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Title / Demonstrate general knowledge of clinical waste management
Level / 3 / Credits / 2
Purpose / This unit standard is for people working in the waste handling industry.
People credited with this unit standard are able to: explain terminology and waste generator responsibilities relating to clinical waste; and demonstrate general knowledge of containing and segregating clinical waste.
Classification / Solid Waste > Hazardous and Special Waste Management
Available grade / Achieved
Explanatory notes
1References relevant to this unit standard include:
NZS 4304:2002 Management of Healthcare Waste available at
NZS 5433:1999 Transport of Dangerous Goods on Land;
Industry Code of Practice for the Management of Biohazardous Waste (including Clinical & Related wastes)2014 Australian and New Zealand Clinical Waste Management Industry Group available at (the Code of Practice).
2Definitions
Clinical waste refers to hazardous and controlled waste that is recognisable as coming from a healthcare or similar facility for the care or diagnosis of patients. It may be contaminated or soiled with potentially infectious animal, human, or waste products, or may be considered culturally or aesthetically offensive. Such waste may require pre-treatment before disposal at a landfill.
Company procedures mean the documented methods for performing work activities and include health and safety, environmental, and quality management requirements. They may refer to manuals, codes of practice, or policy statements.
Outcomes and evidence requirements
Outcome 1
Explain terminology and waste generator responsibilities relating to clinical waste.
Evidence requirements
1.1Types of clinical and related waste are defined and examples given in accordance with the Code of Practice.
Rangehazardous, controlled, clinical, clinical-related, health wastes, home healthcare waste.
1.2Terminology relating to clinical and related waste is defined in accordance with the Code of Practice.
Rangedisinfect, sterilise, exposure limits, waste generator, monitoring, segregation, sharps.
1.3Responsibilities of waste generators are identified and described in accordance with the Code of Practice.
Outcome 2
Demonstrate general knowledge of containing and segregating clinical waste.
Rangecontaining – at source or temporary facility before collection by specialist waste disposal service.
Evidence requirements
2.1Containers for clinical waste are described in terms of type and colour.
Rangeincludes but is not limited to containers for – sharps, cytotoxic waste.
2.2Labelling requirements for clinical waste are identified in accordance with Table 1, S7.3.1 of the Code of Practice.
Rangeinfectious, cytotoxic, radioactive, one other.
2.3Segregation of clinical waste into waste streams is described in accordance with the Code of Practice.
2.4Segregation requirements for clinical waste are identified and explained in accordance with company procedures.
Rangeincludes but is not limited to acceptance restrictions applied by – transporter, treatment facility, or disposal facility.
2.5A clinical waste storage area is described in accordance with company procedures.
Rangeincludes but is not limited to – location, access, security.
2.6Containment methods for clinical waste spills are described in accordance with company procedures.
Planned review date / 31 December 2019Status information and last date for assessment for superseded versions
Process / Version / Date / Last Date for AssessmentRegistration / 1 / 25 October 2007 / 31 December 2017
Review / 2 / 16 April 2015 / N/A
Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR) reference / 0114
This CMR can be accessed at
Please note
Providers must be granted consent to assess against standards (accredited) by NZQA, before they can report credits from assessment against unit standards or deliver courses of study leading to that assessment.
Industry Training Organisations must be granted consent to assess against standards by NZQA before they can register credits from assessment against unit standards.
Providers and Industry Training Organisations, which have been granted consent and which are assessing against unit standards must engage with the moderation system that applies to those standards.
Requirements for consent to assess and an outline of the moderation system that applies to this standard are outlined in the Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR). The CMR also includes useful information about special requirements for organisations wishing to develop education and training programmes, such as minimum qualifications for tutors and assessors, and special resource requirements.
Comments on this unit standard
Please contact the NZ Motor Industry Training Organisation (Incorporated) (MITO) if you wish to suggest changes to the content of this unit standard.
NZ Motor Industry Training Organisation (Incorporated) (MITO)SSB Code 101542 / New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2018