Handling Sharps Safely
What Are Sharps?
Sharps are sharp objects used for medical purposes, including:
- Needles
- Syringes with attached needles
- Lancets
- Razor blades
- Other items that could cause a puncture, cut or abrasion
Handling Risks
A needle stick or cut from a contaminated sharp can result in an injury or infection. Careful handling of all sharps is essential in reducing your risk.
How To Protect Yourself
- Don’t recap needles, as most sharps injuries occur when replacing the cap on a used needle.
- Dispose of sharps in a proper sharps container immediately or as soon as possible after use.
- Do not overfill your sharps disposal container.
- Never place your fingers inside a sharps container.
- Never place sharps directly in the garbage.
- Never leave sharps around young children or other individuals at high risk of an injury.
Sharps Disposal Containers
Most pharmacies and drug stores have suitable sharps disposal containers available and will dispose of full containers for you (a small fee may apply). Do not dispose of full containers in your regular garbage.
A proper container must:
- Come from a pharmacy
- Have a “biohazard” label
- Be made of puncture resistant material (not thin plastic or glass)
- Have a lid
- Be kept upright to avoid any sharps or liquids from spilling out
What happens if you get pricked with a needle?
If you are pricked with a needle, and weren’t the user of that needle, see a doctor as soon as possible.