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4 min read

The Safe Handling of Health Care Waste Materials

Hospitals and health care facilities produce thousands of tonnes of medical waste every year. These materials may contain potentially harmful pathogens causing infections or spreading drug-resistant microorganisms.

medical waste such as gowns, needles and tubes

CSA Z317.10:2021, Handling of health care waste materials


The National Standard of Canada, CSA Z317.10:2021, outlines preventive measures to help protect patients, staff, visitors and the public from exposure to such materials within health care and veterinary facilities and outside traditional health care settings.

CSA Z317.10:2021 specifies requirements for the packaging, collection, handling, storage and on-site treatment and disposal of health care waste materials in:

  • health care facilities and mobile units;
  • veterinary facilities and mobile units;
  • blood banks and blood collection centres;
  • during emergency medical services and pre-hospital care;
  • home environment;
  • municipalities communities, public parks, restrooms, etc.;
  • personal service settings, including facilities providing tattoos, ear and body piercing, and aesthetic services.

CSA Z317.10:2021 also recommends recycling practices that can help protect the environment and promote sustainability.

The 2021 edition of CSA Z317.10 includes several important updates, including special precautions for managing waste contaminated by infectious substances and pathogens for the first time.

 

 

New Edition Highlights

The fifth edition of CSA Z317.10:2021 includes:

  • a new clause dedicated to cytotoxic waste; and
  • special precautions associated with the management of Category A waste and waste contaminated with Risk Group 3 and Risk Group 4 known infectious substances or pathogens.

Yellow clinical waste bin


Related Standards

CSA N292.3-2014 (R2019)

This Standard provides requirements specific to the management of low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste in solid, liquid, or gaseous states.


CSA Z316.6:2020

This document specifies requirements for reusable sharps containers intended to hold potentially hazardous sharps medical waste with or without sharps protection features, e.g. scalpel blades, trocars, hypodermic needles and syringes.


CSA Z317.1:2021

This Standard addresses the special requirements of plumbing systems pertinent to the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of health care facilities (HCFs).


CSA Z317.2:2019

This Standard provides requirements for the planning, design, construction, commissioning, operation, and maintenance of HVAC systems in HCFs.


CSA Z317.13:2017

This Standard defines precautionary and remedial measures, including quality system requirements, for preventing exposure to agents released or augmented because of actions undertaken during health care facility construction, renovation, maintenance, and repair work.

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healthcare-waste

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