasonable
precautions to prevent spillage of body fluids during transfer and transport of
human remains including, when necessary:
(i)
Containing, wrapping, or pouching with materials appropriate to the condition
of the human remains; and
(ii)
Obtaining approval from the coroner or medical examiner prior to pouching any
human remains under their jurisdiction.
(e) Wash hands immediately after gloves are
removed;
(f) Take precautions to
prevent injuries by needles, scalpels, instruments, chemicals, and equipment
during use, cleaning, and disposal;
(g) Properly disinfect or discard protective
garments and gloves immediately after use;
(h) Properly disinfect all surfaces,
instruments, and equipment after contact with human remains, blood, or body
fluids;
(i) Provide appropriate
means for disposing of body fluids, blood, tissues, and wastes or for retaining
them for final disposition with the body, including:
(i) All autopsy rooms, morgues, preparation
rooms, and other places where human remains are handled must be equipped with
impervious containers with disposable, impervious liners and tightly fitting
closures;
(ii) Body fluids, blood,
tissues, and wastes removed from human remains must be kept with the body or
disposed in accordance with local ordinances and other applicable laws and
rules for infectious waste;
(iii) A
sewage system approved by the local health officer or the department may be
used for the disposal of blood, other body fluids, and effluent; and
(iv) All containers and liners used to
receive solid or fluid materials removed from human remains must be cleaned and
disinfected immediately after use, interred with the body, or disposed in
accordance with local ordinances and other applicable laws and rules for
infectious waste.
(2) Persons responsible for transfer or transport of human remains shall clean and disinfect equipment and the vehicle if soiled with body fluids or any other portion of human remains.
Statutory Authority: RCW 43.20.050 and 18.39.215. 06-17-182, § 246-500-020, filed 8/23/06, effective 9/23/06.
Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Washington may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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