Hospitals & Mortuary Operations, Knowledge Centre

Body Bag Storage and Mortuary Refrigeration: Good Practice

Posted on by Tapiwa

Storing your stock

  • Keep bags in their original cartons in a clean, dry store, off the floor.
  • Protect from direct sunlight, heat sources and rodents – UV and heat degrade plastics over time.
  • Rotate stock first-in, first-out. Ask suppliers about recommended shelf life.
  • Keep a ready supply at points of use: wards, emergency departments, removal vehicles and the mortuary.
  • Maintain an emergency reserve sized for your disaster plan.

Bags in the refrigerator

South Africa’s Regulations Relating to the Management of Human Remains (GN R.363 of 2013) require that remains at a mortuary or undertaker’s premises reach a surface temperature of no higher than 5°C within three hours of receipt. They also prohibit outsourced refrigeration, and limit the number of remains to the number of removable refrigerator trays.

For body bags, this means:

  • Choose materials that stay flexible when cold (PE and PEVA generally perform well; PVC can stiffen).
  • Ensure the bag size suits your tray dimensions.
  • Bags slow cooling slightly compared with uncovered remains; do not overload fridges or stack remains.
  • Condensation forms when bags move from cold to warm – wipe and dry the exterior and ensure labels are waterproof.

Cleaning around the bag

Trays, trolleys and vehicles must still be cleaned and disinfected according to your procedures. GN R.363 also requires the loading space of a vehicle to be washed and disinfected if remains were transported without a moisture-proof covering.

Waste

Used body bags and materials from the preparation room are treated as health-care risk waste under the regulations. Use a licensed waste service.

Shop the products in this guide

Standard body bags →  |  All body bags →

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Educational resource only. This article does not replace facility protocols, infection-prevention policies, official forensic procedures, manufacturer instructions or legal advice. Always verify product suitability against the applicable protocol and supplier test evidence. Last reviewed: October 2026.

Tapiwa