Healthcare risk waste and the transport of dangerous goods

In health and social care settings, healthcare waste is managed by segregating healthcare risk waste which is potentially infectious and hazardous from the bulk of waste which is domestic in nature.

All healthcare waste must be handled, stored, transported and disposed of with care, and particular precautions are required with healthcare risk waste due to its hazardous properties.  There are specific requirements for the safe collection, storage and disposal of waste (including the use of secure and identifiable containers) outlined in the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Biological Agents) Regulations 2013 (as amended).

Healthcare risk waste must be stored in appropriate United Nations (UN)-approved containers (either bags or bins, depending on the nature of the waste). These containers are designed to prevent leakage and are permanently marked with a hazard and specific content label.

There are requirements in place for the transportation of healthcare risk waste through the European Communities (Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment) Regulations 2011 (as amended). This legislation provides for the safe movement of dangerous goods, such as healthcare risk waste, infectious samples, chemicals and gases.

There may be a requirement for an employer to appoint a dangerous goods safety advisor (DGSA) depending on the quantities of healthcare risk waste and other dangerous substances that may be received by or sent from the site. Even facilities that do not require the formal appointment of a DGSA are likely to require input from a DGSA when conducting a site assessment in respect of this area of legislation.

The employer is responsible for the:

• assessment and classification of hazardous materials on-site;
• correct packaging, labelling and, when consigning goods as waste or otherwise, drawing up of transport documentation;
• safe storage of dangerous goods;
• identification and training of staff involved in handling dangerous goods, and particularly those with specific roles and responsibilities related to dangerous goods transport; and
• engagement of a competent waste contractor or carrier.

In some health and social care settings, service user samples are taken, packaged and labelled for transport to a laboratory, hospital or other clinical setting for analysis. There must be arrangements in place for the safe handling and transport of biological agents. The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Biological Agents) Regulations 2013 (as amended) and the European Communities (Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment) Regulations 2011 (as amended) must be adhered to.

Please note that some of the duties outlined in the European Communities (Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment) Regulations 2011 (as amended) may be passed to other duty holders, such as the specialist waste carriers/processors, but only by agreeing the transfer of duties in a written agreement signed by all parties (contract for carriage).

Further Information

• ADR – Road Transport of Dangerous Goods on the HSA website