TABLE 5.
Federal regulations that impact waste management in clinical laboratories
| Regulatory entitya | Regulatory standard | Description |
|---|---|---|
| EPA | The Federal Clean Air Act of 1955 and revisions (1963, 1977, 1990) | Addresses emissions from laboratories; in 2000 the Environmental Protection Agency began enforcement of new standards for hospitals, medical and infectious waste incinerators |
| Clean Water Act, 1977 and Water Quality Act, 1987 | Protect the nation’s water from physical, chemical, and biological contamination and preventing point and nonpoint source pollution | |
| Solid Waste Disposal Act, 1965; Resource Recovery Act, 1970; Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) 1976; Hazardous Solid Waste Amendments, 1984; Medical Waste Tracking Act, 1988 | Regulation of hazardous chemical wastes; Regulation of municipal solid waste landfills; medical waste | |
| DOT | Hazardous Materials Transportation Act, 1977; Hazardous Materials Regulations, 49 CFR 171-180 | Transportation of hazardous substances, including infectious substances |
| NRC | Atomic Energy Act, 1990; NRC 2011-18767 | Radioactive wastes; protection of cesium-137 chloride sources |
| OSHA | 29 CFR 1910.141 (a)(4) (i-ii): 1998 | Sanitation/waste disposal |
| 29 CFR 1910.132;1998 | Personal protective equipment | |
| 29 CFR 1910.145;1998 | Specifications for accident prevention signs and tags | |
| 29 CFR 1910.1200;1998 | Hazard communication | |
| 29 CFR 1910.1030;1998 | Bloodborne pathogens | |
| 29 CFR 1910.1450;1998 | Occupational exposure to hazardous chemicals in the laboratory | |
| Department of Agriculture; CDC | 7 C.F.R. Part 331: Agriculture; 9 C.F.R. Part 121: Animals and Animal Products; 42 C.F.R. Part 73: Public Health | Federal Select Agent Program: destruction of agents, laboratory cultures; wastes generated during delivery of care to patients with Ebola would not be subject to federal Select Agent regulations if transferred or decontaminated within 7 days post patient care (See the exclusion provision in sections 3(d) and/or 4(d)) |
| Department of Homeland Security | Controls applied to laboratories with technology that contains certain radiological sources; FBI background checks to approved individuals |
a
EPA, Environmental Protection Agency; DOT, Department of Transportation; NRC, Nuclear Regulatory Commission; OSHA, Occupational Safety and Health Administration.