Sharps Disposal, Sharps Containers, Container Wall Mounts

What Does ￿Sharps￿ Mean?

￿Sharps￿ is a term that is used to describe an item potentially carrying infections materials or disease-carrying blood on it, that is also capable of puncturing the skin, possibly injecting the fluid or blood into anyone who comes into contact with it.

Some examples of sharps include:

Needles
Lancets
Syringes
Broken glass with blood on it
IV catheters
Dental wires and endodontic files
Scalpel blades
Suture needles
Capillary tubes
Dental anesthetic carpules with blood
Razor blades
Tattoo needles
Piercing needles
And other sharp items that may be contaminated with blood

Why Use Sharps Containers?

During the last decade or so, there has been an increased worldwide focus on infection control safety and environmental impacts that have led to government mandates issued regarding the reduction of clinical waste output of infectious piercing instruments. The mandates have resulted in sharps disposal containers with built-in safety devices such as trays and locking mechanisms in medical facilities as well as non-traditional businesses such as piercing shops and tattoo parlors. The goal is to reduce and/or eliminate infections and diseases such as AIDS (HIV), hepatitis, and other blood-borne infections caused by accidental piercing wounds to medical and non-medical personnel, and among intravenous drug users who may share needles.

How Are Sharps Containers Used?

A sharps container is to be filled with used medical needles and other sharp medical and non-medical instruments to protect from accidental infection. Sharps containers basically fit into two main types: Single use containers that are disposed of when full of sharps waste, and reusable containers that are emptied and sterilized before being returned for re-use.

After a needle or sharp object is used on a person or animal, the user should immediately drop the used needle, without capping it, into the safety-entrance of the sharps container without touching the outside of the container. The sharps should never be forced or pushed into the container due to the possibility of a needle-stick injury or damage to the container. Once full, the sharps container is disposed of, or emptied and returned.

Some Questions That Should Be Asked Before Purchasing a Sharps Container

1) What will be done with the sharps containers once they are full?

Find out if there is a hazardous waste disposal service near you that you can use. If the sharps user is a personal user and has a sharps container at home or at the office, a hazardous waste disposal final destination for the sharps container must be located for safe and legal discard.

If running a medical facility or business (tattoo parlor, piercing shop), the Occupational Safety & Health Administration requires the use of specific engineering and work practice controls that must be in place, which includes suitable sharps disposal containers and a certified hazardous waste disposal service.

2) What type of sharps items are being put into your sharps container?

Some sharps items are more hazardous than others. For example, sharps such as chemotherapy needles, bags, vials, and tubing must be empty and have less than 3 percent of the former weight remaining in the item to be considered ￿RCRA-empty￿ and must be specifically designated for RCRA hazardous waste disposal.

3) What type of business facility do you work at?

A healthcare facility, especially medical places such as surgical centers and infusion clinics, will produce a large amount of different sharps every day. The amount of sharp containers should be enough to handle the amount of sharps produced daily. Having one-handed disposal containers will help to keep unwanted hands out and away from the used sharps, especially for family and pediatric practices where a rotating cylinder lid is recommended to keep curious tiny hands away from the sharps.

4) How fast will the business accumulate sharps waste?

It should be determined how much sharps waste is used and the business will need a scalable program of containers and refuse services. These questions could be answered with the state guidelines in helping to determine what size and how many sharps containers you may need.

5) What other regulations or laws may apply to your business?

At the least, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration requires that blood-borne pathogens training classes be given to employees who may be exposed to blood-borne infections/pathogens. To find out questions you may have about local regulations, go to http://www3.epa.gov/epawaste/nonhaz/industrial/medical/programs.htm

6) How many sharps ￿using areas￿ are within the facility?

Identify each specific area within the facility where sharps will be used to allow easy access when an employee is discarding sharps. A storage place will also be needed for unused sharps containers to replace filled-up sharps containers.

7) What is the best way to have safe access to sharps containers?

Make sure the sharps containers are labeled with obvious biohazard warnings, and keep the containers within arm￿s reach. The container￿s fill line and the opening should always be clearly visible prior to use.

8) Does your business need mobile or fixed sharps containers?

Although less secure, mobile sharps containers are appropriate for situations such as EMS services, doctor￿s house calls, and mobile blood donation centers. Fixed or securely mounted sharp containers will provide the safest choice, however, only if they are used, removed and transported correctly.

Hulet Smith, OT
Rehabmart Co-Founder & CEO

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