Montana Medical Waste Requirements
A look at Montana medical waste requirements.
Montana medical waste disposal regulations are managed by the state’s Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and outlines definitions, storage methods, and approved treatment options for medical waste.
The state of Montana defines, medical waste, or infectious waste, as waste capable of producing infectious disease. This includes cultures and stocks of infectious agents and associated “biologicals,” such as tissues, organs, and body parts removed during surgery or an autopsy. It also includes free-flowing waste like human blood and products of blood, including serum, plasma, and other blood components and items soaked or saturated with blood, and sharps that have been used in patient care, medical research, or industrial laboratories.
Infectious waste must be separated from ordinary waste and stored until the waste is properly treated in separate, distinct containers with biohazard warning labels. Sharps must be contained for storage, transportation, treatment, and subsequent disposal in leak-proof, rigid, puncture-resistant containers that must be taped closed to prevent spillage, whereas infectious waste must be contained in moisture-proof disposable containers, like red bags, that prevent ripping, tearing, or bursting. The bags must be securely tied to prevent leaks during storage, handling, and transportation.
Acceptable treatment methods of medical waste include incineration and autoclaving, as well as other chemical methods which render wastes safe for disposal.
The state also regulates how employees handle waste; any employee who manages infectious waste must receive training provided by the employer that is adequate to ensure safe performance of duties. This can be achieved through OSHA compliance training programs.
Montana defers to the EPA for licensing and permit regulations for medical waste generators, treatment plants, and transporters.
Regardless of where you generate medical waste, a professional medical waste expert is who you should rely on to comply with state laws. In addition to management of hazardous waste, a waste disposal company can assist you with the handling and disposal of sharps, biological waste, or other healthcare waste streams.
Learn how other states handle medical waste requirements.
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- Top 5 Medical Waste Violations: Is Your Facility Guilty?
- Choosing the Right Sharps Containers for Your Facility
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