LABORATORY SAFETY MANUAL

Site Map of Manual

Lab Safety Manual
1st Page

Chapter 1
Emergency Response

Chapter 2
General Safety

Chapter 3
Chemical Hygiene Plan

Chapter 4
Radiological Safety

Chapter 5
Biological Hygiene Plan

Chapter 6
Laser Safety

Chapter 7
Administrative Concerns

Chapter 8
Standard & Special Operating Procedures

Chapter 9
Facility Data

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Appendicies

Bibliography

Glossary

Index

On-Campus Contact Information

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1st Rule of Lab Safety

Haz-Waste No-No

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Updated December 1999

General Safety
Section 2.7 - Treated Biomedical Waste

The following procedure for handling Treated Biomedical Wastes generated in campus labs was developed from Oklahoma Administrative Code (OAC) 252:500, "Solid Waste Management Regulations," section 252:500-15-2. Definitions: The following words and terms, when used in this subchapter, shall have the following meaning, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Treated biomedical wastes" means any biomedical waste that has been treated by one of the following methods and rendered harmless and biologically inert:

1. Incineration in an approved incinerator;
2. Steam sterilization at sufficient temperature and for sufficient time to destroy infectious agents in waste;
3. Chemical disinfection where contact time, concentration and quantity of the chemical disinfectant are sufficient to destroy infectious agents in waste;
4. Any other treatment methods approved by the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality and generally recognized as effective. Note that incineration in an approved incinerator is the preferred method of treatment. The only acceptable treatment for antineoplastics and cytotoxic drugs is incineration in a specially designed on-site incinerator approved by the Department for that purpose, a commercial biomedical waste processing facility, or a facility permitted to dispose of waste.

(Using the above definitions and guidelines, and further referencing OAC 252:500-15-3, section (d) Treated Biomedical Waste.) Biomedical waste that has been treated as described in 252:500-15-2 and packaged such that it is clearly evident that the waste has been effectively treated is not subject to regulation as biomedical waste and may be collected, transported and disposed of as municipal solid waste.

Using these definitions, OSU's Bloodborne Pathogen Exposure Control Program, and the associated Bloodborne Pathogens training module to establish proper decontamination and sterilization procedures, the following protocol shall be implemented by OSU campus labs:

Material generated at OSU facilities that meets OAC definitions of "Treated Biomedical Waste" SHALL be disposed of as municipal solid waste ONLY after it has met the conditions of OAC 252:500-15-2. In addition to the above requirements, the following label shall be affixed to two sides of the "Red Bag"...

After affixing the above label, the waste should be double-bagged in dark (opaque) trash bags and may be placed in a solid-waste container.