23339 version 1

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Describe requirements for the containment, storage, treatment, and disposal of clinical waste

Level / 3
Credits / 5

PurposeThis unit standard is for people working in the specialist area of hazardous substance resource recovery and waste disposal.

People credited with this unit standard are able to describe requirements for: the containment and storage of clinical waste; and the treatment and disposal of clinical waste.

Subfield / Solid Waste
Domain / Hazardous and Special Waste Management
Status / Registered
Status date / 25 October 2007
Date version published / 25 October 2007
Planned review date / 31 December 2012
Entry information / Recommended: Unit 23336, Demonstrate general knowledge of clinical waste management, or demonstrate equivalent knowledge and skills.
Accreditation / Evaluation of documentation and visit by NZQA and industry.
Standard setting body (SSB) / NZ Motor Industry Training Organisation (Incorporated) (MITO)
Accreditation and Moderation Action Plan (AMAP) reference / 0114

This AMAP can be accessed at

Special notes

1References relevant to this unit standard include:

Local Government Act 2002;

Resource Management Act 1991;

Hazardous Substances (Classes 6, 8, and 9 Controls) Regulations 2001;

Hazardous Substances (Classifications) Regulations 2001;

Hazardous Substances (Disposal) Regulations 2001;

Hazardous Substances (Packaging) Regulations 2001;

Radiation Protection Regulations 1982;

NZS 4304:2002 Management of Healthcare Waste available at

NZS 5433:1999 Transport of Dangerous Goods on Land;

Approved Code of Practice for the Management of Substances Hazardous to Health in the Place of Work, Occupational Safety and Health Service, available at (MOSSH);

International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code 2002 International Maritime Organisation available at

Code of Practice for the Management of Clinical and Related Wastes 2004 Australian and New Zealand Clinical Waste Management Industry Group available at (the Code of Practice);

The New Zealand Waste Strategy Ministry for the Environment, available at

local authority bylaws.

2Definitions

Clinical waste refers to hazardous and controlled waste that is recognizable 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 body fluids, or may be considered culturally or aesthetically offensive. Such waste may require pretreatment before disposal at a landfill.

Company procedures means 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.

UN Number refers to United Nations four-digit numbers used worldwide in international commerce and transportation to identify hazardous chemicals or classes of hazardous materials in shipment.

Elements and performance criteria

Element 1

Describe requirements for the containment and storage of clinical waste.

Performance criteria

1.1Recommendations for warnings on containers for clinical waste are described in accordance with NZS 4304:2002 and the Code of Practice.

1.2Segregation requirements for clinical waste are identified and explained in accordance with NZS 4304:2002 and the Code of Practice.

1.3Packaging requirements for clinical waste are identified and explained in accordance with the Hazardous Substances (Packaging) Regulations 2001, NZS 4304:2002, and the Code of Practice.

1.4Labelling requirements for clinical waste are identified in accordance with NZS 4304:2002 and NZS 5433:1999.

Rangeinfectious, cytotoxic, radioactive, one other.

1.5General storage requirements for clinical waste are identified and described in accordance with the Code of Practice.

Rangelocation, access, security, spill containment, containers, licence/certification.

1.6Additional requirements for the storage of clinical waste are identified and described in accordance with the Code of Practice.

Rangeincludes but is not limited to – construction specifications, loading and unloading, spill kits, trade waste disposal, hiring of temporary containers, odours, security.

Element 2

Describe requirements for the treatment and disposal of clinical waste.

Performance criteria

2.1Restrictions on the disposal of clinical waste are described consistent with The New Zealand Waste Strategy and the Hazardous Substances (Disposal) Regulations 2001.

Rangeincludes but is not limited to – landfill, incineration.

2.2Consent requirements for clinical waste facilities are described in terms of bylaws.

2.3Treatment methods for clinical waste are described in accordance with the Code of Practice and company procedures.

Rangefour of – incineration, autoclave, grinding, electro thermal deactivation, alkaline oxidation, microwave disinfection, thermal treatment technology.

2.4Pretreatment and disposal methods for substances of clinical waste are described in accordance with the Code of Practice and company procedures.

Rangepretreatment – compaction, maceration, sterilization, grinding, recycling, cremation;

disposal methods – incineration, landfill, sanitary landfill, sewer, composting;

substances of clinical waste – sharps, infectious, cytotoxic, radioactive, one other;

disposal – local, national, international.

2.5Monitoring requirements for the treatment and disposal of clinical waste are explained in accordance with the Code of Practice.

Rangeincludes but is not limited to – materials, processes, discharges, employee health, workplace safety, independent agent.

2.6Tests and sampling requirements for the treatment and disposal of clinical waste are described in accordance with NZS 4304:2002, the Code of Practice, and company procedures.

Rangetests include but are not limited to – calibration, equipment, product, process, employee health, regular, random, microbial.

2.7Documentation requirements for the treatment and disposal of clinical wastes are described in accordance with NZS 4304:2002, the Code of Practice, and company procedures.

Rangeincludes but is not limited to – test results, operational records, process records, employee health, safety, emissions, emergencies.

2.8Information to be documented by treatment companies is described in accordance with NZS 4304:2002 and the Code of Practice.

Rangeincludes but is not limited to documentation relating to – segregation, exclusion, generation.

Please note

Providers must be accredited by NZQA, or an inter-institutional body with delegated authority for quality assurance, before they can report credits from assessment against unit standards or deliver courses of study leading to that assessment.

Industry Training Organisations must be accredited by NZQA before they can register credits from assessment against unit standards.

Accredited providers and Industry Training Organisations assessing against unit standards must engage with the moderation system that applies to those standards.

Accreditation requirements and an outline of the moderation system that applies to this standard are outlined in the Accreditation and Moderation Action Plan (AMAP). The AMAP 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 (MITO) if you wish to suggest changes to the content of this unit standard.

 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2018