Victorian Numbered Regulations

PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELLBEING REGULATIONS 2019 (SR NO 135 OF 2019) - REG 31

    (1)     The proprietor or occupier of premises where a registered premises is located must ensure that an article that has penetrated the skin of a person or is contaminated with blood is—

        (a)     destroyed or disposed of as soon as practicable in a manner that prevents the infection of any other person; or

        (b)     sterilised in accordance with subregulation (2) before it is used on any other person.

Penalty:     20 penalty units.

    (2)     An article is sterilised for the purposes of subregulation (1)(b) if the article has been—

        (a)     thoroughly cleaned and rinsed, then sterilised by the use of steam under pressure—

              (i)     at 121°C for 15 minutes at a pressure of 103 kilopascals; or

              (ii)     at 126°C for 10 minutes at a pressure of 138 kilopascals; or

              (iii)     at 132°C for 4 minutes at a pressure of 186 kilopascals; or

              (iv)     at 134°C for 3 minutes at a pressure of 203 kilopascals; or

        (b)     thoroughly cleaned and rinsed, then sterilised by the use of dry heat—

              (i)     at 160°C for a minimum of 120 minutes; or

              (ii)     at 180°C for a minimum of 60 minutes; or

        (c)     taken from a sealed container that bears a label stating that the contents are sterile.