From Darby Booth - WARWICK SASCO Ltd. U.K.

Re- Transportation of Used Instruments (and Equipment)

Are there any standards or specificationsfor the design and function of boxes /containers for returning 'used', conatminated instruments to Sterile Services Department? We are informed by some managers that containers

• must be made in blue colour.
• show the boi-hazard logo

But, where are these specifications from? Your help on this subject would be appreciated.

Dear,

Is it possible that there is some confusion? I don't know of any regulations obliging the use of blue recipients with (normally) a yellow cover and the bio-hazard logo for the transport of used instruments. I would advice you not to use them for this purpose to avoid loss of intruments. Because the blue containers you are referring to are used by hospitals - anyway in Belgium - to transport risky medical waste to the incinerator.

From Mr Paul Gezels, WIVA company: www.wiva.nl, we received the following information on the Flemish waste legislation:
"Waste of medical care products falls under Category 6.2 (infectious materials).
A list of materials defined as medical waste is provided in Vlarea, appendix 5.5.3.2.A.
Waste is classified on the basis of risk group.
Risk group 1 small risk, does not fall under Category 6.2: could but does not have to be stored in a container.
Risk group 2 moderate individual, limited collective risk.
Risk group 3 either UN 2814/UN 2900 (extra difficult inspection). The applicable packaging regulation is P 620. or not specified, then UN 3291. The applicable packaging regulation is P 621.
UN 2814 infectious materials, harmful to human beings
UN 2900 infectious materials, harmful to animals
UN 3291 unspecified hospital waste
UN 3249 cytostatic materials
UN 3245 genetically modified (micro)organisms
Most medical waste is collected in a waste container and transported under code 3291. The container has to have a UN identification mark. Our UN mark is on the side of the container, below the lid. The number following the letter Y is important: it indicates the maximum weight of the waste that can be put into the container.
The container also has to have an ADR label, model 6.2; the label is rhombic and measures 10 by 10 cm, number 6, infectious logo and a black band.
Vlarea also stipulates (chapter 5.5.3.5) that on all hospital waste in Flandres an A4 sticker has to be affixed, which has to be filled out by the hospital itself and by the collecting service."
Paul Gezels
Email:
www.wiva.nl

A summary of the EU waste directives you can find e.g. on: www.otzo.most.org.pl/en/docs/EU_Directives.pdf

I hope this information helps you.
Best regards,
Wim Renders.

PS: On the wiva website you can find examples of blue hospital waste containers.