WAC 296-823-14025   Make sure items are appropriately labeled.  

Exemptions:	The following are exempt from the labeling requirements of this chapter:
	• Individual containers placed in an appropriately labeled secondary container.
	• Regulated waste that has been decontaminated.
	• Containers of blood, blood components, or blood products that are labeled with their contents and have been released for transfusion or other clinical use.
	• Extracted teeth, gallstones, kidney stones, or other tissues and body substances that are given to patients.

     You must:

     • Attach appropriate labels to:

     – Containers used to store, transport, or ship blood or other potentially infectious materials (OPIM) including:

     ▪ Refrigerators

     ▪ Freezers.

     – Sharps containers

     – Contaminated equipment

     – Laundry bags and containers

     – Specimen containers

     – Regulated waste containers.

     • Make sure that labels:

     ▪ Include the following symbol:



     ▪ Are all or mostly fluorescent orange or orange-red with lettering and symbol in a contrasting color

     ▪ Are attached to the container by string, wire, adhesive, or other method so they can't become lost or accidentally removed.

Note:	Red bags or red containers may be substituted for labels as long as they're:
	• Covered in the exposure control plan
	• Communicated to all affected employees (including employees of laundry services, disposal services, and transport companies) whether they're your employees or not.
	• The label does not always need to be attached to each individual container.
	• For example, a cart carrying specimen containers could be labeled, rather than each individual container.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, and 49.17.060. 04-12-070, § 296-823-14025, filed 6/1/04, effective 9/1/04; 03-09-110, § 296-823-14025, filed 4/22/03, effective 8/1/03.]