Medical waste, often called biohazardous waste, biomedical waste, infectious waste, red bag waste, etc., is infectious or potentially infectious to humans or animals. This waste is generated in hospitals, health clinics, biotech research labs, or veterinarian offices. Generally medical waste is contaminated with blood, bodily fluids, or other potentially infectious materials and must be handled properly to ensure workers, patients, and the community are kept safe. Keep reading to learn about properly storing medical waste.
How to Package Medical Waste
Biohazardous waste must be properly packaged to ensure containment and prevent leaks during storage, transport, and other handling procedures prior to arriving at the disposal facility. Impervious bags that are strong enough to resist tearing, ripping or bursting during usage and handling must be used to store and transport medical waste. All contaminated materials that are considered “sharp” (needles, scalpels, etc.) must first be placed in a rigid container with a lid to prevent injury. Liquids in large volumes must also be placed in an unbreakable container, tightly seals, and sufficiently contains the materials for handling, storage and transport.
How to Properly Store Medical Waste
Biomedical waste needs to be stored away from other types of waste in a clear, designated area. This is to ensure there is no confusion on the type of waste. In addition to storing away from other wastes, the medical waste storage area should be in a designated area that has limited foot traffic and prevents unauthorized access. The climate in the room should be managed in a way that prevents microbial growth and in some cases, like pathological waste, the medical waste needs to be stored below 45 degrees Fahrenheit.
How to Properly Dispose of Biohazards
At Maine Labpack, we offer comprehensive, no-contract biomedical waste disposal for a variety of generators. We’re here to help you keep your staff safe, and your facility in compliance with regulations. Our biohazardous material experts arrive on site, remove your pre-packaged waste, and supply you with containers for future pickups. To learn more about our biomedical waste services, please get in touch with us.