Section 118280 Of Chapter 9. Containment And Storage From California Health And Safety Code >> Division 104. >> Part 14. >> Chapter 9.
118280
. To containerize biohazard bags, a person shall do all of
the following:
(a) The bags shall be tied to prevent leakage or expulsion of
contents during all future storage and handling. When containers are
prepared for transport offsite from the facility, they shall be
prepared in compliance with United States Department of
Transportation requirements.
(b) (1) Medical waste may be placed into a biohazard bag not to
exceed three pounds or one gallon and tied, as required in
subdivision (a), in a patient room and shall be immediately
transported upon completion of the procedure directly from the point
of generation and placed into a biohazard container stored in a
soiled utility room or other biohazardous waste storage area without
having first been placed into a secondary container in the patient
room.
(2) Medical waste may be placed into a biohazard bag hung on a
hamper stand in a surgery suite and the bag removed from the hamper
stand after completion of the procedure, taken out of the surgery
suite, and placed into a biohazard container stored in a soiled
utility room or other biohazard waste storage area.
(c) Biohazardous waste, except as provided in subdivision (b),
shall be bagged in accordance with subdivision (b) of Section 118275
and placed for storage, handling, or transport in a rigid container
that may be disposable, reusable, or recyclable. Containers shall be
leak resistant, have tight-fitting covers, and be kept clean and in
good repair. Containers may be recycled with the approval of the
enforcement agency. Containers may be of any color and shall be
labeled with the words "Biohazardous Waste" or with the international
biohazard symbol and the word "BIOHAZARD" on the lid and sides so as
to be visible from any lateral direction. Containers shall comply
with United States Department of Transportation requirements when
prepared for transport offsite from the facility.
(d) Biohazardous waste shall not be removed from the biohazard bag
until treatment as prescribed in Chapter 8 (commencing with Section
118215) is completed, except to eliminate a safety hazard, or by the
enforcement officer in performance of an investigation pursuant to
Section 117820. Biohazardous waste shall not be disposed of before
being treated as prescribed in Chapter 8 (commencing with Section
118215).
(e) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (5), a person generating
biohazardous waste shall comply with the following requirements:
(A) If the person generates 20 or more pounds of biohazardous
waste per month, the person shall not contain or store that waste
above 0 Centigrade (32 Fahrenheit) at an onsite location for more
than seven days without obtaining prior written approval of the
enforcement agency.
(B) If a person generates less than 20 pounds of biohazardous
waste per month, the person shall not contain or store that waste
above 0 Centigrade (32 Fahrenheit) at an onsite location for more
than 30 days.
(2) A person may store biohazardous waste at or below 0 Centigrade
(32 Fahrenheit) at an onsite location for not more than 90 days
without obtaining prior written approval of the enforcement agency.
(3) A person may store biohazardous waste at a permitted transfer
station at or below 0 Centigrade (32 Fahrenheit) for not more than 30
days without obtaining prior written approval of the enforcement
agency.
(4) A person shall not store biohazardous waste above 0 Centigrade
(32 Fahrenheit) at a location or facility that is offsite from the
generator for more than seven days before treatment.
(5) Notwithstanding paragraphs (1) to (4), inclusive, if the odor
from biohazardous or sharps waste stored at a facility poses a
nuisance, the enforcement agency may require more frequent removal.
(f) Waste that meets the definition of pharmaceutical waste in
paragraph (3) of subdivision (b) of Section 117690 shall not be
subject to the limitations on storage time prescribed in subdivision
(e). A person may store that pharmaceutical waste at an onsite
location for not longer than 90 days when the container is ready for
disposal, unless prior written approval from the enforcement agency
is obtained. The container shall be emptied at least once per year,
unless prior written approval from the enforcement agency is
obtained. A person may store that pharmaceutical waste at a permitted
transfer station for not longer than 30 days without obtaining prior
written approval from the enforcement agency. A person shall not
store pharmaceutical waste at a location or facility that is offsite
from the generator for more than 30 days before treatment.
(g) The containment and storage time for wastes consolidated in a
common container pursuant to paragraph (7) of subdivision (a) of
Section 118275 shall not exceed the storage time for any category of
waste set forth in this section.