WPI Medical Waste Disposal Guidelines
Issued: February, 1994
Revised: October, 1996
Revised: September, 1999
Revised: July 2004
- The handling of all medical waste shall utilize universal precautions, treating all blood and other potentially infectious materials (OPIM) as potentially infectious.
- Rubber gloves shall be worn when there is the potential for the hands to have direct skin contact with blood or OPIM.
- Medical waste includes blood, other body fluids, including semen, vaginal secretions, cerebrospinal fluid, synovial fluid, pleural fluid, pericardial fluid, peritoneal fluid, amniotic fluid, saliva in dental procedures, any body fluid that is visibly contaminated with blood, and all body fluids in situations where it is difficult or impossible to differentiate between body fluids. Also included: contaminated bandages, dressings, gauze pads, compresses, or any other contaminated item when rendering emergency medical services; contaminated gloves, bedding and sharps.
- All medical waste shall be collected, stored and shipped in leak-proof bags or containers that are color-coded (red) and labeled or tagged.
- Disposable syringes, needles, scalpel blades or other sharp items shall be placed in puncture-resistant containers for disposal.
- Double-bagging prior to handling, storing and/or transporting medical waste is necessary if the outside of the bag or container is contaminated with blood or OPIM.
- Generators shall notify the Environmental Health and Safety Office (ehs@wpi.edu) when waste needs to be picked up.
- Disposal of all medical waste shall be in accordance with all applicable local, state and federal regulations.