The disposal of contaminated medical waste is regulated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), primarily through its Bloodborne Pathogens Standard (29 CFR 1910.1030). This standard mandates specific practices for handling and discarding items that pose a risk of injury and infection. Sharps containers are designated engineering controls used to isolate and contain objects capable of puncturing the skin. This prevents the transmission of bloodborne diseases like Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and HIV. Adhering to these federal regulations is required for any facility that generates contaminated sharps waste.
Regulatory Context: Defining Sharps and Containers
OSHA defines a “contaminated sharp” as any contaminated object capable of penetrating the skin. This definition is broad, including medical instruments and any object that has contacted blood or other potentially infectious materials (PIM) and presents a puncture hazard. PIM includes human bodily fluids, including semen, vaginal secretions, and any body fluid visibly contaminated with blood.
The containers used for sharps disposal must meet strict physical requirements to function as effective engineering controls. They must be puncture-resistant and leak-proof on the sides and bottom. Containers must also be closable and clearly labeled with the universal biohazard symbol or color-coded red to signal the hazardous contents. Sharps containers must be easily accessible and located as close as feasible to the area where the sharps are used to encourage immediate disposal.
Mandatory Items for Sharps Containers
Sharps containers must hold items capable of penetrating the skin and contaminated with PIM. This primarily includes all types of used hypodermic needles. Needles must be discarded immediately after use without being bent, recapped, or removed from the syringe, unless a mechanical device is used. Syringes with attached needles must be disposed of as a single unit to minimize injury risk.
Other contaminated items classified as sharps include:
- Scalpel blades
- Lancets used for finger sticks
- Broken glass that has contacted infectious agents
- Exposed ends of dental wires
- Auto-injectors (e.g., epinephrine pens)
- Used infusion sets
- Contaminated broken capillary tubes
- Culture dishes and microscope slides
Items That Must Not Be Placed in Sharps Containers
Placing incorrect items in a sharps container can lead to overfilling or improper waste handling. Non-sharp regulated medical waste (RMW), such as contaminated gloves, gauze, soiled bandages, and personal protective equipment (PPE), should be disposed of in a biohazard bag (“red bag” waste). These items do not pose a puncture risk.
Items that must be kept out of sharps containers include bulk liquids, medications, aerosols, and general waste like paper or packaging materials. Non-contaminated broken glass is considered general waste and must be handled separately. Chemical or chemotherapeutic waste also requires specialized handling and disposal protocols that differ from biohazardous sharps.
Safe Use and Final Disposal Protocols
Safe use protocols are necessary throughout the container’s service life to prevent injuries. Containers must be maintained upright and not allowed to overfill past the marked fill line, which is typically set at three-fourths full. Overfilling significantly increases the risk of a sharps injury when handling the container for removal.
Once the fill line is reached, the container must be closed immediately and securely locked. This prevents the spillage or protrusion of contents during handling, storage, and transport. Full sharps containers should never be manually opened, emptied, or cleaned. The final disposal of the closed container must be conducted by a licensed medical waste handler in accordance with federal, state, and local regulations.