Understanding Sharps Waste & Proper Needle Disposal

Sharp instruments, such as needles and syringes, are commonly used across many healthcare industries. People may also use them in their homes as part of ongoing chronic disease care for conditions like diabetes.

Proper disposal of these elements after use is essential to preserve the safety of healthcare workers, patients and the environment. Taking time to fully understand what’s involved in safe sharps waste disposal is important to ensure your organization is effectively managing this common waste stream.

What Are Sharps and What Goes in the Sharps Container?

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards state that a sharp is a contaminated object that can penetrate the skin. In healthcare, sharps are a form of biohazardous waste generated during the provision of care, treatment and services. There are many kinds of sharps found in healthcare organizations, these medical instruments can be considered as sharps:

• Hypodermic needles
• Syringes, such as insulin syringes for diabetic patients
• Scalpels
• Lancets
• Wires, including dental wires

How to Prevent Sharps Injuries?

When a contaminated sharp penetrates the skin, such as through a puncture or cut, there is a risk of bloodborne pathogen transmission. A bloodborne pathogen is a microorganism, such as a virus, bacteria or fungi, which may be present in blood or other body fluids, and can lead to serious illness like hepatitis, AIDS or other bloodborne diseases.

If a sharps injury is not immediately addressed, the injured person could become very sick.

The best way to limit the likelihood of bloodborne pathogen transmission is to reduce the chances of sharps injuries. Proper sharps waste disposal is a key strategy for curbing these events. By preventing sharps injuries, healthcare organizations not only safeguard workers but avoid the costs of investigation and treatment, which can cost about $3,000 per needlestick and lead to more than $1 billion in unnecessary costs for the industry.

How to Dispose of Needles and Other Sharps

Sharps should be placed in a specially designed sharps container after use. Containers that have Federal Drug Administration (FDA)-marked clearance are recommended. These receptacles are made of either hard plastic or cardboard and are designed to prevent punctures, leaks and overfilling that objects such as needles can cause. They are also clearly labeled as biohazardous to ensure proper handling.

Healthcare organizations should place sharps waste disposal containers in areas where sharps are used, including exam rooms, laboratories, pharmacies and nurses’ stations. They should be positioned as close as possible to the point of use and be installed at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)-recommended height for easy employee access.

Organizations may opt to use reusable sharps containers to help meet organizational sustainability goals. Reusable containers are made of hard plastic and reduce the number of receptacles ending up in landfills.

A strong sharps disposal program can preserve staff and patient safety while safeguarding the environment. By working with a knowledgeable medical waste management expert, healthcare organizations can be sure they have the proper equipment, training and resources to support consistent and reliable sharps disposal, keeping their people, facilities and communities safe.

To learn more about how Stericycle can enhance and support your sharps management and waste program, visit our sharps management service page.