Whether it’s a home or in a medical facility if you have sharps waste you must follow specific disposal procedures. These protocols help ensure the safety of others. After all, you don’t want to be accidentally pricked taking out the trash. This can result in serious health complications.
El regulatory requirements for storing sharps waste are relatively easy to follow, though it does take a little extra time and effort. If you’re not sure if you have sharps waste or how to properly dispose of these items, we’re covering this and more.
What are Sharps?
If you’re not sure if you have sharps waste, The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has a simple explanation.
Any contaminated object with a point sharp enough to pierce skin falls into this category. This includes things like scalpels, needles, broken glass, exposed dental wire ends, and cracked capillary tubes to name some examples.
A good rule to follow is if the pointy item has been exposed to blood or bodily fluids it’s probably considered sharps waste.
So, why is sharps waste considered hazardous? The simple answer is the object is contaminated with someone’s bodily fluids like blood or saliva. If you’re pricked with a sharp object, you’re at risk of coming in contact with a pathogen.
Pathogens typically include infectious bacteria, viruses, and even fungi. Being exposed to a pathogen can cause diseases like HIV and hepatitis to spread.
Preventing Sharps Injuries
Preventing injuries caused by sharps waste should be a priority for healthcare facilities. This also applies if you’re using products like insulin syringes at home. You don’t want a family member getting poked by one of your used needles.
While you’re probably not going to receive a citation if an accident occurs at home, it’s a little different for medical centers. Non-compliance for sharps waste disposal can be expensive. Not only are healthcare facilities facing costs associated with treatment, but compliance penalties are also common.
Did you know between 2022 and 2023, OSHA issued 184 citations for sharps waste violations in the healthcare industry? These violations include everything from tossing sharps waste in a trashcan to leaving used needles lying around unattended.
So, how can you prevent injuries caused by sharps waste? A good place to start is by knowing what falls under the category of sharps waste. This includes the following items:
- Blood vials
- Broken glass or capillary tubes
- Culture dishes and slides
- Exposed ends of dental wires
- Lancets
- Needles and hypodermics
- Pipettes
- Root canal files
- Scalpel blades
- Suture needles
- Syringes, with or without needles
- Trauma scene waste capable of cutting, slicing, or piercing
- Tubing with needles
All of these items must be stored in airtight, waterproof containers. Each container must be marked with its contents. The containers must also be sturdy enough to withstand the trip to the disposal facility. In other words, the plastic containers you pick up at the grocery store probably aren’t sturdy enough to safely store your sharps waste.
Steps for Disposing of Sharps Waste
Instead of using store-bought containers and risking a violation, contact The Federal Drug Administration (FDA). The administration has a list of approved storage containers medical facilities can use and meet compliance requirements.
Unlike store-bought containers, these are made from sturdy plastic. The stronger material effectively prevents sharp objects from poking through. The containers are also airtight and waterproof. Don’t forget to label each container with its contents. This is a mandatory requirement. If you skip labeling the container you probably can’t turn the sharps waste in. The container must also be marked as a biohazard.
Any healthcare facility generating sharps waste should have a storage container placed in exam rooms, labs, pharmacies, and at the nurses’ station. If the facility has sharps waste in other areas like a patient’s room, a container should be present.
Where the container is stored in a location also matters. The container should be easy for healthcare personnel to access. You also want to pay attention to height. The container should be easy for everyone to reach without having to bend over too low or stand on their tiptoes.
If your healthcare facility is trying to reduce its carbon footprint, you may want to consider investing in reusable sharps containers. Yes, you can get them from the FDA. OSHA can also make some recommendations. These same guidelines also apply if you have sharps waste at home, in a school, or the workplace.
Disposing of Sharps Waste
Okay, the sharps waste is stored in the proper containers and it’s full. You can’t store the containers on-site, even if it’s a private residence. You’re going to need to contact a medical waste management company. Some waste management services provide regular pickups while others require you to drop the sharps waste off.
Check with state laws on how long you’re allowed to store sharps waste on the premises. Some states also have different storage timelines for medical facilities generating small amounts of sharps waste. To help ensure you’re meeting all federal and state sharps waste disposal guidelines, here’s a checklist to follow:
- Sharps container and plastic liner
- Step-by-step instructions
- Pre-addressed, postage-paid return shipping labels
- Barcoded return shipping container
- Prepaid sharps treatment and disposal
- Serialized tracking documents so you know when the waste arrives at the disposal facility
If you’re wondering who’s responsible for regulating sharps waste, it falls to several agencies, at the federal level. The Department of Transportation (DOT) is responsible for regulating how sharps waste is transported to the disposal facility. OSHA takes care of worker safety. For example, OSHA sets down regulations to help healthcare workers avoid being pricked by sharps waste.
The state also helps regulate sharps waste disposal. Since these regulations can vary it’s always a good idea to check with local ordinances.
Staying Safe and Healthy
Sharps waste is a fundamental part of the healthcare industry but it doesn’t have to represent a threat to others. Following all state and federal storage and disposal regulations can help keep everyone safe against the potential threat that sharps can pose.
