Under the “Medical Waste Tracking Act of 1988,” the EPA conducted a model waste management program and concluded all of the following, EXCEPT for one. Which one is the exception?
A. Due to the biological instability of most microorganisms commonly regarded as human pathogens, the actual adverse environmental or public health consequences or risks were negligible.
B. The disease-causing potential of medical waste is greatest at the point of generation.
C. Medical waste primarily represents an occupational health hazard.
D. The model program regulated medical waste in twelve states.
Which of the following federal agencies is responsible for safe and healthy working conditions?
A. EPA
B. OSHA
C. FDA
D. NIOSH
All of the following statements with respect to the responsibilities of an Office medical Waste manager are correct, EXCEPT for one. Which one is the exception?
A. Should be familiar with pertinent federal, state and local requirements for RMW management.
B. Is solely responsible for the creation and maintenance of a safe and healthy work environment.
C. Should develop, implement, and maintain a written RMW management protocol that meets federal, state, and local requirements.
D. Act as advisor on RMW management matters to all office personnel.
A defective lead apron is best characterized as _______________.
A. office waste
B. universal waste
C. medical waste
D. hazardous waste
Based on the OSHA definition, RMW generated in oral healthcare settings may include all of the following EXCEPT for one. Which one is the exception?
A. Contaminated sharps
B. Contaminated items that would release blood or OPIM in a liquid or semiliquid state if compressed and items caked with dried blood or OPIM and are capable of releasing these materials during handling
C. Liquid or semi-liquid blood and OPIM; and pathological, and microbiological waste
D. Sanitary napkins
All of the following are considered preventive measures to minimize occupational exposure to RMW, EXCEPT for one. Which one is the exception?
A. Engineering controls
B. Work practice controls
C. Maintaining a Sharps injury Log
D. The use of personal protective equipment
All of the following statements with respect to waste segregation and office waste are correct, EXCEPT for one. Which one is the exception?
A. The various waste categories generated in oral healthcare facilities (office waste, hazardous waste, universal waste, and medical waste) must be separated at their points of origin.
B. There are very specific requirements for the containment of office waste.
C. Most waste generated in oral healthcare settings is office waste.
D. The waste receptacle, lined with a plastic liner bag, should be of sufficient size and strength to accommodate the type and quantity of office waste generated.
All of the following statements related to medical waste are correct, EXCEPT for one. Which one is the exception?
A. Needles, scalpel blades, suture needles, endodontic files, orthodontic wires, local anesthetic cartridges, and glass slides, even if unused, must be considered RMW.
B. Unfixed oral tissues removed during surgery, biopsies, and extracted teeth are not considered RMW.
C. Generally, gauze, cotton balls or rolls, swabs, and used dressings containing small amounts of blood or OPIM are not considered RMW.
D. Generally, disposable non-absorbent materials such as gowns, gloves, drapes, bracket table covers, rubber dams, patient bibs, and face masks are not considered RMW.
As many as one-third of all sharps injuries occur during the disposal process as a result of all the following, EXCEPT for one. Which one is the exception?
A. Inadequate sharps disposal container design
B. Inappropriate sharps disposal container placement
C. Inappropriate sharps disposal handling practices, including overfilling of sharps disposal containers by HCP
D. Failure to regularly shake the sharps container to settle the contents
OSHA mandates all of the following, EXCEPT for one. Which one is the exception?
A. Sharps disposal containers be puncture resistant, the sides and the bottom be leak-proof, and they be closable (i.e., they have a lip, flap, door, or other means of closing the container).
B. Sharps disposal containers be labeled with the universal biohazard symbol and the word “SHARPS-HAZARD,” and/or color-coded red.
C. The labels on sharps disposal containers must be fluorescent orange or orange-red, with the symbol and lettering in a contrasting color.
D. Sharps containers must be closable (i.e., they have a lip, flap, door, or other means of closing the container).
NIOSH recommends all of the following, EXCEPT for one. Which one is the exception?
A. The placement of a sharps container of sufficient size, i.e., one that accommodates both the volume generated and the largest sharp used, at each workstation.
B. That the sharps container be readily accessible, i.e., without obstacles between the user and the container.
C. That horizontally, sharps containers must be located within easy arm’s reach and the vertical height must be below eye level, i.e., the user must have a clear, unobstructed view of the container’s opening.
D. The sharps container be placed in an isolated secure location, such as the back of the central storage space.
All of the following statements about the sharps disposal container are correct, EXCEPT for one. Which one is the exception?
A. Sharps containers must be kept upright throughout use to keep the sharps and any liquid from spilling out.
B. The fill status of the container must be obvious under prevailing lighting conditions at the workstation.
C. The container’s opening must be identifiable and easily accessible by the user and must facilitate one-handed disposal of sharps.
D. Intact local anesthetic cartridges may not be disposed of in a sharps container.
All of the following statements related to the safe handling of contaminated needles are correct, EXCEPT for one. Which one is the exception?
