Bloodborne Pathogens and Waste Management
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Governs infection control practices for handling blood and other potentially infectious materials (OPIM), sharps safety, labeling, laundry, storage, and disposal of regulated medical waste for Health Net National sites; affects all on-site staff performing or supporting patient care and waste handling.
No material clinical or coverage changes in this revision.
Operational Requirements and Compliance
Operational requirements
Sites must follow the specified procedures and regulatory standards:
ALL of the following
- Comply with OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard and California Medical Waste statutes and regulations (8 CCR §5193; H&S Code §117600-118360; 29 CFR §1910.1030).
- Treat blood and Other Potentially Infectious Materials (OPIM) — including all human body fluids, unfixed human tissue or organs (other than intact skin), and HIV/HBV-containing blood, cells, tissue, organs, cultures, medium or solutions — as regulated; store in closable, leak‑proof, labeled and/or color‑coded containers; double‑bag only if leakage is possible.
- Provide and make available appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for staff (e.g., water‑repelling gloves; gowns or clothing barriers; face/eye protection; respiratory protection); general work clothes are acceptable only when they do not permit blood/OPIM penetration under normal use.
- Affix biohazard warning labels to red bagged regulated wastes, sharps containers, refrigerators/freezers containing blood/OPIM, transport containers, and contaminated laundry/equipment; use the international 'BIOHAZARDOUS WASTE' label (fluorescent orange or red‑orange) or red color‑coding when waste leaves the site; individual blood/OPIM containers may be exempt if inside a labeled secondary container.
- Discard contaminated sharps immediately into closable, puncture‑resistant, labeled, leak‑proof containers located close to the point of use; do not bend, recap, or remove sharps; use needleless systems or engineered sharps injury protection when available; do not overfill containers beyond manufacturer's designated fill line or more than ¾ full.
- Document sharps injuries using site reporting methods, including date, time, description of the exposure incident, device type/brand, and follow‑up care; documentation is completed within 14 days of the injury.
- Launder contaminated reusable protective clothing per manufacturer's guidelines via on‑site washer/dryer or contract service; laundry requirements are not applicable if only disposable PPE is used on site.
- Store regulated waste separately in red biohazard bags with biohazard labels, in closed/locked containers inaccessible to unauthorized persons; for external storage post English and Spanish warning signs visible from 25 feet with the specified wording.
- Haul medical wastes to permitted offsite treatment facilities, transfer stations, or other registered generators using a registered hazardous waste transporter or a person with an approved limited‑quantity hauling exemption (exemption valid one year and renewed annually); transporter must carry the exemption when applicable.
- Maintain a medical waste tracking document for each transport that includes the name of the person transporting, number of waste containers, type of medical wastes, and date of transportation; retain tracking documents at minimum 3 years for large generators and 2 years for small generators.
Medical Waste Handling and Documentation Requirements
Medical waste transport documentation
Maintain a medical waste tracking document for each transport event that records the name of the person transporting the waste, the number of waste containers, the type of medical wastes, and the date of transportation. Retain the tracking document for a minimum of 3 years for large waste generators and 2 years for small generators. If using a limited-quantity hauling exemption, ensure the exemption form is carried in the transporting vehicle and renewed annually.
- Record: transporter name, number of containers, type of medical wastes, and date of transport.
- Retention: keep tracking documents at least 3 years (large generators) or 2 years (small generators).
- Limited-quantity hauling exemption must be carried in the vehicle and renewed annually when used.
Key Terms
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