Handling sharps containers requires careful attention to safety and proper disposal procedures to prevent needlestick injuries and the spread of infectious diseases. Sharps containers, used for discarding needles, syringes, lancets, and other sharp medical waste, must be handled according to specific guidelines.
Safe Sharps Container Handling Practices
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Immediate Disposal: Dispose of sharps immediately after use into an approved, readily accessible sharps container. These containers should be located as close as feasible to where sharps are used (OSHA, Protecting Yourself When Handling Contaminated Sharps). Keeping them within arm's reach is recommended.
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Never Overfill: Do not overfill the sharps container. Overfilling significantly increases the risk of needlestick injuries or cuts (Reference 1).
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Avoid Direct Contact: Never put your fingers into the sharps container (MedlinePlus, Handling sharps and needles). If a needle has tubing attached, hold both the needle and tubing when disposing.
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Proper Container Selection: Use only approved, puncture-resistant sharps containers. These containers are designed to prevent accidental punctures and are often brightly colored for easy identification.
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Routine Replacement: Sharps containers must be replaced routinely. Never attempt to manually empty or clean a reusable container (Reference 1).
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Secure Disposal: Once a container is full, follow local regulations for disposal. This may involve taking it to a designated sharps collection site, contacting your doctor or clinic, or using a registered medical waste disposal service (Wisconsin DNR, Managing household medical sharps).
Improper Handling to Avoid
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Improper Disposal: Never place sharps in household trash. This poses a significant risk to sanitation workers and family members (Ohio EPA, Disposal of Household Generated Sharps).
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Recapping Needles: Never recap, bend, shear, or break needles. These actions greatly increase the risk of needlestick injuries (Cornell EHS, Sharps Handling).
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Manual Emptying: Reusable containers should never be opened, emptied, or cleaned manually (Reference 1).
Understanding the Risks
Improper sharps disposal is a leading cause of workplace sharps injuries, which can lead to exposure to bloodborne pathogens like Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and HIV (CDC, Stop Sticks: Sharps Disposal). King County highlights that sharps can carry various germs causing disease (King County, How to handle used or found sharps).
