New South Wales Consolidated Regulations

PUBLIC HEALTH (DISPOSAL OF BODIES) REGULATION 2002 - REG 13

13 Bodies to be placed in body bags

(1) A person must not remove the body of a dead person from a place unless:

(a) the body has been placed and secured in a bag approved by the Director-General or a wrapping so approved in such a manner as to prevent the leakage of any body exudate or substance, and

(b) the name of, or an identification of, the dead person is clearly and indelibly written on the top outer surface of the bag or wrapping, and

(c) if subclause (3) or (4) applies-that subclause has also been complied with.

Maximum penalty: 15 penalty units.

(2) The body bag or wrapping referred to in subclause (1):

(a) is to be made of low density polyethylene film (or a similar material) of not less than 150 micrometres in thickness, and

(b) if the bag is used for enclosing the body of an adult it is to be (when flat) not less than 2.4 metres in length and 75 centimetres in width, or if for enclosing the body of a child, not less than 75 centimetres in length and 50 centimetres in width, and

(c) if a wrapping is used for enclosing the body of an adult it is to be (when opened and flat) not less than 2.4 metres in length and 2 metres in width, or if for enclosing the body of a child, not less than 1.5 metres in length.

(3) If a person has reason to believe that a body is infected with a List A disease, the person must ensure that the bag or wrapping referred to in subclause (1) (a), and any bag or wrapping used to replace that bag or wrapping, is clearly and indelibly marked with the words “INFECTIOUS DISEASE-LIST A-HANDLE WITH CARE”.

(4) If a person has reason to believe that a body is infected with a List B disease, the person must ensure that the bag or wrapping referred to in subclause (1) (a), and any bag or wrapping used to replace that bag or wrapping, is clearly and indelibly marked with the words “INFECTIOUS DISEASE-LIST B-HANDLE WITH CARE”.

(5) The person responsible for complying with this clause is:

(a) if the body is at a hospital-the chief executive officer, or

(b) if the body is at any other premises or place-the funeral director or other person removing the body.