A. Careful recapping of the local anesthetic syringe is permissible.
B. If bending or removing of a needle from the syringe is necessary, it must be accomplished with the use of a mechanical device or a one-handed technique.
C. Recapping must be accomplished by the one-handed “scoop technique,” i.e., using the needle itself to pick up the cap and then pushing the cap against a hard surface to ensure a tight fit over the needle.
D. Contaminated disposable needles must never be sheared or broken.
All of the following statements related to solid RMW are correct, EXCEPT for one. Which one is the exception?
A. OSHA requires that solid RMW be placed in containers that are closable, constructed to contain all contents, and prevent leakage of fluids during handling, storage, transport, or shipping.
B. Biohazard bags used to collect RMW within a facility must be certified by the manufacturer to meet the American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM) ASTM D1709 Impact Resistance Of Polyethylene Film By The Free-Falling Dart Method.
C. Autoclavable biohazard bags are available and some feature an indicator that changes to read "AUTOCLAVED” during steam sterilization; but RMW that has been decontaminated still needs to be labeled or color-coded.
D. It is recommended to place a larger general office waste container beside the regulated waste container.
All of the following statements related to liquid RMW generated by suctioning during surgical procedures are correct, EXCEPT for one. Which one is the exception?
A. Liquid RMW generated by suctioning during surgical procedures may be decanted directly into clinical sinks unless prohibited by state or local regulations.
B. In the absence of a surgical sink, liquid RMW generated by suctioning during surgical procedures may be decanted into the hand washing sink.
C. If discharge into a sanitary sewer is prohibited, liquid RMW must be placed into a rigid container, labeled or color coded red and double bagged using biohazard bags.
D. The State-by-State Regulated Medical Waste Resource Locator is good resource for the OMWM to determine available options for the disposal of liquid RMW.
All of the following statements about storing RMW prior to disposal are correct, EXCEPT for one. Which one is the exception?
A. The storage of RMW must be in accordance with applicable regulations of the United States, States and Territories, and political subdivisions of States and Territories.
B. RMW must be stored in a designated, conveniently located storage area such as under the sink in the treatment room.
C. In preparation for storage, sharps containers must be closed, if there is a chance of leakage, the container must be placed in a secondary container.
D. Red biohazard bags must be “twist tied,” if a bag seems especially heavy, it must be place inside another red biohazard bag prior to moving it to storage.
All of the following statements relative to the disposal of RMW are correct, EXCEPT for one. Which one is the exception?
A. The disposal of RMW is regulated by specific OSHA mandates.
B. Most states require that RMW be treated before disposal and most states allow on-site treatment.
C. The most common on-site treatment methods include (1) steam sterilization (autoclaving), (2) microwave sterilization, (3) chemical disinfection, and (4) sewer discharge for liquid RMW.
D. Some states require permits for any type of on-site treatment; other states leave it up to the generator to select a treatment method based on current best practices.
All of the following statements relative to off-site shipping of RMW for treatment and disposal are correct, EXCEPT for one. Which one is the exception?
A. In nearly all states, transporters of RMW must have a transport permit to pick up and transport the waste to a treatment and disposal facility.
B. The United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) mandates that the biohazard bags used to line approved shipping containers for transport of RMW from the generator's facility to a treatment and disposal facility be certified by the manufacturer to meet USDOT standards.
C. If the biohazard bags used to collect and transport RMW within a facility meet impact resistance of 165 grams by the ASTM D1709 method, it meets USDOT requirements for shipping RMW from the generator's facility to a treatment and disposal facility.
D. OSHA requires that RMW containers be closed prior to removal from the workstation to prevent spillage or protrusion of contents during handling, storage, transport, or shipping.
All of the following statements related to recordkeeping, reporting, and tracking of RMW are correct, EXCEPT for one. Which one is the exception?
A. Some states require that generators maintain records of the quantity of RMW generated and its disposition; some require the submission of an annual report.
B. The OMWM should maintain an Infectious Waste Log that includes: date, type of waste, amount (weight, volume, or number of containers), and disposition.
C. If infectious waste is transported off-site, the receiving facility must provide the generator written documentation of proper treatment and disposal.
D. If cradle-to-grave documentation of RMW of disposal is required, such documentation must be retained on file for thirty years.
All of the following statements related to spills of infectious material are correct, EXCEPT for one. Which one is the exception?
A. There are numerous document examples of bloodborne pathogen transmission from housekeeping services.
B. Infectious waste spills must be cleaned up immediately using appropriate PPE such as gloves, coveralls, mask, and goggles.
C. Small spills are managed by removing visible organic matter with absorbent material (e.g., disposable paper towels) discarded into a leak-proof, properly labeled containers biohazard container.
D. OSHA regulations require the use of an EPA-registered disinfectant from List B, D, or E to disinfect housekeeping surfaces after a spill.
