2.4 Principle III: Limit the Spread of Blood and Saliva
Waste Disposal
 Although, as previously mentioned, programs are unlikely to use sharps, other than explorers, or to generate blood-soaked items, staff should be aware that disposal of regulated medical waste (e.g., sharps, blood-soaked gauze) must comply with OSHA rules and state regulations. The Ohio EPA administers the portions of the Ohio Revised Code and the Ohio Administrative Code relating to infectious waste, applicable local regulations, and Ohio State Dental Board (OSDB) requirements. Sharps containers should not be emptied and should be disposed of as soon as the contents reach the fill/full line.
In the unlikely event that an Ohio program generates regulated medical waste (e.g., blood-soaked gauze), that waste must be contained in a leak-resistant, securely fastened bag/container that is red or conspicuously labeled with the international biohazard symbol. Programs are typically small generators of infectious waste (less than 50 lbs. per month, with proper documentation of infectious waste’s weight available for each month), which means that they can dispose of both non-regulated waste (e.g., gloves, masks, disposable instruments, cotton rolls, protective coverings) and regulated waste (infectious waste) in regular trash bags without special handling.
It is best to consult with school personnel about their preferences before discarding non-regulated waste on-site. Any program that is concerned about its status as a small generator should refer to the state regulations in the Ohio Administrative Code Chapters 3734-21 and 3745-27.
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