How To: Lab Waste

Summary

This video provides an essential guide to lab waste disposal, highlighting the proper handling of biological and chemical waste, sharps, and glassware. It emphasizes the importance of following Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) guidelines for safe and compliant disposal practices. Biological waste, including liquids, sharps, and solids, must be properly segregated and disposed of in designated containers. Chemical waste requires correct labeling and storage in satellite waste accumulation areas. The video also touches on glassware and sharps disposal, ensuring safety in the lab environment. Overall, it stresses the importance of safety training and proper waste management protocols.

Takeaways

• 😀 Proper lab waste disposal is crucial for safety, as labs generate hazardous biological, chemical, and other waste materials.
• 😀 Biological waste includes potentially infectious materials such as blood, animal tissues, and genetically modified organisms, categorized into liquids, sharps, and solids.
• 😀 Solids (e.g., petri dishes, test tubes) must be disposed of in red-lined biowaste containers, sealed when three-quarters full, and collected by trained personnel.
• 😀 Sharps, such as needles or blades, contaminated with biological waste must be disposed of in puncture-resistant containers, not in regular biowaste bags.
• 😀 Liquid biological waste should be disinfected with a 10% bleach solution and left for at least 20 minutes before being rinsed down the drain.
• 😀 Autoclaving liquid biological waste is another option, but never combine it with disinfectants like bleach, as this could cause hazardous reactions.
• 😀 Chemical waste can range from harmless substances like salt solutions to hazardous chemicals, which must be disposed of following specific EHS guidelines.
• 😀 Non-hazardous chemicals (like sodium chloride) can be disposed of down the drain, while hazardous chemicals require specialized containers in designated waste areas.
• 😀 Waste containers for hazardous chemicals must be clearly labeled with the chemical's full name, ingredients, hazard classifications, and contact information.
• 😀 Waste containers for chemicals should be closed properly after use, and pickups should be arranged when containers are three-quarters full to avoid overflows.
• 😀 Glassware and other sharps that are not contaminated by hazardous waste should be disposed of in designated boxes to prevent injury and ensure safe disposal.

Q & A

What is the primary concern when disposing of lab waste?

The primary concern is ensuring that lab waste, which could include hazardous, infectious, or harmful materials, is disposed of properly to protect both the people handling it and the environment. Each type of waste requires specific disposal protocols.

What types of waste are considered biological waste (biowaste)?

Biowaste includes potentially infectious materials to humans, animals, and plants, genetically modified materials, animal carcasses, and human and animal tissues or pathological waste.

How are solid biological waste materials disposed of?

Solid biowaste is placed in designated containers lined with red bags stamped with the universal biowaste symbol. When the containers are three-quarters full, they should be tied with a single knot and disposed of according to Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) guidelines.

What are the rules for disposing of sharps contaminated with biological waste?

Sharps contaminated with biowaste, like needles or blades, should be placed in puncture-proof containers, typically red, with the biowaste symbol. Once full, these containers should be sealed and disposed of as per EHS guidelines.

How should liquid biological waste be treated before disposal?

Liquid biological waste, such as bacterial cultures, should be disinfected with a chemical disinfectant like bleach before being washed down the drain. The disinfectant should reach a final concentration of 10%, and the waste should sit for at least 20 minutes before disposal.

Can liquid biological waste be autoclaved before disposal?

Yes, liquid biological waste can be autoclaved prior to disposal, but it should not be treated with chemical disinfectants before autoclaving. Combining bleach with autoclave treatment is dangerous and should be avoided.

How should hazardous chemical waste be handled in the lab?

Hazardous chemical waste should be collected in special bins labeled according to EHS rules. These bins are often stored in satellite waste accumulation areas, like fume hoods, to prevent exposure to fumes. Waste should be stored in secondary containers, and EHS should be called when bins are three-quarters full.

What should be included on a waste label for a chemical like FAA?

The label should include the full names and percentages of the chemicals involved (e.g., formaldehyde, ethanol, glacial acetic acid), the associated hazards, the storage location, and contact information for the lab. The date should only be filled in once the container is full and ready for pickup.

What is the rule for disposing of sharps that are not contaminated with biological or hazardous chemical waste?

Sharps that are not contaminated with biological or hazardous chemical waste should still be placed in a special sharps container, but it does not need to be a red biowaste container. Regular trash should not be used for sharps to avoid injury.

What should you do with broken glassware in the lab?

Broken glassware should be placed in a special glassware disposal box. This box is designed to prevent injury from sharp shards and ensures that the glass is disposed of safely, either in the regular trash or recycling, as long as it is clean and not contaminated with hazardous materials.