DOT CFR49 and UN3373 Compliance

Two different regulations were made as a guide for the rules that need to be followed when working with hazardous materials to ensure that biological and infectious substances are appropriately handled and shipped safely. As part Title 49, the Department of Transport (DOT CFR49), was made to issue some requirements that shippers of these materials need to follow. Section 137 goes explicitly into details about the different packaging methods in regards to various modes of transportation, the different specifications and the responsibilities of the shippers. UN3373 Category B packaging regulations were also made to individually handle biological and infectious substances, which goes together with the CFR 49 requirements. This packaging needs to include the container to hold the material, a material that is wrapped around the container in case of spills, and an outer packaging container for it to be transported in.
Anytime that potentially hazardous bio-waste is moved around within, or outside of a testing lab, medical facility, or surgery center, it needs to have enough absorbent material inside of it to protect the waste container unit in case it leaks, or breakage occurs. Safetec’s Zorb sheets are lightweight sheets that can absorb or encapsulate any fluid spills that might occur during shipping and handling. Including these with a container holding an infectious substance would add that extra protection. Safetec’s Red Z/ Green-Z Drop-In Pacs, which are a medical solidifier that instantly absorbs and solidifies any liquid fluid waste, could also be included within the shipping of these substances. Now with the water-soluble paper, it makes cleaning up spills quicker and easier. Some other things that can be used are the red bag waste, sharps container, suction canister, biological specimen bag or specimen bag, or a medical device.

This prevents the threat of cross-contamination within the facility to staff members, and ultimately reduces the risk of exposure of infectious waste to the patient. Therefore, using Safetec’s solidifying products will allow our medical facility to be compliant with the handling and transport protection of potentially hazardous/infectious bio-waste. All medical and surgery workers strive to be compliant with the disposal of their bio-burden to adhere to the procedures & guidelines set-forth by The Joint Commission, which is the governing body for all hospitals and surgery centers in the USA.