as psychiatric patients or children, from accessing

the sharps. Containers also must be available

wherever sharps may be found, such as in laundries. 

Contaminated sharps must never be sheared or

broken. Recapping, bending, or removing needles

is permissible only if there is no feasible alternative or if such actions are required for a specific

medical or dental procedure. If recapping, bending, or removal is necessary, employers must

ensure that workers use either a mechanical

device or a one-handed technique. The cap must

not be held in one hand while guiding the sharp

into it or placing it over the sharp. A one-handed

"scoop" technique uses the needle itself to pick up

the cap, and then the cap is pushed against a hard

surface to ensure a tight fit onto the device. Also,

the cap may be held with tongs or forceps and

placed over the needle. Contaminated broken

glass must not be picked up by hand, but must 

be cleaned up using mechanical means, such as 

a brush and dust pan, tongs, or forceps.

Sharps Containers

Containers for contaminated sharps must be

puncture-resistant. The sides and the bottom

must be leakproof. They must be appropriately

labeled or color-coded red to warn everyone that

the contents are hazardous. Containers for disposable sharps must be closable (that is, have a lid,

flap, door, or other means of closing the container),

and they must be kept upright to keep the sharps

and any liquids from spilling out of the container. 

The containers must be replaced routinely and 

not be overfilled, which can increase the risk of

needlesticks or cuts. Sharps disposal containers

that are reusable must not be opened, emptied, 

A needlestick or a cut from a contaminated sharp

can result in a worker being infected with human

immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus

(HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and other bloodborne pathogens. The standard specifies measures

to reduce these types of injuries and the risk of

infection. 

Careful handling of contaminated sharps can 

prevent injury and reduce the risk of infection.

Employers must ensure that workers follow these

work practices to decrease the workers’ chances

of contracting bloodborne diseases.

Safer Medical Devices

Employers are required to consider and use 

safer medical devices, wherever possible. These

devices include those that are needleless or 

have built-in protection to guard workers against

contact with the contaminated sharp. In addition,

employers must ask non-managerial patient care

workers who could be exposed to contaminated

sharps injuries for their input in identifying, 

evaluating and selecting effective work practice

and engineering controls, including safer medical

devices. The employer must document consideration and implementation of these devices, and the

solicitation of worker input, in the Exposure

Control Plan.

Prompt Disposal

Employers must also ensure that contaminated

sharps are disposed of in sharps disposal containers immediately or as soon as feasible after use.

Sharps disposal containers must be readily accessible and located as close as feasible to the area

where sharps will be used. In some cases, they

may be placed on carts to prevent patients, such

FactSheet

Protecting Yourself When Handling

Contaminated Sharps

Sharps are objects that can penetrate a worker’s skin, such as needles, scalpels, 

broken glass, capillary tubes and the exposed ends of dental wires. If blood or 

other potentially infectious materials (OPIM), as defined in the OSHA Bloodborne

Pathogens standard (29 CFR 1910.1030), are present or may be present on the sharp,

it is a contaminated sharp and appropriate personal protective equipment must be

worn. 
This is one in a series of informational fact sheets highlighting OSHA programs, policies or 

standards. It does not impose any new compliance requirements. For a comprehensive list of 

compliance requirements of OSHA standards or regulations, refer to Title 29 of the Code of Federal

Regulations. This information will be made available to sensory-impaired individuals upon request.

The voice phone is (202) 693-1999; teletypewriter (TTY) number: (877) 889-5627.

or cleaned manually or in any other manner that

would expose workers to the risk of sharps injury.

Employers also must ensure that reusable sharps

that are contaminated are not stored or processed

in a manner that requires workers to reach by

hand into the containers where these sharps have

been placed.

Handling Containers

Before sharps disposal containers are removed or

replaced, they must be closed to prevent spilling

the contents. If there is a chance of leakage from

the disposal container, the employer must ensure

that it is placed in a secondary container that is

closable, appropriately labeled or color-coded 

red, and constructed to contain all contents and

prevent leakage during handling, storage, transport,

or shipping.

Additional Information

For more information, go to OSHA’s Bloodborne

Pathogens and Needlestick Prevention Safety and

Health Topics web page at: https://www.osha.gov/

SLTC/bloodbornepathogens/index.html.

To file a complaint by phone, report an emergency,

or get OSHA advice, assistance, or products, contact your nearest OSHA office under the “U.S.

Department of Labor” listing in your phone book, or

call us toll-free at (800) 321-OSHA (6742). 

Occupational Safety

and Health Administration

www.osha.gov 1-800-321-6742

For assistance, contact us. We can help. It’s confidential.

DSG 1/2011