5.1 This guide identifies common processes to safely decommission and dispose of medical equipment. The objective is to identify common challenges unique to medical equipment to help ensure that the identification, authorization for disposition, and proper sanitization of the equipment is completed prior to disposal teams getting involved in the process.

5.2 This guide provides information to consider when choosing disposal options in order to effectively manage the entity’s assets.

1.1 This standard guide addresses decommissioning and disposal of medical equipment.

1.2 Decommissioning and disposal of medical equipment is done when equipment is no longer needed due to obsolescence, is inoperable, or has met a scheduled replacement milestone. Decommissioning is the first physical process in the disposition process and includes proper identification, authorization for disposition, and sanitization of the equipment, as well as removal of Patient Health Information (PHI) or software, or both. Disposal method is dependent upon many factors that will be described in this standard guide.

1.3 This guide does not include detailed disposal method procedures or sales requirements or restrictions specific to any regulatory body or the various levels of government in which an entity may operate. This guide also provides practices that are common to many operations and provides flexibility to best integrate external requirements.

1.4 While this standard describes common safety and environmental considerations associated with the decommissioning and disposal of medical equipment, it does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the entity using this standard to establish and apply appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

1.5 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.