Page 59 - Compendium Chapters for Course 1 (IC, DPA, OSHA)

Sharps Waste
Disposable sharps should be placed in a proper sharps container. A sharps container should be located in each operatory and the sterilization lab per Cal/OSHA requirements. Full sharps containers should be disposed as medical waste; a registered hauler should transfer the sharps waste to a DHS-licensed treatment facility. Proper treatment by a permitted facility consists of either autoclave sterilization or incineration.
Bio-hazardous Waste
Solid 'red-bag' waste must be collected and disposed as regulated medical waste. You must contact a DHS-registered medical waste hauler for transfer to a DHS-licensed offsite treatment facility. Proper treatment by a permitted facility consists of either autoclave sterilization or incineration.
Pharmaceutical waste, either expired or partially-used, must be collected and transferred by a DHS-registered hauler to a DHS-licensed incinerator.
Laboratory/surgical wastes must be collected and transferred by a DHS-registered hauler to a DHS-licensed incinerator.
Universal Wastes
In 2001, the State of California adopted the Universal Waste Rule to regulate the generation, storage and disposal for a special category of wastes. The category of “universal wastes” includes certain hazardous wastes which are commonly generated by businesses. Because they pose a lower risk to people and the environment than other hazardous wastes, “universal wastes” are regulated based on a relaxed set of standards.
The requirements direct small quantity generators, such as dental offices, to ship their waste to a qualified universal waste handler, a universal waste transfer station, a recycling facility, or a hazardous waste disposal facility. The materials may also be accepted at some community hazardous waste collection events. They may not be disposed of in the regular trash.
Managing these wastes is not complicated, but you do need to follow these rules:
• Do not accumulate for longer than one year.
• Document the length of time you began accumulation.
• Label or mark packages to identify the type.
• Never try to treat or alter the wastes in a way which may alter their characteristics.
Intro Page - 59
Introductory Chapter: Dental Practice Act, Infection Control and Cal-OSHA
The California RDAEF: A Compendium for Licensure Success © The Foundation for Allied Dental Education, Inc. 2016 Copyright protected. All rights reserved