WAC 246-500-030   Refrigeration or embalming of human remains.  (1) Funeral directors, embalmers, and others assisting in the preparation of human remains for final disposition must refrigerate or embalm the remains upon receipt.

     (2) Funeral directors, embalmers, and others assisting in the preparation of human remains for final disposition may delay refrigeration upon receipt or remove human remains from refrigeration for the following activities:

     (a) Embalming;

     (b) Transporting;

     (c) Cremating or burying;

     (d) Viewing for identification for a period of time not to exceed one hour by a person able to identify the deceased;

     (e) Washing, anointing, clothing, praying over, reading to, singing to, sitting with, guarding, viewing, or otherwise accompanying the deceased for a period of time not to exceed twenty-four hours by persons acting according to the directions of the deceased or the person having the right to control the disposition of the remains under RCW 68.50.160, provided that anyone directly touching the remains uses barrier precautions according to requirements under WAC 246-500-020 (1)(b); or

     (f) As otherwise approved by the local health officer after evaluating specific circumstances, the need to protect public health, and recognition of religious beliefs.

     (3) A funeral director, embalmer, or other person assisting in the preparation of human remains for final disposition must prohibit activities otherwise allowed under subsection (2)(e) of this section if informed by a local health officer or medical examiner that such activities would pose a direct threat to human health.

     (4) Nothing in this section restricts the authority of a coroner or medical examiner when human remains are under his or her jurisdiction in accordance with RCW 68.50.010.



[Statutory Authority: RCW 43.20.050 and 18.39.215. 06-17-182, § 246-500-030, filed 8/23/06, effective 9/23/06.]