Hazardous Biological Agents
Hazardous Biological Agents (HBA) are often found in Medical and Health Care Risk Waste (HCRW). HBA includes, but is not limited to, waste that is biological, pathological, genotoxic (harmful to genetic material) or infectious - it is capable of producing disease.
Examples include animal waste and body parts, human pathological waste, biological cultures, invasive species, and any material (such as surgical wraps, sanitary items, absorbent material, personal protective equipment, sharps, Petri dishes and vials) that contains or has been contaminated by a hazardous biological agent.
HBA is generated in research and diagnostic laboratories, pharmaceutical and health care facilities, sanitary services, and by individuals discarding materials containing potentially infectious human body fluids.
Rhodes University Procedures
Rhodes University requires all staff and students to adhere to its socially and environmentally responsible hazardous waste disposal practices, in line with the Occupational Health and Safety Act and Hazardous Biological Agents Regulations, 17. Disposal of HBA:
Each laboratory, pharmaceutical or health care facility, and sanitary service provider should manage the medical waste and Health Care Risk Waste generated in its area of responsibility.
- Infectious Health Care Risk Waste should be placed into designated, labelled bins, lined with red plastic bags, in the relevant laboratory or research facility.
- Store in a freezer (-5°C or colder) until disposal.
- Outdated medicines or drugs should be placed in sealed, labelled containers.
- Rhodes University Health Care Centre will accept expired medicine from staff and students.
- Only approved hazardous waste collection services should be used - Compass Waste collects from RU every second Tuesday.
Return to main Hazmat Waste Disposal page.
More Info
Return to Rhodes University's Safety front page. Questions/Suggestions? Contact safety(at)ru.ac.za
Last Modified: Thu, 01 Jun 2017 11:18:12 SAST