Statutes, codes, and regulations
Washington Administrative Code
Title 296 - Labor and Industries, Department of
Chapter 296-823 - Occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens
Section 296-823-14025 - Make sure items are appropriately labeled

Wash. Admin. Code § 296-823-14025

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Current through Register Vol. 24-23, December 1, 2024
Section 296-823-14025 - Make sure items are appropriately labeled

Exemptions:

The following are exempt from the labeling requirements of this chapter:

1.Individual containers placed in an appropriately labeled secondary container.

2. Regulated waste that has been decontaminated.

3. Containers of blood, blood components, or blood products that are labeled with their contents and have been released for transfusion or other clinical use.

4. Extracted teeth, gallstones, kidney stones, or other tissues and body substances that are given to patients.

(1) You must attach appropriate labels to:
(a) Containers used to store, transport, or ship blood or other potentially infectious materials (OPIM) including:
(i) Refrigerators;
(ii) Freezers.
(b) Sharps containers;
(c) Contaminated equipment;
(d) Laundry bags and containers;
(e) Specimen containers;
(f) Regulated waste containers.
(2) You must make sure that labels:
(a) Include the following symbol:

Click to view image

(b) Are all or mostly fluorescent orange or orange-red with lettering and symbol in a contrasting color.
(c) Are attached to the container by string, wire, adhesive, or other method so they can't become lost or accidentally removed.

Note:

Red bags or red containers may be substituted for labels as long as they're:

1.Covered in the exposure control plan.

2. Communicated to all affected employees (including employees of laundry services, disposal services, and transport companies) whether they're your employees or not.

3. The label does not always need to be attached to each individual container.

4.For example, a cart carrying specimen containers could be labeled, rather than each individual container.

Wash. Admin. Code § 296-823-14025

Amended by WSR 15-23-086, Filed 11/17/2015, effective 12/18/2015

Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, and 49.17.060. 04-12-070, § 296-823-14025, filed 6/1/04, effective 9/1/04; 03-09-110, § 296-823-14025, filed 4/22/03, effective 8/1/03.