Preface
This is the third edition of CSA Z317.10, Handling of waste materials in health care facilities and veterinary health care facilities. It supersedes the previous editions, published in 2001, and in 1988 under the title Handling of Waste Materials Within Health Care Facilities. It is one of a series of Standards related to health care facility engineering and sets forth preventive measures intended to protect patients, staff, and visitors from exposure to potentially hazardous waste materials.
Scope
1.1
This Standard specifies requirements for the packaging, collection, handling, storage, and on-site treatment and disposal of waste materials within health care facilities and veterinary health care facilities.
1.2
This Standard applies to health care facilities and veterinary health care facilities.
Note: This Standard may also be applied to the following:
(a) medical research and teaching facilities;
(b) veterinary research and teaching facilities;
(c) some research laboratories where the waste generated is within the scope of this Standard;
(d) vaccine production facilities;
(e) vaccine testing facilities;
(f) mortuaries and funeral homes;
(g) coroners' offices;
(h) blood banks;
(i) blood collection centres; and
(j) personal service facilities (e.g., providing tattoo, ear/body piercing, aesthetic, and electrolysis services).
1.3
This Standard does not provide technical requirements for off-site transportation or disposal of waste after removal from a facility.
Notes:
(1) Such requirements are specified in federal, provincial/territorial, and municipal regulations and legislation.
(2) Facilities may consider practices that minimize the environmental impact of the waste generated.
1.4
This Standard does not address the special precautions associated with material contaminated with infectious substances requiring a Containment Level 3 or higher.
Note: For further information, see The Laboratory Biosafety Guidelines (Health Canada), the Containment Standards for Veterinary Facilities (Canadian Food Inspection Agency), and the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act and the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations, Schedule 7.
1.5
In CSA Standards, shall is used to express a requirement, i.e., a provision that the user is obliged to satisfy in order to comply with the standard; should is used to express a recommendation or that which is advised but not required; may is used to express an option or that which is permissible within the limits of the standard; and can is used to express possibility or capability.
Notes accompanying clauses do not include requirements or alternative requirements; the purpose of a note accompanying a clause is to separate from the text explanatory or informative material.
Notes to tables and figures are considered part of the table or figure and may be written as requirements.
Annexes are designated normative (mandatory) or informative (non-mandatory) to define their application.
