Handling Other Waste

Sharps are not the only risk of exposure in the workplace. 8 CCR 5193 provides rules for dealing with other types of waste as well.

Sharps Containers

If the containers for disposed needles and other sharp objects could possibly leak during removal, they must be enclosed in a second container, which itself must be closable and prevent leakage during transportation, handling, and storage. This secondary container also must be labelled accordingly. The same applies to any container that has been contaminated on the outside. Proper labelling will be discussed in a later section.

Other Waste

Other waste covered by 8 CCR 5193 includes blood and other potentially infectious materials. Such waste also includes contaminated items that contain liquid blood or OPIM, or items that are caked with dried blood or OPIM and could release these materials when handled, such as laundry. The requirements for handling this type of waste is similar to that of sharps and sharps containers. The disposal container must be closable, leak-proof, labelled and color-coded, and closed prior to removal.

To learn more about Cal/OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens visit our Cal/OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Online Training web page.