(i)grinding and discharging into a sanitary sewer
system;
(ii)steam disinfection followed by deposition in a
sanitary landfill;
(iii)steam disinfection followed by grinding and discharging
into a sanitary sewer system;
(iv)incineration followed by deposition of the residue
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, followed by deposition
in a sanitary landfill.
(D)Anatomical remains shall be disposed of in a manner
specified by §479.4 of this title (relating to Final Disposition
of the Body and Disposition of Remains).
(5)Sharps.
(A)All discarded unused sharps shall be disposed of
in accordance with 30 TAC Chapters 326 and 330.
(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.
The agency certifies that legal counsel has
reviewed the adoption and found it to be a valid exercise of the agency's
legal authority.
Filed with the Office
of the Secretary of State on November 28, 2016
TRD-201606073 Lisa Hernandez
General Counsel
Department of State Health Services
Effective date: December 18, 2016
Proposal publication date: September 30, 2016
For further information, please call: (512) 776-6933
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