+
Sharps waste is any contaminated object that can penetrate the skin. OSHA's definition includes needles, scalpels, broken glass, broken capillary tubes, and exposed ends of dental wires. In practice that also covers syringes, lancets, insulin pens, auto-injectors, infusion sets, connection needles, and suture needles.
+
Anything that can puncture or cut skin and has been contaminated — needles, syringes, lancets, scalpels and blades, auto-injectors, infusion sets, and contaminated broken glass. Don't put in medications, soft biohazard waste like gauze, or ordinary trash such as caps and wrappers; they belong in their own streams.
+
The FDA advises disposing of a sharps container when it is about three-quarters full, and OSHA requires containers to be replaced routinely and never allowed to overfill. Close and lock the container at the fill line, and never push sharps in or shake the container to make room.
+
Most sharps containers are red. OSHA requires them to be labeled with the biohazard symbol and the word “BIOHAZARD” or be red. Yellow containers are commonly used for sharps contaminated with trace chemotherapy agents.
+
Under 29 CFR 1910.1030, sharps containers must be closable, puncture resistant, leakproof on the sides and bottom, and labeled or color-coded. They must be easily accessible and as close as feasible to where sharps are used, kept upright, replaced routinely without overfilling, closed before removal, and placed in a secondary container if leakage is possible.
+
Generally, no. OSHA prohibits bending, recapping, or removing contaminated needles unless the employer can show no alternative is feasible or a specific medical or dental procedure requires it — and then only with a mechanical device or a one-handed technique. Shearing or breaking contaminated needles is always prohibited.
+
Close and lock it, then have it collected by a licensed medical waste company or ship it through a mail-back program in approved packaging. Sealed containers are treated along with their contents, usually by autoclave. Never put sharps containers in the regular trash or recycling at a healthcare facility, and never reuse them.
+
Wash the puncture or cut with soap and water, flush splashes to the nose, mouth, or skin with water, and irrigate eyes with clean water, saline, or sterile irrigants. Report the incident to your supervisor and seek medical care immediately to determine the risk from the exposure.
+
If your organization is required to keep OSHA injury and illness records under 29 CFR part 1904, you must also keep a confidential sharps injury log recording the type and brand of device, the work area, and how each injury happened.
+
Most sharps are autoclaved with pressurized steam to inactivate pathogens and then shredded so they can't cause injury. Sharps contaminated with chemotherapy agents or certain pharmaceuticals are typically incinerated at a licensed facility.
+
For low-volume generators — small practices, remote sites, and home health programs — mail-back can be more economical than route pickup. MedPro's sharps containers are available as mail-back systems with prepaid shipping. Shop MedPro mail-back kits.
+
Cost depends on container size and count, pickup frequency, location, and whether you use route pickup or mail-back. MedPro customers save an average of 30% versus their previous provider — request a free quote for pricing specific to your facility.
