HOPE SERVICES
Christian Medical, Psychological, Social & Spiritual Ministry & Welfare Organization
MOTTO: DEVOTED IN LOVE, REJOICE IN HOPE
N.G.O. Permit N° 00391/RDA/JO6/BAPP. Ministry of Health Permit N° 125/A/MSP/SG/DMH/SDHPESP/SFSP/BFSPL
CLINIC & MATERNITY
CARREFOUR PAKITA /MONTE LIDO ESSOS, BP. 25067 YAOUNDE,
CAMEROON.AFRICA
Tel: 237-22.22.03.94 Cell. 77.82.01.89 E-mail: [email protected]
Website www.hopeservicesministry.org
LABORATORY WASTE SEGREGATION
Standard Operating
QSP-QMD-07 Version: 01 Page 1 of 3
Procedure
1. Waste Segregation and Disposal
2. Objectives and scope
This SOP describes the procedures for proper disposal of non-infectious waste and safe disposal of infectious and
sharps waste.
This SOP is applicable to all employees of the laboratory.
3. Abbreviations, definitions and terms
• BO Bio safety Officer
• QM Quality Manual
• SOP Standard Operating Procedure
Definitions
Sharps = articles such as needles, pieces of broken glass, small surgical knives that are capable of lacerating the
skin.
4. Tasks, responsibilities and accountabilities
Task Responsible Accountable
Removal of non-infectious waste Support staff Lab manager
from lab
Autoclaving infectious waste Lab personnel working in P3 lab Lab manager
5. Safety and environment
N.A.
6. Procedure
LABORATORY WASTE SEGREGATION
Standard Operating
QSP-QMD-07 Version: 01 Page 2 of 3
Procedure
A. Non-infectious waste disposal
1. These include papers, packaging boxes, plastic bags and hand paper towels used
outside the P2 or P3 lab area.
2. These items shall be disposed-off in black or white polythene bags inserted in 10L
plastic buckets without a lid.
3. These items shall not require autoclaving before disposal.
4. After the day’s work the cleaning staff shall remove filled bags and replace them with
new ones ready for the following day work.
B. Infectious waste disposal
1. Items used inside the P2 or P3 laboratory shall be regarded as being infectious.
2. Infectious waste shall not be stored or stacked in corridors or stairwells.
3. Papers (waste or data files/books used in the P2 or P3 lab) shall be incubated in a
hot air oven at 65°C for 30 minutes before they are taken out to the clean areas.
4. Used tubes, plastic Pasteur pipettes, pipette tips, gloves, cotton, paper towels,
specimen containers and cultures for discard shall be sealed in double biohazard
bags.
5. All infectious waste shall be placed in designated red, rigid bags placed in step-on
lidded waste bins that are clearly labeled with the biohazard symbol.
6. When the bags are three-quarter full, they will be sealed off with tape.
7. Sealed bags shall be carefully taken to the autoclave room and autoclaved.
8. All bags labeled “Biohazard” shall be autoclaved even if clean.
9. Autoclaving shall be done as per instrument guidelines
10.After autoclaving, bio hazard bags containing reusable lab ware shall be safe to open
and clean, otherwise those with non-reusable waste shall be taken for incineration.
11.Used intact glass bottles shall be discarded in accordance with guidelines obtained
from the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA).
C. Disposal of sharps
1. Sharps include used needles, surgical knives or broken bottles
2. Sharps shall not be mixed with papers or non-sharps infectious waste
3. A properly labeled sharps container shall be put in place and used exclusively for the
disposal of sharps.
4. Used needles shall be discarded immediately into the sharps container.
5. Broken glass scattered on the floor shall be picked with aid of special forceps or
swept into a special receptacle and then emptied into the sharps container
6. A properly labeled sharps container shall be put in place and used exclusively for the
disposal of sharps.
7. Sharps containers when ¾-full shall be autoclaved and then sent for incineration.
8. Any employee who consistently violates or disregards these instructions shall be held
responsible.
7. Related documents
Quality Manual,
Biosafety Manual Chapter 1: ‘Responsibility, Biosafety officer and bio safety committee’
SOP ‘Autoclave’
8. Related forms
LABORATORY WASTE SEGREGATION
Standard Operating
QSP-QMD-07 Version: 01 Page 3 of 3
Procedure
N.A.
9. References
NCCLS GP-5 Proposed Standard. Clinical Laboratory Hazardous Waste, 1986.
