Purpose
This document is intended to provide hospitals and healthcare providers with key information about the safe handling and disposal of medical waste generated from the care of persons diagnosed with or suspected of having Ebola virus disease (EVD).
Medical waste generated in the care of patients with known or suspected EVD is subject to procedures set forth by local, state and federal regulations. Basic principles for spills of blood and other potentially infectious materials are outlined in the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Bloodborne Pathogen standard, 29 CFR 1910.1030. See https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/bloodbornepathogens/index.html.
Medical waste contaminated with Ebola virus is a Category A infectious substance regulated as a hazardous material under the U.S. Department of Transportation?s (DOT?s) Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR, Parts 171-180). The HMR apply to any material DOT determines is capable of posing an unreasonable risk to health, safety, and property when transported in commerce1. For off-site commercial transport of Ebola-associated medical waste, strict compliance with the HMR is required. For more information on the HMR requirements see http://phmsa.dot.gov/hazmat/transporting-infectious-substances.
If a person requires a variance to the HMR, that person must apply for a special permit under 49 CFR ? 107.105. DOT may grant a special permit if the applicant can demonstrate that an alternative packaging will achieve a safety level that is (1) at least equal to the safety level required under the HMR, or (2) consistent with the public interest if a required safety level does not exist. See http://www.phmsa.dot.gov/hazmat/permits-approvals/special-permits.
The HMR contains federal requirements for transporting hazardous materials in commerce. For Ebola-associated medical waste transported by local, state or federal officials, contact DOT?s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA). See http://www.phmsa.dot.gov/.
Ebola-associated medical waste inactivated (e.g., autoclaved) or incinerated may be transported as regulated medical waste. Ebola-associated medical waste inactivated or incinerated is no longer considered a Category A infectious substance.
The inactivation or incineration of Ebola-associated medical waste within a hospital system may be subject to state, local and OSHA regulations.
Onsite inactivation
Ebola-associated medical waste can be inactivated through the use of appropriate autoclaves. Other methods of inactivation (e.g., chemical inactivation) have not been standardized and would need to consider worker safety issues, as well as the potential for triggering other federal safety regulations.
Onsite incineration
Ebola-associated medical waste can be incinerated. The products of incineration can be transported and disposed of in accordance with standard protocols for hospital waste disposal.
Ebola-associated waste disposal is subject to state and local regulations. Ebola-associated waste that has been appropriately inactivated or incinerated is no longer infectious. See http://www.epa.gov/waste/nonhaz/industrial/medical/programs.htm.
Relevant CDC guidance is available at:
http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/hcp/environmental-infection-control-in-hospitals.html
http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/hcp/in...t-patients-known-suspected-united-states.html
http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/hcp/in...ssion-patients-suspected-infection-ebola.html
For questions on CDC guidance, please contact 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636).
Relevant DOT guidance is available at http://www.phmsa.dot.gov/.
For questions on DOT guidance or the HMR requirements, please contact DOT?s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration?s (PHMSA?s) Hazardous Materials Information Center at 1-800-467-4922, 9:00 am-5:00 pm Eastern Standard Time.
Relevant OSHA guidance is available at https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/ebola/index.html.
http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/hcp/medical-waste-management.html
This document is intended to provide hospitals and healthcare providers with key information about the safe handling and disposal of medical waste generated from the care of persons diagnosed with or suspected of having Ebola virus disease (EVD).
Medical waste generated in the care of patients with known or suspected EVD is subject to procedures set forth by local, state and federal regulations. Basic principles for spills of blood and other potentially infectious materials are outlined in the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Bloodborne Pathogen standard, 29 CFR 1910.1030. See https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/bloodbornepathogens/index.html.
Medical waste contaminated with Ebola virus is a Category A infectious substance regulated as a hazardous material under the U.S. Department of Transportation?s (DOT?s) Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR, Parts 171-180). The HMR apply to any material DOT determines is capable of posing an unreasonable risk to health, safety, and property when transported in commerce1. For off-site commercial transport of Ebola-associated medical waste, strict compliance with the HMR is required. For more information on the HMR requirements see http://phmsa.dot.gov/hazmat/transporting-infectious-substances.
If a person requires a variance to the HMR, that person must apply for a special permit under 49 CFR ? 107.105. DOT may grant a special permit if the applicant can demonstrate that an alternative packaging will achieve a safety level that is (1) at least equal to the safety level required under the HMR, or (2) consistent with the public interest if a required safety level does not exist. See http://www.phmsa.dot.gov/hazmat/permits-approvals/special-permits.
The HMR contains federal requirements for transporting hazardous materials in commerce. For Ebola-associated medical waste transported by local, state or federal officials, contact DOT?s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA). See http://www.phmsa.dot.gov/.
Ebola-associated medical waste inactivated (e.g., autoclaved) or incinerated may be transported as regulated medical waste. Ebola-associated medical waste inactivated or incinerated is no longer considered a Category A infectious substance.
The inactivation or incineration of Ebola-associated medical waste within a hospital system may be subject to state, local and OSHA regulations.
Onsite inactivation
Ebola-associated medical waste can be inactivated through the use of appropriate autoclaves. Other methods of inactivation (e.g., chemical inactivation) have not been standardized and would need to consider worker safety issues, as well as the potential for triggering other federal safety regulations.
Onsite incineration
Ebola-associated medical waste can be incinerated. The products of incineration can be transported and disposed of in accordance with standard protocols for hospital waste disposal.
Ebola-associated waste disposal is subject to state and local regulations. Ebola-associated waste that has been appropriately inactivated or incinerated is no longer infectious. See http://www.epa.gov/waste/nonhaz/industrial/medical/programs.htm.
Relevant CDC guidance is available at:
http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/hcp/environmental-infection-control-in-hospitals.html
http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/hcp/in...t-patients-known-suspected-united-states.html
http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/hcp/in...ssion-patients-suspected-infection-ebola.html
For questions on CDC guidance, please contact 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636).
Relevant DOT guidance is available at http://www.phmsa.dot.gov/.
For questions on DOT guidance or the HMR requirements, please contact DOT?s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration?s (PHMSA?s) Hazardous Materials Information Center at 1-800-467-4922, 9:00 am-5:00 pm Eastern Standard Time.
Relevant OSHA guidance is available at https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/ebola/index.html.
http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/hcp/medical-waste-management.html