a. A definition and identification of infectious waste being generated at the facility.

b. An explanation of the facility's infectious waste management plan that includes the requirements of this Chapter in relation to handling, treatment, transportation, storage, and disposal of infectious waste.

c. Assignment of roles and responsibilities for implementation of the plan.

d. Implementation of training when the infectious waste management plan is first developed and instituted; when new employees are hired; and when management procedures are changed.

e. Continuing education shall be provided annually or more often if needed and shall be oriented to refresh and maintain personnel awareness of potential hazards as well as reinforce policies and procedures that are detailed in the infectious waste management plan.

a. Infectious waste shall be segregated from other waste at the point of origin in the generating facility and managed by persons trained in the safe handling of infectious waste.

b. Infectious waste with multiple hazards, (e.g., toxic, radioactive, or other hazardous chemicals) shall be segregated from the general infectious waste stream when additional or alternative treatment is required, or in cases where the wastes are regulated under state or federal authority.

c. Containment of infectious waste shall be in a manner and at a location which affords protection from unauthorized persons, animals, rain, and wind, and does not provide a breeding place or a food source for insects or rodents.

d. Waste sharps shall be contained for storage, transportation, treatment, and disposal in sharps waste containers.

e. Infectious waste, except for sharps capable of puncturing or lacerating, shall be contained in red or orange colored disposable plastic bags, which are impervious to moisture and have strength sufficient to preclude ripping, tearing, or bursting under normal conditions of usage and handling. The bags shall be securely tied or taped so as to prevent leakage or expulsion of solid or liquid wastes during storage, handling, or transport.

f. All bagged infectious waste and sharps waste containers shall be placed for storage or handling in disposable or reusable pails, cartons, drums, dumpsters or portable bins. The containment system shall be leak-proof and kept clean and in good repair. The containers may be of any color and shall be conspicuously labeled with the words "INFECTIOUS WASTE", "BIOMEDICAL WASTE", or "BIOHAZARDOUS WASTE", or the international biohazard symbol on the lid and sides so as to be readily visible from any lateral direction when the container is upright.

g. Infectious waste contained according to requirements of this Section, may share a common in-house transfer cart or portable bin with bagged non-infectious wastes during transportation within a facility to a storage or treatment area. Common transfer carts used to transport contained infectious with non-infectious wastes shall be conspicuously labeled with the words "INFECTIOUS WASTE", "BIOMEDICAL WASTE", or "BIOHAZARDOUS WASTE", or the international biohazard symbol on the sides so as to be readily visible from any lateral direction. In the event of an infectious waste spill within an in-house transfer cart or portable bin that also contains non-infectious waste, all waste items within the transfer cart shall be considered infectious waste and shall be subject to infectious waste and spill management requirements of this Chapter.

h. Reusable pails, drums, dumpsters, or bins used for containment of infectious waste shall not be used for the containment of waste to be disposed of as non-infectious, or for other purposes, except after being decontaminated. Approved methods of decontamination include, but are not limited to, agitation to remove visible soil combined with one of the following procedures:

i. Compactors, grinders, or pulverizers shall not be used to process infectious waste until after the waste has been rendered non-infectious. Infectious waste shall not be placed for storage or transport in a portable mobile trash compactor.

j. Trash chutes shall not be used to transfer infectious waste.

a. Designated areas for storage of infectious waste shall be segregated from other wastes.

b. Storage areas, enclosures, or containers used for the containment of infectious waste shall be so secured as to deny access to unauthorized persons and shall be marked with prominent warning signs on, or adjacent to, the exterior of entry doors, gates or lids. Wording of warning signs shall state "CAUTION – INFECTIOUS (or BIOMEDICAL or BIOHAZARDOUS) WASTE STORAGE AREA" and shall be accompanied by the international biohazard symbol. Warning signs shall be readily legible from a distance of at least 25 feet.

c. Floors of storage areas shall be of impervious material to prevent saturation of liquid and semi-liquid substances, and a perimeter curb is recommended to contain spills. Storage areas shall also be well lighted and ventilated.

d. Storage time of infectious waste before treatment shall be kept to a minimum if not treated the same day as generated.

e. Filled infectious waste containers, including sharps waste containers, shall be stored for no longer than seven days prior to treatment or collection for treatment. Infectious waste being transported or stored after the seven-day storage period at the generating facility shall have 48 hours to be treated and rendered non-infectious or shall be kept at temperature between 1° C to 7° C (34 F to 45° F) for up to 7 days, or at or below 0° C (32° F) up to a maximum of 90 days. Facilities storing infectious waste after the initial nine-day storage and transportation period shall be required to obtain a permit from the Department as a Class III storage facility.