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Biological Safety
Blood born Pathogens
OSHA has issued standards and regulations that prescribe safeguards to protect workers against health hazards related to bloodborne pathogens. OSHA aims to reduce the risks of occupational exposure related to bloodborne pathogens via the subject regulations. This Standard, Part 1910.1030 of Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations was published in the Federal Register in 1991 and became affective in 1992. Also in 1993 the OSHA standard was adopted under the New Jersey Public Employees Occupational Safety and Health (PEOSH) Act to protect public employees in New Jersey.
The standard covers all public employees who may come in contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials because of their work. Kean University is required to provide bloodborne pathogen training to any and all employees that work in and around potential hazards, including employees that deal with potentially infectious materials as part of their everyday job duties. Such positions include; Health services personnel, athletic personnel, biological laboratory personnel, custodial workers, plumbers, lifeguards, police and EMTs, to name a few.
The major requirements of the Bloodborne Pathogen regulation is as follows: Develop an Employee exposure plan, implement methods to prevent exposure; provide Hepatitis B vaccinations, Medical evaluations and follow up; implement an employee training and record keeping program. Different departments at the University will have different exposure levels and scenarios. Departments need to determine the potential of bloodborne pathogens exposure and the levels of exposure of personnel employed. Personnel that have a potential, even if slight, must be trained under the regulations set forth by OSHA and PEOSH.
What is Regulated Medical Waste? (N.J.A.C. 7:26-3a.6)
RMW is defined as any solid waste, generated in the diagnosis, treatment (e.g., provision of medical services), or immunization of human beings or animals, in research pertaining thereto or in the production or testing of biologicals, that is not excluded or exempted under N.J.A.C. 7:26-3A.6(b) and that is listed or meets any waste characterization criteria described in the table at N.J.A.C. 7:26-3A.6(a). Refer to the rule for excluded wastes (N.J.A.C. 7:26-3A.6(b)).
"Treated RMW" means RMW that has been treated to substantially reduce or eliminate its potential for causing disease, but has not yet been destroyed (N.J.A.C. 7:26-3A.5).
"Destroyed RMW" means RMW that is no longer generally recognizable as RMW because all components of the waste have been ruined, torn apart, or mutilated to produce unrecognizable and unusable pieces smaller than three-quarters of an inch, except that all sharps must be smaller than one-half inch. It does not mean compaction or encapsulation except through:
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1. Processes such as thermal treatment or melting, during which treatment
and destruction occur;
2. Processes such as shredding, grinding, tearing, or breaking, during which only destruction takes
place; or
3. Processes that melt plastics and fully encapsulate metallic or other sharps and seals wastecompletely in a container that will not be penetrated by undestroyed sharps.
According to the Medical Waste fact sheet from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection – Division of Solid & Hazardous Waste, the following is the regulations.
STORAGE (N.J.A.C. 7:26-3A.12)
Any person who stores RMW prior to treatment or disposal on-site or for transport off-site must:
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1. Store the RMW in a manner and location that maintains the integrity
of the packaging and provides protection from the elements;
2. Maintain the RMW in a nonputrescent state using refrigeration if necessary;
3. Lock any outdoor storage areas containing RMW to prevent unauthorized access;
4. Limit access to on-site storage areas only to authorized employees;
5. Store the RMW in a manner that provides protection from animals and does not provide a breeding place or a food source for insects and rodents;
6. Dispose of RMW immediately if it becomes putrescent; and
7. Store RMW for no longer than one year.
PACKAGING (N.J.A.C. 7:26-3A.11)
Generators must ensure that all RMW is placed in containers * that are:
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1. Rigid;
2. Leak-resistant;
3. Impervious to moisture;
4. Sufficiently strong to prevent tearing or bursting under normal conditions of use and handling;
5. Sealed to prevent leakage during transport;
6. Puncture resistant for packaging sharps and sharps with residual fluids; and
7. Break-resistant and tightly lidded or stoppered for packaging fluids (quantities greater than 20 cubic centimeters).
8. Solid waste that is not managed as RMW shall not be packaged for shipment inside a RMW container or in containers attached to, or part of an RMW container.
