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Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies (Last Updated: June 14,2023) |
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Title21a Consumer Protection |
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SubTitle21a-66-1_21a-66-3. Safe Handling and Disposal of Hypodermic Needles and Syringes |
| Sec. 21a-66-1. Definitions |
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Latest version.
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(a) Hypodermic needles and syringes means needles, syringes and any other types of intravascular device including but not limited to indwelling catheters and introducers, except that needles which are specifically used to administer antineoplastic agents shall be handled in accordance with existing Department of Environmental Protection Regulations for the handling of such wastes. (b) Biomedical Waste means untreated solid waste which requires special handling as defined in Sec. 22a-207 (17) of the Connecticut General Statutes. (c) Treatment when used in connection with biomedical waste, means any method, technique, or process which is designed to change the character or composition of any biomedical waste so as to render such waste non-infectious, non-injurious, safer for storage, for transport, and reduced in volume. |
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(Effective May 19, 1989) |
| Sec. 21a-66-2. Safety procedures concerning hypodermic needles and syringes |
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Latest version.
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Each health-care institution licensed pursuant to Chapter 368v of the Connecticut General Statutes, each laboratory licensed pursuant to Section 19a-30 of the Connecticut General Statutes, and all other generators of biomedical waste as defined in Section 22a-207 of the Connecticut General Statutes, as amended, shall forthwith establish and implement procedures for the handling and disposal of hypodermic needles and syringes in accordance with the following safety and control measures. (a) Used hypodermic needles and syringes shall be placed intact directly into rigid puncture-resistant containers and the following procedure shall be followed: (1) Needles shall not be resheathed, purposely bent, broken, removed from disposable syringes, or otherwise manipulated by hand; (2) Notwithstanding the requirement set forth in Subsection (a) (1), injectable equipment having self-contained secondary precautionary type sheathing devices may be utilized in accordance with its manufacturer's directions, and resheathing may occur when technical procedure involved requires resheathing as part of that procedure; (3) Containers shall be located in close proximity to the area in which hypodermic needles and syringes are used to minimize the hazards of injury or transmission of infection during transport; (4) The container lid opening shall be a one way system to prevent spillage, and this shall render the items contained therein nonreuseable; (5) Containers shall be maintained under secure conditions at all times; and (6) Prior to treatment, containers shall be stored in a designated area accessible only to authorized personnel. (b) Containers of hypodermic needles and syringes shall be considered to be biomedical waste, and shall be treated to render them non-recoverable in accordance with any existing Department of Enviromental Protection Regulations regarding biomedical waste or in accordance with any other methods specifically approved by the Commissioner of Consumer Protection in consultation with the Commissioners of Health Services and Environmental Protection. (c) If treatment is not done onsite, these wastes shall be safely transported in sealed, impervious containers to another facility for appropriate treatment. (d) Personnel involved in the handling and disposal of hypodermic needles and syringes shall be informed of the potential health and safety hazards, and trained in the appropriate handling and disposal procedures. (e) Each facility shall monitor staff performance for adherence to the established handling and disposal procedures. (f) Policy for disposal of these wastes by a health care facility shall be available for review by the Department of Health Services or the Commissioner of Consumer Protection. |
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(Effective May 19, 1989) |
| Sec. 21a-66-3. Purchase, possession, control and use of hypodermic needles and syringes |
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Latest version.
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(a) The purchase, possession, control, and use of hypodermic needles and syringes by commercial or industrial firms pursuant to Section 21a-65 (a) (6) of the Connecticut General Statutes shall be considered to be authorized by the Commissioner of Consumer Protection provided that such businesses attest to the following in a written statement which they shall provide to the commissioner: (1) that there exists an essential need for such devices in any function of their operation; (2) that there are no devices, tools, or equipment modifications which may be used as an alternative to the use of hypodermic needles and syringes; (3) that there shall be maintained only those quantities of hypodermic needles and syringes which are essential for normal efficient operations; (4) that security safeguards and inventory control systems have been established which are adequate to detect any loss or diversion of hypodermic needles and syringes; and (5) that access to stocks of hypodermic needles and syringes is limited to only those employees who have a legitimate need to handle these devices in the normal course of business. (b) It shall be within the discretion of the Commissioner to determine whether such firms meet the requirements of subsection (a) of this section. |
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(Effective May 19, 1989) |