Interwaste SOP22 Collection, Transport & Disposal of Ebola Contaminated Wastes Reviewed: 30 October 2014

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THE COLLECTION, TRANSPORT AND DISPOSAL OF EBOLA CONTAMINATED WASTES

1. HAZARDS:

Ebola is categorised as UN 2814 Infectious Substance - Category A: An infectious substance which is transported

in a form that, when exposure to it occurs is capable of causing permanent disability, life-threatening or fatal disease in otherwise healthy humans or animals. SPECIFIC HAZARDS:

- Waste spills

- Needle sticks

- Infection

- Spread of disease

HAZARD CONTROL:

- Packaging in compliance with NZS5433:2012 – packing instruction P620

- Minimise risk by minimising staff involved

- Comprehensive provision of and training in use of PPE

- Development of an EBOLA specific spill containment plan in the event of accident during

transport and at site

- Communication with all relevant stakeholders

2. WASTE COLLECTION PROCESS:

2.1. Any collection of EBOLA waste to be scheduled as a dedicated service to remove the chance of

cross contamination of other waste and minimise transport requirement.

2.2. Transportation route to be agreed with relevant authorities and driver is not to stop on route

once the collection has been loaded.

2.3. Driver to wear all PPE specified in this SoP prior to handling of waste containers.

2.4. Waste is only to be collected if packaged in accordance with NZS5433:2012 – packing

instruction P620 (see Section 5)

2.5. A drum trolley must be used to assist moving the drum, do not roll the drum.

2.6. Waste drums are to be loaded into the truck and secured using strapping to avoid movement

during transport.

2.7. Driver must perform a visual inspection of the vehicle to determine that it is closed and free of

leakage before commencing transport.

2.8. Collections to be scheduled so that waste drums are unloaded directly from the collection

vehicle and immediately loaded into the autoclave for processing.

2.9. Collection vehicle is to be disinfected immediately following unloading of waste.

2.10. The collection driver must then remove his disposable clothing and place that in a designated

plant bin to also be treated in the next autoclave load.

Interwaste SOP22 Collection, Transport & Disposal of Ebola Contaminated Wastes Reviewed: 30 October 2014

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3. WASTE HANDLING AND TREATMENT WITHIN PLANT:

3.1. Plant is to be made aware of Ebola waste collections and to ensure that processing capacity is

available when the collection vehicle arrives.

3.2. Plant staff handling the waste drums and involved with waste processing are to be minimised

to avoid any potential exposures.

3.3. All plant staff are to wear PPE specified in this SoP.

3.4. A drum trolley must be used to assist moving the drum, do not roll the drum.

3.5. Only the driver and plant supervisor are to be involved in the handling of the drum

3.6. Locks/seals on the drums are removed and the entire drums are to be loaded into the

autoclaves using mechanical assistance where possible. No manual handling of any waste bags

is to be performed.

3.7. Waste is treated using the normal autoclave process.

3.8. Following completion of the treatment process the inert waste will be loaded into the waste

bin for transport to landfill.

3.9. Landfill is to be notified prior to delivery.

3.10. After completion of the process Plant staff are to remove all PPE and place that in a designated

plant bin which must be treated in the next load.

4. PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT:

Ebola is spread through direct contact (e.g., through broken skin or through mucous membranes of the

eyes, nose, or mouth) with blood or body fluids of a person who is sick with Ebola or with objects (e.g.,

needles, syringes) that have been contaminated with the virus.

EBOLA contaminated waste will only be collected when packaged in accordance with transportation

regulations which are designed to remove the risk of transport or plant staff coming into direct contact

with the contaminated waste, ie the waste is fully contained and triple bagged to ensure containment

even in the event of an accident.

All Interwaste procedures prohibit manual handling of the waste at any stage thereby endeavouring to

eliminate the possibility of direct contact. As a precaution PPE with near full body coverage is to be used

to further reduce the risk of self-contamination.

This level of PPE is not intended to be sufficient for dealing with a spill or other direct exposure to

contaminated product. In the unlikely event of a package breaking during transport or within the

treatment site, spill containment procedures noted in section 6 are to be followed.

DRIVERS

4.1. Disposable gloves – two pairs

4.2. Disposable coveralls

4.3. Goggles when handling drum (loading and unloading)

4.4. Face mask when handling the drum

4.5. All PPE is to be placed in an autoclave bin and loaded into the autoclave for treatment after

use.

Interwaste SOP22 Collection, Transport & Disposal of Ebola Contaminated Wastes Reviewed: 30 October 2014

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Boots

PLANT OPERATORS

4.6. Disposable gloves – two pairs

4.7. Disposable coveralls

4.8. Goggles when handling drum (loading and unloading)

4.9. Face mask when handling the drum

4.10. All PPE is to be placed in an autoclave bin and loaded into the autoclave for treatment after

use

5 PACKAGING REQUIREMENTS:

Packaging of class UN2814 Category A waste in accordance with the requirements of NZS5433:2012,

packing instruction P620, is the responsibility of the waste generator.

Based upon current international best practise, Interwaste expects that this will involve a combination

of 3 inner and outer packaging’s.

