§ 284.512. Transportation of regulated medical and chemotherapeutic waste; general provisions.
(a) General. This section sets forth general requirements for a person or municipality that transports regulated medical or chemotherapeutic waste. Section 284.513 (relating to transportation of regulated medical and chemotherapeutic waste; additional provisions) sets forth additional provisions relating to the transportation of the waste.
(b) Manner of transportation. Regulated medical and chemotherapeutic waste shall be transported in a manner that:
(1) Maintains the integrity of the containers, prevents the leakage or release of waste from the containers and provides protection from water, rain and wind.
(2) Prevents the spread of infectious or chemotherapeutic agents.
(3) Affords protection from animals and does not provide a breeding place or a food source for insects or rodents.
(4) Maintains the waste in a nonputrescent state, using refrigeration (‹= 7°C or ‹= 45°F) or freezing (‹= -18°C or ‹= 0°F) when necessary.
(5) Prevents odors from emanating from the container.
(6) Prevents unauthorized access to the waste.
(c) Containers.
(1) Regulated medical and chemotherapeutic waste shall be transported in containers that are:
(i) Rigid.
(ii) Leakproof.
(iii) Impervious to moisture.
(iv) Sufficient in strength to prevent puncturing, tearing or bursting during transportation.
(v) Labeled in accordance with the requirements in § 284.414 (relating to marking of containers), except as provided in § 284.414(b).
(2) In addition to the requirements of paragraph (1), used sharps shall be transported in containers that are tightly lidded.
(3) In addition to the requirements of paragraph (1), regulated medical waste fluids—quantities greater than 20 cubic centimeters—and chemotherapeutic waste fluids shall be transported in containers that are:
(i) Break resistant.
(ii) Tightly lidded or tightly stoppered.
(4) Bags meeting the requirements of § 284.413 (relating to storage containers) may be used to meet the requirements of this subsection that containers be leakproof and impervious to moisture.
(d) Types of vehicles. Vehicles for transporting regulated medical or chemotherapeutic waste shall be noncompaction type vehicles.
(e) Commingling of waste. Separately containerized regulated medical or chemotherapeutic waste may be transported in the same vehicle with containerized municipal waste.
(f) Cleaning of vehicles. Load compartments of vehicles holding regulated medical or chemotherapeutic waste for transportation shall be constructed of materials that are impermeable and easily cleaned. Surfaces of vehicles that have been in direct physical contact with regulated medical or chemotherapeutic waste, because of a leak in a bag or container or because of another reason, shall be decontaminated as soon as possible after unloading.
(g) Refrigeration. Regulated medical or chemotherapeutic waste may be kept in an unrefrigerated transport vehicle for up to 72 hours provided the waste is not putrescent and does not attract vectors. If the vehicle is refrigerated (‹= 7°C or ‹= 45°F) or maintained at freezing temperatures (‹= -18°C or ‹= 0°F), the in-transit storage period may not exceed 5 days.
(h) Chutes. Chutes may not be used by generators, processors or transporters to transfer regulated medical or chemotherapeutic waste at onsite or offsite locations.
Source The provisions of this § 284.512 amended November 7, 2014, effective November 8, 2014, 44 Pa.B. 7021. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (273313) to (273315).
Cross References This section cited in 25 Pa. Code § 284.724 (relating to transportation limitations); and 25 Pa. Code § 285.201 (relating to scope).
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