Nevada Medical Waste Requirements
A look at Nevada medical waste requirements.
In the state of Nevada, medical waste is regulated by the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (NDEP). The focus of the NDEP is to protect the land, water, and air from contamination, whether it’s from medical waste or other waste products.
Overall, Nevada has adopted the U.S. Department of Transportation’s definition for regulated medical waste, stating that medical waste is defined by waste “…which is generated or produced as a result of any of the following actions: diagnosis, treatment or immunization of human beings or animals, research, and the production or testing of biologicals.”
Medical waste classifications play a key role, as medical waste can be classified as being either biohazardous waste, sharps waste, and/or waste generated at trauma sites.
As with other states, proper medical waste containment is essential for infection control. Sharps must be stored in sharps containers, but for no more than 30 days. Prior to treatment, sharps containers must be sealed and capped. Biohazardous waste must be placed in red bags printed with the universal biohazard symbol, and stored at no more than 32ᴼF for seven days or stored below 32ᴼF for no more than 30 days.
Medical waste can be treated by incineration or autoclaving, after which it is treated as ordinary solid waste with no special requirements. However, Nevada regulations do not require treatment of medical waste.
All medical waste generators must use medical waste transporters who have received a permit from the Health Authority to transport medical waste for treatment and disposal.
Because there is no federal regulatory program for the management of medical waste, Nevada is one of 24 states operating an approved occupational safety and health (OSHA) program. This affects how medical waste is stored and treated, as well as the management of sharps and the requirements for containers that hold or store medical/infectious waste.
Each and every state is different in how it regulates medical waste disposal and treatment, and depending on your operation’s location, you should always contact your local agencies to ensure that you are not only compliant, but practicing safe and approved methods for medical waste disposal, storage, and treatment.
Learn how other states handle medical waste requirements.
Related Articles:
- 3 Ways to Save On Medical Waste Removal
- Getting to Know the Common Medical Waste Agencies and Their Roles: CDC, EPA, DOT, OSHA
- Avoid Medical Waste Risks in the Workplace
- Top 5 Medical Waste Violations: Is Your Facility Guilty?
Service Areas: Long Island Medical Waste; New York City Medical Waste; Westchester Medical Waste and more!