It is noted that as drafted packing instruction P620 does not specifically contemplate the transport of

UN2814 wastes in bulk. It is primarily concerned with the packing of laboratory specimens. As such the

use of 240L wheelie bins as the primary outer packaging for the waste will not meet current

regulations.

INNER PACKAGING

5.1 Waste materials must be placed in a minimum of 3 inner film bags (inner Packagings),

5.2 Film bags used must have a minimum thickness of 1.5mils (38 microns). The bags must meet

an impact resistance of 165 grams and tearing resistance of 480 grams in both parallel and

perpendicular planes with respect to the length of the bag.

5.3 The inner bags must all be closed and sealed securely by balloon tying or cable ties to prevent

the release of any material from the bag when inverted.

5.4 The film bags must be compatible with disinfectant used to treat the waste material.

5.5 Interwaste will provide the outer bag (3rd layer) by way of a drum liner.

5.6 The drum liner will be in the drum when delivered.

5.7 The waste generator must double bag the waste, tying each bag prior to being placed into the

drum.

5.8 The drum liner bag must then be tied off and the drum lid applied and fastened shut

Gloves

Interwaste SOP22 Collection, Transport & Disposal of Ebola Contaminated Wastes Reviewed: 30 October 2014

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OUTER PACKAGING

5.9 The outer packaging will consist of a hard shell UN approved drum. This complies with

transport regulations NZS 5433

5.10 The drum must be securely closed by applying the lid fastening clamp.

5.11 A quantity of absorbent material sufficient to absorb all free liquid (if any) in case of an inner

packaging breach must be placed in the bottom of the drum prior to loading the waste.

5.12 The exterior of the drum must be disinfected prior to loading in the transport vehicles.

Note – all bags and drums need to be labelled appropriately for UN 2814, and for completed Dangerous

Goods transport documentation to be supplied to the driver.

UN Rated Drum with liner

UN Rated Drum with liner

Drum fastening clamp

Securely fastened drum

Interwaste SOP22 Collection, Transport & Disposal of Ebola Contaminated Wastes Reviewed: 30 October 2014

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5. EMERGENCY SPILL CONTAINMENT PROCEDURES

IMEDIATE EMERGENCY ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN BY THE DRIVER IN THE EVENT OF AN

INCIDENT OR ACCIDENT IN TRANSIT OF EBOLA CONTAMINATED WASTE

In the event of an accident that may or has resulted in a spillage or damage to the packaging

take the following steps;

1. Stop the vehicle (if not already stopped) and check for injuries of yourself and co driver

If safe to do so, move the vehicle off the road and secure it.

If the load compartment is damaged or leaking, leave the vehicle where it is.

2. Make the vehicle safe;

Apply handbrake

Switch off engine

Do not open the vehicle load compartment – keep the door closed

3. Contact emergency services

Dial 111. Ask for fire service - hazmat and provide the following details;

1 Where the incident occurred

2 Casualty details

3 What has happened

4 What is being carried, have DG docs available

- EBOLA Contaminated waste

- UN Number 2814

- Class - 6.2

- Quantity- Number and type of containers and approximate weight if

possible

- Condition of the load - Is the load still secure or has any waste spilled from the

vehicle and or the drums

- What has been done – i.e. traffic control, pulled off the road etc.

- Follow all instructions given by emergency services

4. Control the area

Cordon off area

Use cones to divert traffic around the incident area

Prevent all but emergency services public from approaching the vehicle

State that you are carrying hazardous waste and instruct them to stay away from the

vehicle

Stay up wind of the vehicle

If anyone is exposed to the waste then keep them at the scene in an isolated place away

from others.

5. When emergency services arrive, assist as requested but they will be in charge of the situation

REMEMBER; THERE IS NO NEED TO PANIC. THE WASTE HAS BEEN PACKAGED TO WITHSTAND IMPACT.

Interwaste SOP22 Collection, Transport & Disposal of Ebola Contaminated Wastes Reviewed: 30 October 2014

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IMMEDIATE EMERGENCY ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN BY THE OPERATIONS MANAGER IN THE

EVENT OF AN INCIDENT OR ACCIDENT AT THE TREATMENT SITE FOR EBOLA CONTAMINATED

WASTE

In the event of an accident during waste treatment that may or has resulted in a spillage or

damage to the packaging take the following steps;

1. Stop what you are doing

If safe to do so, move the drum to a safe area.

If the drum is damaged or leaking, leave it where it is.

2. Contact emergency services. Decision of the operations manager who will be in attendance

Dial 111. Ask for fire service - hazmat and provide the following details;

1 Where the incident occurred

2 Casualty details

3 What has happened

4 What is being handled,

- EBOLA Contaminated waste

- UN Number – 2814

- Class - 6.2

- Quantity- Number and type of containers and approximate weight if

possible

- Condition of the drums - has any waste spilled from the drums

- What has been done – i.e. isolated the drum etc.

- Follow all instructions given by emergency services

3. Control the area

Cordon off area

Prevent all but emergency services from approaching the work area

Keep doors closed at all times

If anyone is exposed to the waste then keep them at the scene in an isolated place away

from others.

4. When emergency services arrive, assist as requested but they will be in charge of the situation