CONTAMINATED WASTE DISPOSAL

CONTAMINATED WASTE DISPOSALpurposeTo ensure the protection of Ambercare personnel, patients and family/caregivers, and the community through proper handling of contaminated waste.policyAmbercare Home Health will dispose of contaminated waste according to state and local regulations. Ambercare Home Health will educate personnel and, as appropriate, patients and family/caregivers on procedures for handling and disposing of contaminated wastePlease see attachment which delineates process of contaminated waste instructions/teaching.3definitionsContaminated Waste:Disposable materials that have been exposed to or contaminated by blood or body fluids.Infectious Wastes:Sharps: Any waste capable of producing injury, including, but not limited to, contaminated needles, syringes, scalpels and disposable instrumentsBlood, Blood Products, and Body Fluids: All waste blood, blood products, and body fluids greater than 20 ml (2/3 oz) in volume that exist in a free, liquid state and cannot be safely poured down a drain.Microbiological Waste: Cultures and stocks of infectious agents including culture dishes and devices used to transfer, inoculate and mix culturesContaminated Lab Waste: All lab specimens consisting of blood or body fluids that cannot be disposed of by safely pouring down a drain.

procedureContaminated Waste:Examples of contaminated waste include: paper wastes (disposable gloves, gowns, masks, paper towels, tubing's, dressings, etc.)The waste products should be placed in a plastic puncture resistant bag and secured. It should be double bagged (if possible) placed in a plastic trash container with a tight lid.

It is imperative that AC home health personnel receive proper education and training on contaminated waste exposure. They need to be able to teach patients and family/caregivers proper protocols on contaminated waste disposal.

TRAINING NEEDS: We teach.but need appropriate protocols on b, c, d, (we have A sharps).

5Procedure ContinuedSharps:Needles, syringes, and razor blades must be placed in a puncture-proof container and labeled as such (all nurses should be provided with a red plastic biohazard disposable sharps container)Containers (when full) need to be returned to the office and disposed of appropriately and documented on clipboardThe Field staff will dispose of their sharps in the biohazard area they must sign their name, indicate the waste product being placed in biohazard, and label appropriately. Each office should have a designated biohazard room/container per policy.

As you are well aware, personnel should NEVER recap needles. They must be disposed of whole (not attempting to break or bend needles);

The only exception to this is that the nurse may recap sterile needles (after prefilling insulin syringes) using the one (1) handed scoop method or a safety device. Education of the one handed scoop method may be taught to patients/families by the nurse. 6Contaminated lab wasteLab specimens, waste that cannot be disposed of by safely pouring down a drain, may be delivered to the lab after being bagged, securely closed and labeledPlace specimen in a leak-proof, impermeable, biohazard-labeled transport container (tupperware for example)Transport to the lab and hand directly to lab personnel.7Blood and body fluidsFluids (i.e., urine, feces, solutions, etc.) should be poured down the toilet and immediately flushed. Care should be taken to avoid splashing.