2010 California Code
Health and Safety Code
Chapter 9. Containment And Storage

HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE
SECTION 118275-118320



118275.  To containerize or store medical waste, a person shall do
all of the following:
   (a) Medical waste shall be contained separately from other waste
at the point of origin in the producing facility. Sharps containers
may be placed in biohazard bags or in containers with biohazard bags.
   (b) Biohazardous waste, except biohazardous waste as defined in
subdivision (g) of Section 117635, shall be placed in a red biohazard
bag conspicuously labeled with the words "Biohazardous Waste" or
with the international biohazard symbol and the word "BIOHAZARD."
   (c) Sharps waste shall be contained in a sharps container pursuant
to Section 118285.
   (d) (1) Biohazardous waste, which meets the conditions of
subdivision (f) of Section 117635 because it is contaminated through
contact with, or having previously contained, chemotherapeutic
agents, shall be segregated for storage, and, when placed in a
secondary container, that container shall be labeled with the words
"Chemotherapy Waste," "CHEMO," or other label approved by the
department on the lid and on the sides, so as to be visible from any
lateral direction, to ensure treatment of the biohazardous waste
pursuant to Section 118222.
   (2) Biohazardous waste, which meets the conditions of subdivision
(f) of Section 117635 because it is comprised of human surgery
specimens or tissues which have been fixed in formaldehyde or other
fixatives, shall be segregated for storage and, when placed in a
secondary container, that container shall be labeled with the words
"Pathology Waste," "PATH," or other label approved by the department
on the lid and on the sides, so as to be visible from any lateral
direction, to ensure treatment of the biohazardous waste pursuant to
Section 118222.
   (e) Sharps waste, which meets the conditions of subdivision (f) of
Section 117635, shall be placed in sharps containers labeled in
accordance with the industry standard with the words "Chemotherapy
Waste," "CHEMO," or other label approved by the department, and
segregated to ensure treatment of the sharps waste pursuant to
Section 118222.
   (f) Biohazardous waste, which are recognizable human anatomical
parts, as specified in Section 118220, shall be segregated for
storage and, when placed in a secondary container for treatment as
pathology waste, that container shall be labeled with the words
"Pathology Waste," "PATH," or other label approved by the department
on the lid and on the sides, so as to be visible from any lateral
direction, to ensure treatment of the biohazardous waste pursuant to
Section 118222.
   (g) Biohazardous waste, which meets the conditions specified in
subdivision (g) of Section 117635, shall be segregated for storage
and, when placed in a container or secondary container, that
container shall be labeled with the words "INCINERATION ONLY" or
other label approved by the department on the lid and on the sides,
so as to be visible from any lateral direction, to ensure treatment
of the biohazardous waste pursuant to Section 118222.
   (h) A person may consolidate into a common container all of the
wastes in this section provided that the consolidated waste is
treated by an extremely high heat technology approved pursuant to
subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section
118215. The container shall be labeled with the biohazardous waste
symbol and the words "HIGH HEAT ONLY" or other label approved by the
department on the lid and on the sides, so as to be visible from any
lateral direction, to ensure treatment of the biohazardous waste
pursuant to this subdivision.


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, handling, or transport.
   (b) Biohazardous waste, except biohazardous waste as defined in
subdivision (g) of Section 117635, 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 on the sides so as to be visible from any
lateral direction. Containers meeting the requirements specified in
Section 66840 of Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations, as
it read on December 31, 1990, may also be used until the replacement
of the containers is necessary or existing stock has been depleted.
   (c) 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).
   (d) (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 biohazardous
or sharps waste above 0 Centigrade (32 Fahrenheit) at any 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 biohazardous
waste above 0 Centigrade (32 Fahrenheit) at any onsite location for
more than 30 days.
   (2) A person may store biohazardous or sharps 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 or sharps 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 or sharps waste above 0
Centigrade (32 Fahrenheit) at any 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.
   (e) Waste that meets the definition of biohazardous waste in
subdivision (g) of Section 117635 shall not be subject to the
limitations on storage time prescribed in subdivision (d). A person
may store that biohazardous 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 or the department
is obtained. The container shall be emptied at least once a year,
unless prior written approval from the enforcement agency or the
department is obtained. A person may store that biohazardous waste at
a permitted transfer station for not longer than 30 days without
obtaining prior written approval from the enforcement agency or the
department. A person shall not store that biohazardous waste at any
location or facility that is offsite from the generator for more than
30 days before treatment.
   (f) The containment and storage time for wastes consolidated in a
common container pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 118275 shall
not exceed the storage time for any category of waste set forth in
this section.



118285.  To containerize sharps waste, a person shall do all of the
following:
   (a) Place all sharps waste into a sharps container.
   (b) Tape closed or tightly lid full sharps containers ready for
disposal to preclude loss of contents.
   (c) Store sharps containers ready for disposal for not more than
thirty days without the written approval of the enforcement agency.
   (d) Label sharps containers with the words "sharps waste" or with
the international biohazard symbol and the word "BIOHAZARD."



