National Norms and Standards relating to Environmental Health

• Waste oxidizing substances and organic peroxides are stored in plastic lined metal drums, or highdensity plastics drums, fitted with tamperproof sealable lids; and the international hazard label andthe colour coding is per table 1;• Waste toxic substances is segregated and each type of waste is stored separately;• Waste toxic substances are stored in a metal or high density plastic container or drum, which can besealed with a screw cap lid;• Empty containers in which extremely toxic chemicals are supplied are not be stored for future use aswaste storage containers; and• Liquid pharmaceutical waste containers are made of metal , or high density plastics , fitted withtamperproof lid or screw cap lid.• Solid pharmaceutical waste is stored in double layer plastic bags, secured by means of non PVCplastics ties, steel wire, non PVC plastic sealing tags of the self locking type or heat sealers that arepurposely made for health care risk waste; and the label is per the international hazard colour codingas per table 1;• Cytotoxic and genototoxic pharmaceuticals contaminated are segregated and stored in sharpscontainer; and• Cytotoxic and genototoxic pharmaceuticals waste and contaminated materials is stored in containersmade of metal, or high density plastics, fitted with tamperproof lid or screw cap lid.2.13 LOADING, STORAGE AND TRANSPORTATION AND DISPOSAL OF HCRWAn EHP should also monitor that the loading, storage and transportation and disposal of HCRW, toensure that the following requirements are met:2.13.1 Internal loading and transportation of health care risk waste in a facilitya) Health care risk waste must be transported as follows within a facility:• On wheeled trolleys, containers or carts, with sufficient storage space and designed to avoidspillages;• Waste at all major generators must be collected and removed from the wards and departments on adaily basis and be stored in locked central storage area;• The manual lifting of and carrying of waste should be avoided and minimized;• Access to transportation vehicles must be easy, safe and unobstructed;• Containers must tightly close and secured when loaded;• No waste container must be left unattended during loading and transportation;• The container, or trolley or cart wheels must always be locked when not in motion;• The equipment used for transportation must be: Easy to load and unload; Free from sharp edges that could damage containers during loading or unloading; Easy to clean and disinfect;• The mode of transport to treatment and final disposal site must be labeled with appropriate pictogramas prescribed in relevant SANS;• The following information must be recorded for offsite collection of HCRW; Signatures of both the person in charge of the central storage facility and the waste managementofficer or waste management team member responsible for effective management of waste; Time and date of collection; The volume of waste collected for different categories of waste.2.13.2 Storage of health care risk wastea) In terms of the SANS Code 10248, all health care facilities or health establishments must have atemporary waste storage area, the location thereof must be such that there is minimal risk ofcontamination to main operations of that area, medicines, foodstuffs, textiles, employees, patientsand visitors.b) Minor generators, such as clinics can use the sluice room as a temporary waste storage area.c) All HCRW stored at minor generators must be removed to the final storage area regularly to preventthe occurrence of any nuisances.DOH. Norms and standards for environmental health in South Africa Feb 2013 129