(B) Contaminated sharps shall be subjected to one of
the following methods of treatment and disposal.
(i) Hypodermic needles, and hypodermic syringes with
attached needles, shall be subjected to one of the following methods
of treatment and disposal:
(I) chemical disinfection, and if the item can cause
puncture wounds, placement in a puncture-resistant, leak-proof container
followed by deposition in a sanitary landfill;
(II) steam disinfection, and if the item can cause
puncture wounds, placement in a puncture-resistant container followed
by deposition in a sanitary landfill;
(III) incineration, and if the item can cause puncture
wounds, placement in a puncture-resistant container followed by deposition
in a sanitary landfill;
(IV) encapsulation in a matrix which will solidify
and significantly reduce the possibility of puncture wounds followed
by deposition in a sanitary landfill;
(V) moist heat disinfection followed by deposition
in a sanitary landfill;
(VI) chlorine disinfection/maceration followed by deposition
in a sanitary landfill; or
(VII) an approved alternate treatment process, provided
that the process renders the item as unrecognizable and can no longer
cause puncture wounds, followed by deposition in a sanitary landfill.
(ii) Razor blades, disposable razors, and disposable
scissors used in surgery, labor and delivery, or other medical procedures;
and scalpel blades shall be subjected to one of the following methods
of treatment and disposal:
(I) chemical disinfection, and if the item can cause
puncture wounds, placement in a puncture-resistant, leak-proof container
followed by deposition in a sanitary landfill;
(II) steam disinfection, and if the item can cause
puncture wounds, placement in a puncture-resistant container followed
by deposition in a sanitary landfill;
(III) incineration, and if item can cause puncture
wounds, placement in a puncture-resistant container followed by deposition
in a sanitary landfill;
(IV) encapsulation in a matrix which will solidify
and significantly reduce the possibility of puncture wounds followed
by deposition in a sanitary landfill;
(V) moist heat disinfection followed by deposition
in a sanitary landfill;
(VI) chlorine disinfection/maceration followed by deposition
in a sanitary landfill; or
(VII) an approved alternate treatment process, provided
that the process renders the item as unrecognizable and can no longer
cause puncture wounds, followed by deposition in a sanitary landfill.
(iii) Intravenous stylets and rigid introducers (e.g.,
J wires) shall be subjected to one of the following methods of treatment
and disposal:
(I) chemical disinfection, and if the item can cause
puncture wounds, placement in a puncture-resistant, leak-proof container
followed by deposition in a sanitary landfill;
(II) steam disinfection, and if the item can cause
puncture wounds, placement in a puncture-resistant, leak-proof container
followed by deposition in a sanitary landfill;
(III) incineration, and if the item can cause puncture
wounds, placement in a puncture-resistant, leak-proof container followed
by deposition in a sanitary landfill;
(IV) encapsulation in a matrix which will solidify
and significantly reduce the possibility of puncture wounds, followed
by deposition in a sanitary landfill;
(V) moist heat disinfection followed by deposition
in a sanitary landfill;
(VI) chlorine disinfection/maceration followed by deposition
in a sanitary landfill; or
(VII) an approved alternate treatment process, provided
that the process renders the item as unrecognizable and can no longer
cause puncture wounds, followed by deposition in a sanitary landfill.
(iv) Glass pasteur pipettes, glass pipettes, specimen
tubes, blood culture bottles, and microscope slides, and broken glass
from laboratories shall be subjected to one of the following methods
of treatment and disposal:
(I) chemical disinfection, and if the item can cause
puncture wounds, placement in a puncture-resistant, leak-proof container
followed by deposition in a sanitary landfill;
(II) steam disinfection, and if the item can cause
puncture wounds, placement in a puncture-resistant container followed
by deposition in a sanitary landfill;
(III) incineration, and if the item can cause puncture
wounds, placement in a puncture-resistant container followed by deposition
in a sanitary landfill;
(IV) encapsulation in a matrix which will solidify
and significantly reduce the possibility of puncture wounds followed
by deposition in a sanitary landfill;
(V) moist heat disinfection followed by deposition
in a sanitary landfill;
(VI) chlorine disinfection/maceration followed by deposition
in a sanitary landfill; or
(VII) an approved alternate treatment process, provided
that the process renders the item as unrecognizable and can no longer
cause puncture wounds, followed by deposition in a sanitary landfill.
(v) Tattoo needles, acupuncture needles, and electrolysis
needles shall be subjected to one of the following methods of treatment
and disposal:
(I) chemical disinfection, and if the item can cause
puncture wounds, placement in a puncture-resistant, leak-proof container
followed by deposition in a sanitary landfill;
(II) steam disinfection, and if the item can cause
puncture wounds, placement in a puncture-resistant, leak-proof container
followed by deposition in a sanitary landfill;
(III) incineration, and if the item can cause puncture
wounds, placement in a puncture-resistant, leak-proof container followed
by deposition in a sanitary landfill;
(IV) encapsulation in a matrix which will solidify
and significantly reduce the possibility of puncture wounds, followed
by deposition in a sanitary landfill;
(V) moist heat disinfection followed by deposition
in a sanitary landfill;
(VI) chlorine disinfection/maceration followed by deposition
in a sanitary landfill; or
(VII) an approved alternate treatment process, provided
that the process renders the item as unrecognizable and can no longer
cause puncture wounds, followed by deposition in a sanitary landfill.
(b) Records. The facility treating the wastes shall
maintain records to document the treatment of the special waste from
health care-related facilities processed at the facility as to method
and conditions of treatment in accordance with 30 TAC Chapter 326.
(c) Facility responsibility. The facility treating
the wastes shall be responsible for establishing the conditions necessary
for operation of each method used at the facility to insure the reduction
of microbial activity of any waste treated according to the manufacturer's
specifications and according to any approval granted by the department.
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Source Note: The provisions of this §1.136 adopted to be effective April 4, 1989, 14 TexReg 1457; amended to be effective November 21, 1991, 16 TexReg 6482; amended to be effective December 21, 1994, 19 TexReg 9599; amended to be effective December 18, 2016, 41 TexReg 9709; amended to be effective May 24, 2018, 43 TexReg 3242 |