The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.

(1) "Alkaline hydrolysis" or "hydrolysis" means the reduction of human remains to bone fragments and essential elements in a licensed hydrolysis facility using heat, pressure, water, and base chemical agents.

(2) "Barrier precaution" means protective attire, equipment, or other physical barriers worn to protect or prevent exposure of skin and mucous membranes of the wearer to infected or potentially infected blood, tissue, and body fluids, hazardous chemicals, dust, and other potentially hazardous materials.

(3) "Burial-transit permit" means a form, approved and supplied by the state registrar of vital statistics as described in chapter 70.58A RCW, identifying the name of the deceased, date and place of death, general information, disposition and registrar and sexton information.

(4) "Coroner" means the county official as described under chapter 36.24 RCW and RCW 36.16.030.

(5) "Department" means the Washington state department of health.

(6) "Effluent" means the liquid end-product following alkaline hydrolysis. For the purpose of this chapter, this does not meet the definition of human remains.

(7) "Embalmer" means a person defined and licensed under chapter 18.39 RCW.

(8) "Funeral establishment" means a place of business defined and licensed under chapter 18.39 RCW.

(9) "Funeral director" means a person defined and licensed under chapter 18.39 RCW.

(10) "Health care provider" means any person having direct or supervisory responsibility for the delivery of health care, including persons credentialed in Washington state under Title 18 RCW and military personnel providing health care within Washington state regardless of licensure.

(11) "Human remains" or "remains" means the body of a deceased person, in any stage of decomposition, including remains following the process of cremation, alkaline hydrolysis, or natural organic reduction, but not including archaeological skeletal remains under chapter 27.53 RCW.

(12) "Local health officer" means a licensed physician defined and appointed under RCW 70.05.050.

(13) "Local registrar of vital statistics" means the local health officer or administrator who registers certificates of birth and death occurring in their designated registration district under chapter 70.58A RCW.

(14) "Medical examiner" means a physician appointed by the county legislative authority to replace the coroner under RCW 36.24.190.

(15) "Natural organic reduction" means the contained, accelerated conversion of human remains to soil.

(16) "Reduction" means an accelerated conversion of human remains into bone fragments, essential elements, or soil by cremation, alkaline hydrolysis, or natural organic reduction.

(17) "Reduction facility operator" means the person(s) registered and licensed with the funeral and cemetery board through WAC 308-47-090 to operate a crematory, alkaline hydrolysis equipment, or natural organic reduction facility.

(18) "Refrigerate" means:

(a) Placing in a mechanically cooled unit maintained at a maximum temperature of 48°F in a licensed funeral establishment; or

(b) Placing in a mechanically cooled unit maintained at a maximum temperature of 48°F or packing with dry ice or leak-resistant sealed ice packs outside of a funeral establishment.