La. Admin. Code tit. 51 § XXVII-1101

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 11, November 20, 2024

Section XXVII-1101 - Treatment of Potentially Infectious Biomedical Waste [formerly paragraph 27:025]

A. Treatment shall be by one of the following.

1. [Formerly paragraph 27:025-1] Incineration-to consume waste by burning under conditions in conformance with the standards prescribed by the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality and other laws, rule and regulations as may apply.

2. [Formerly paragraph 27:025-2] Steam Sterilization-autoclaving at a temperature of at least 120°C., (248°F.), and a pressure of at least 15 pounds per square inch for at least 30 minutes. Longer times are required depending on the amount of waste, the presence of water and the type of container used. Alternate patterns of temperature, pressure and time may be used if compatible with the sterilization equipment being used and demonstrably sufficient to kill disease causing microorganisms.

3. [Formerly paragraph 27:025-3] Disposal as a liquid, with or without other treatment, into a sewage treatment system meeting the requirements of Part XIII of this Code.

4. [Formerly paragraph 27:025-4] Thermal Inactivation-dry heat of at least 160°C., (320°F.), at atmospheric pressure for at least two hours. This relates to time of exposure after attaining the specific temperature and does not include lag time.

5. [Formerly paragraph 27:025-5] Chemical Disinfection-the use of a chemical agent only in accordance with the written approval of the state health officer, except for hypochlorite bleach, diluted with water to no less than 5,000 ppm of chlorine (generally 1 part liquid household bleach, 9 parts water). If chemically disinfected wastes are to be disposed into a sewage treatment system, the written permission of the operating authority of the sewage treatment system must be secured.

6. [Formerly paragraph 27:025-6] Irradiation Sterilization-the use of gamma rays, X-rays, or other forms of radiation to treat potentially infectious biomedical waste may be used only with the written approval of the state health officer.

7. [Formerly paragraph 27:025-7] Treatment and disposition of human bodies, gross anatomical parts and fetal remains shall be by burial, cremation, or other means specifically authorized in law or regulation. Extracted human teeth may be disposed of by these means, or as sharps.

8. [Formerly paragraph 27:025-8] Treatment and disposition of sharps shall be by incineration, encasement in plaster within a tightly closed container, encasement in other substances within a tightly closed container, as approved by the state health officer or by other treatment that renders them unrecognizable as medical sharps, and, for all practical purposes, precludes the release of recognizable needles and syringes if compacted. Small health care and medical facility generators, as defined in §301 of these regulations may dispose of sharps by encasement, as described above, without prior sterilization, inactivation or disinfection. Large health care and medical facility generators, as defined in §301 of these regulations may apply to the state health officer for authority to dispose of sharps by encasement without prior sterilization, inactivation or disinfection.

La. Admin. Code tit. 51, § XXVII-1101

Promulgated by the Department of Health and Hospitals, Office of Public Health, LR 28:1454 (June 2002).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with the provisions of R.S. 40:4(A)(2)(b) and R.S. 40:5.