118286.  (a) On or after September 1, 2008, no person shall
knowingly place home-generated sharps waste in any of the following
containers:
   (1) Any container used for the collection of solid waste,
recyclable materials, or greenwaste.
   (2) Any container used for the commercial collection of solid
waste or recyclable materials from business establishments.
   (3) Any roll-off container used for the collection of solid waste,
construction, and demolition debris, greenwaste, or other recyclable
materials.
   (b) On or after September 1, 2008, home-generated sharps waste
shall be transported only in a sharps container, or other containers
approved by the enforcement agency, and shall only be managed at any
of the following:
   (1) A household hazardous waste facility pursuant to Section
25218.13.
   (2) A "home-generated sharps consolidation point" as defined in
subdivision (b) of Section 117904.
   (3) A medical waste generator's facility pursuant to Section
118147.
   (4) A facility through the use of a medical waste mail-back
container approved by the department pursuant to subdivision (b) of
Section 118245.



118290.  Any small quantity generator who has properly containerized
the medical waste according to the requirements of this article may
store the waste in a permitted common storage facility.



118295.  A person shall thoroughly wash and decontaminate reusable
rigid containers for medical waste by a method approved by the
enforcement agency each time they are emptied, unless the surfaces of
the containers have been completely protected from contamination by
disposable liners, bags, or other devices removed with the waste.
These containers shall be maintained in a clean and sanitary manner.
Approved methods of decontamination include, but are not limited to,
agitation to remove visible soil combined with one of the following
procedures:
   (a) Exposure to hot water of at least 82 Centigrade (180
Fahrenheit) for a minimum of 15 seconds.
   (b) Exposure to chemical sanitizer by rinsing with, or immersion
in, one of the following for a minimum of three minutes:
   (1) Hypochlorite solution (500 ppm available chlorine).
   (2) Phenolic solution (500 ppm active agent).
   (3) Iodoform solution (100 ppm available iodine).
   (4) Quaternary ammonium solution (400 ppm active agent).



118300.  Any leak or spill of a medical waste by a medical waste
generator, hazardous waste hauler, or treatment facility shall be
decontaminated by procedures adopted by the department.



118305.  A person shall not use reusable pails, drums, dumpsters, or
bins used for medical waste for the containment of solid waste, or
for other purposes, except after being decontaminated by the
procedures specified in Section 118295 and removal of all medical
waste labels.



118307.  Medical waste that is stored in an area prior to transfer
to the designated accumulation area, as defined in Section 118310,
shall be stored in an area that is either locked or under direct
supervision or surveillance. Intermediate storage areas shall be
marked with the international biohazardous symbol or the signage
described in Section 118310. These warning signs shall be readily
legible from a distance of five feet.



118310.  A designated accumulation area used for the storage of
medical waste containers prior to transportation or treatment shall
be secured so as to deny access to unauthorized persons and shall be
marked with warning signs on, or adjacent to, the exterior of entry
doors, gates, or lids. The storage area may be secured by use of
locks on entry doors, gates, or receptacle lids.
   The wording of warning signs shall be in English,
"CAUTION--BIOHAZARDOUS WASTE STORAGE AREA--UNAUTHORIZED PERSONS KEEP
OUT," and in Spanish, "CUIDADO--ZONA DE RESIDUOS--BIOLOGICOS
PELIGROSOS--PROHIBIDA LA ENTRADA A PERSONAS NO AUTORIZADAS," or in
another language, in addition to English, determined to be
appropriate by the infection control staff or enforcement agency. A
warning sign concerning infectious waste, as that term was defined by
Section 25117.5 as it read on December 31, 1990, that sign having
been installed before April 1, 1991, meets the requirements of this
section, until the sign is changed and as long as the sign is not
moved. Warning signs shall be readily legible during daylight from a
distance of at least 25 feet.
   Any enclosure or designated accumulation area shall provide
medical waste protection from animals and natural elements and shall
not provide a breeding place or a food source for insects or rodents.



118315.  A person shall not use a trash chute to transfer medical
waste.


118320.  (a) Except as provided in subdivision (b), compactors or
grinders shall not be used to process medical waste until after the
waste has been treated pursuant to Chapter 8 (commencing with Section
118215) and rendered solid waste.
   (b) (1) Grinding or compacting may be used when it is an integral
part of an alternative treatment method approved by the department.
   (2) A compactor may be used to compact medical waste if the type
of medical waste compactor proposed to be used is evaluated by the
department, and approved by the department prior to its use pursuant
to the following criteria:
   (A) The compactor operates without the release of liquids or
pathogenic microorganisms from the medical waste during placement of
the medical waste into, or removal of the medical waste from, the
compactor units, and during the compaction process.
   (B) The compacted medical waste will not release liquids or
pathogens during any subsequent handling and no residual waste will
be left in the compactor unit after the process is completed.
   (C) Compactor operations and maintenance personnel will not be at
any substantial increased risk of exposure to pathogens.
   (D) The compactor has been demonstrated not to have any adverse
effects on any treatment method. If only specific treatment methods
are compatible with the compaction process, the department shall
condition its approval of the compactor for use only in conjunction
with treatment methods, with regard to which no adverse effects have
been demonstrated.
   (c) Medical waste in bags or other containers shall not be subject
to compaction by any compacting device and shall not be placed for
storage or transport in a portable or mobile trash compactor, except
as allowed pursuant to subdivision (b).


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