Safe use and disposal of sharps

Sharps injuries occur following a cut or puncture wound to the skin, most often from a needle or other medical sharp. If the sharp is contaminated with blood there is a risk of transmitting infectious agents such as hepatitis B or C and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)

Risk assessment

• Use safety devices where there are clear indications that they are safer to use
• Do not re-sheath needles
• Take a sharps bin to the point of use
• Keep sharps handling to a minimum
• Never pass sharps directly from hand to hand • Used sharps must be discarded into a BS 7320 standard sharps container

Sharp’s bins;

• must not be used for any other purpose than the disposal of sharps
• must not be filled above the fill line
• must be disposed of when the fill line is reached
• should be temporarily closed when not in use
• should be disposed of every 3 months even if not full, by the licensed route in accordance with local policy