S.C. Code Regs. 61-112.10 - Human remains

A. Upon declaration of a Public Health Emergency, DHEC will notify coroners, medical examiners, and funeral directors of specific procedures to be followed in handling and disposing of remains of individuals known or presumed to have died from or been exposed to contamination or communicable disease. This may include individuals determined to have died as a result of other causes, such as trauma, but who had been exposed prior to death.

B. Prior to disposal

i. Every person in charge of disposing of any human remains must maintain a written record of each set of human remains and all available information to identify the decedent and the circumstances of death and disposal. If the human remains cannot be identified, prior to disposal, a qualified person must, to the extent possible, take fingerprints and one or more photographs of the human remains, and collect a DNA specimen. The Commissioner may by order require collection of specific tissue samples or performance of specific tests. All information gathered under this paragraph must be promptly forwarded to DHEC. Identification must be handled by the agencies that have laboratories suitable for DNA identification.

ii. All human remains of a person who has died from an infectious disease must be clearly labeled with all available information to identify the decedent and the circumstances of death. Any human remains of a deceased person with an infectious disease must have an external, clearly visible tag indicating that the human remains are infected and, if known, the infectious disease. The person in charge of disposing of such human remains shall report to DHEC the identifying information and the date, means and place of disposal.

C. If DHEC concludes that there is no public health reason to require disposal within twenty-four hours of human remains of persons who have died of an infectious disease, DHEC shall so notify coroners, medical examiners, and funeral directors.

D. Mass graves: In the event of mass casualties in excess of the provisions of the State Emergency Operations Plan to provide for disposal, mass graves shall

i. not be located in floodways, wetlands, karst formations, or in unstable terrain;

ii. have at least two feet vertical separation above groundwater;

iii. be at least two hundred feet from the nearest property line, potable well, or irrigation well, and one hundred feet from surface waters (including ephemeral or seasonal streams);

iv. provided with daily cover to control vectors, hydrated lime, and absorbent material;

v. provided with adequate final cover, fencing and venting to minimize the need for long-term care.

vi. The corners of mass graves shall be marked with permanent monuments and the location recorded where title to real property is recorded.

vii. A permanent record of the names or other identifying information of all human remains shall be kept.

Notes

S.C. Code Regs. 61-112.10