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.

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 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. 

FactSheet
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, 

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 webpage at: www.osha.gov/

bloodborne-pathogens.

Workers’ Rights

Workers have the right to:

• Working conditions that do not pose a risk of 

serious harm.

• Receive information and training (in a 

language and vocabulary the worker 

understands) about workplace hazards, 

methods to prevent them, and the OSHA 

standards that apply to their workplace.

• Review records of work-related injuries 

and illnesses.

• File a complaint asking OSHA to inspect 

their workplace if they believe there is a 

serious hazard or that their employer is not 

following OSHA’s rules. OSHA will keep all 

identities confidential.

• Exercise their rights under the law without 

retaliation, including reporting an injury or 

raising health and safety concerns with their 

employer or OSHA. If a worker has been 

retaliated against for using their rights, they 

must file a complaint with OSHA as soon as 

possible, but no later than 30 days.

For additional information, see OSHA’s Workers 

page (www.osha.gov/workers).

How to Contact OSHA

Under the Occupational Safety and Health 

Act of 1970, employers are responsible for 

providing safe and healthful workplaces 

for their employees. OSHA’s role is to help 

ensure these conditions for America’s working 

men and women by setting and enforcing 

standards, and providing training, education, 

and assistance. For more information, visit 

www.osha.gov or call OSHA at 1-800-321-OSHA 

(6742), TTY 1-877-889-5627.

DSG FS-3519 01/2011

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.