Sharps refer to items that can pierce a worker’s skin, such as needles, scalpels, broken glass, capillary tubes, and exposed dental wire ends. If blood or other potentially infectious materials (OPIM), as outlined in OSHA’s Bloodborne Pathogens standard (29 CFR 1910.1030), are present or could be present on the sharp, it is considered contaminated, and proper personal protective equipment must be utilized.
A needlestick or cut from a contaminated sharp may lead to a worker being infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), or other bloodborne pathogens. The standard outlines measures to minimize these injuries and the risk of infection.
Prudent handling of contaminated sharps can prevent injuries and reduce infection risk. Employers must ensure that workers follow these work practices to decrease their likelihood of contracting bloodborne diseases.
Safer Medical Devices:
- Employers are obligated to consider and use safer medical devices whenever possible. These devices include needleless ones or those with built-in protection to shield workers from contact with contaminated sharps.
- Additionally, employers must consult non-managerial patient care workers who could be exposed to contaminated sharps injuries for their input in identifying, evaluating, and selecting effective work practice and engineering controls, including safer medical devices.
- The employer must document the consideration and implementation of these devices and worker input solicitation in the Exposure Control Plan.
Prompt Disposal:
- Employers must also ensure that contaminated sharps are disposed of in sharps disposal containers immediately or as soon as feasible after use.
- Sharps disposal containers must be readily accessible and located as close as possible to the area where sharps will be used.
- In some cases, containers may be placed on carts to prevent certain patients, such as psychiatric patients or children, from accessing the sharps.
- Containers must also be available wherever sharps may be found, such as in laundries.
Contaminated sharps must never be sheared or broken. Recapping, bending, or removing needles is permissible only if there is no feasible alternative or if such actions are required for a specific medical or dental procedure. If recapping, bending, or removal is necessary, employers must ensure that workers use either a mechanical device or a one-handed technique. The cap must not be held in one hand while guiding the sharp into it or placing it over the sharp. A one-handed “scoop” technique uses the needle itself to pick up the cap, and then the cap is pushed against a hard surface to ensure a tight fit onto the device. Also, the cap may be held with tongs or forceps and placed over the needle. Contaminated broken glass must not be picked up by hand, but must be cleaned up using mechanical means, such as a brush and dustpan, tongs, or forceps.
Sharps Containers:
- Containers for contaminated sharps must be puncture-resistant, and their sides and bottom must be leakproof.
- They must be appropriately labeled or color-coded red to warn everyone that the contents are hazardous.
- Containers for disposable sharps must be closable (i.e., have a lid, flap, door, or other means of closing the container), and they must be kept upright to prevent sharps and any liquids from spilling out of the container.
- The containers must be replaced routinely and not be overfilled, which can increase the risk of needlesticks or cuts.
- Sharps disposal containers that are reusable must not be opened, emptied, or cleaned manually or in any other manner that would expose workers to the risk of sharps injury.
- Employers also must ensure that reusable sharps that are contaminated are not stored or processed in a manner that requires workers to reach by hand into the containers where these sharps have been placed.
Handling Containers:
- Before sharps disposal containers are removed or replaced, they must be closed to prevent spilling the contents.
- If there is a chance of leakage from the disposal container, the employer must ensure that it is placed in a secondary container that is closable, appropriately labeled or color-coded red, and constructed to contain all contents and prevent leakage during handling, storage, transport, or shipping.
Additional Information:
- For more information, visit OSHA’s Bloodborne Pathogens and Needlestick Prevention Safety and Health Topics webpage at: www.osha.gov/bloodborne-pathogens.
Workers’ Rights: Workers have the right to:
- Working conditions that do not pose a risk of serious harm.
- Receive information and training (in a language and vocabulary the worker understands) about workplace hazards, methods to prevent them, and the OSHA standards that apply to their workplace.
- Review records of work-related injuries and illnesses.
- File a complaint asking OSHA to inspect their workplace if they believe there is a serious hazard or that their employer is not following OSHA’s rules. OSHA will keep all identities confidential.
- Exercise their rights under the law without retaliation, including reporting an injury or raising health and safety concerns with their employer or OSHA. If a worker has been retaliated against for using their rights, they must file a complaint with OSHA as soon as possible, but no later than 30 days.
For additional information, see OSHA’s Workers page (www.osha.gov/workers).
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