Reducing Work-Related Needlestick 

and Other Sharps Injuries Among Law 

Enforcement Officers

If you experience a needlestick from a used or potentially contaminated needle/sharp, 

wash the needlestick/sharps injury site with soap and water. Report it to your supervisor. 

Then seek immediate evaluation by a medical professional (emergency department, urgent 

care, occupational/employee health service, primary care provider).

Summary

Law enforcement officers include 

those working in corrections, policing, and probation and parole. 

Work tasks may expose officers to 

needlesticks and other sharps injuries, putting them at risk for hepatitis B and C (HBV, HCV) and 

human immunodeficiency virus 

(HIV). The National Institute for 

Occupational Safety and Health 

(NIOSH) recommends steps for 

employers and employees to reduce the risk of sharps injuries.

Introduction

Sharps

Sharps is a medical term for devices with 

sharp points or edges that can puncture 

or cut skin, as defined by the Food and 

Drug Administration [FDA 2018a,b]. 

Sharps can include syringes and needles, 

lancets, scalpels, infusion needle sets, 

connection needles, auto injectors, or 

homemade tattooing devices (such as 

ball point pen casings with sewing needles and/or metal guitar strings).

Contaminated Sharps

According to the Occupational Safety 

and Health Administration (OSHA) 

Bloodborne Pathogens (BBPs) Standard, 29 CFR* 1910.1030 [OSHA 2001], 

contaminated sharps could be any contaminated object that penetrates the 

skin (needles, scalpels, broken glass, 

broken capillary tubes, and exposed 

ends of dental wires). 

Bloodborne Pathogens 

(BBPs)

BBPs are microorganisms that are 

present in human blood and can cause 

*

Code of Federal Regulations. See CFR in 

References.

disease in humans. These pathogens include, but are not limited to, hepatitis B 

virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), 

and human immunodeficiency virus 

(HIV).

Needlesticks and Other 

Sharps Injuries

Percutaneous injuries are injuries that 

puncture the skin, such as from needlesticks and other sharps. A sharps injury 

is a penetrating puncture or cut wound 

from a needle, scalpel, or other sharp 

object that may result in exposure to 

(1) blood or other potentially infectious body fluids or (2) illicit substance 

residue (on the needle). A needlestick 

injury is a penetration of the skin by a 

needle or other sharp object that has 

been in contact with another person’s 

blood, tissue, or other body fluid before 

the injury [OSHA 2001; CDC 2011]. 

Sharps and needlestick injuries may 

occur during searches of persons and 

property. 

Centers for Disease Control

and Prevention

National Institute for Occupational 

Safety and Health
2

Reporting Needlestick and 

Sharps Injuries

Prompt reporting of sharps injuries to your supervisor is 

critical for initiating prompt post-exposure follow-up and 

should be strongly encouraged [NIOSH 2008]. Surveys have 

shown that approximately 3.8%–8% of police officers reported having a needlestick injury [Cepeda et al. 2017; Davis et 

al. 2014]. Sharps injuries, as with many occupational injuries, 

are often unreported. There are several reasons why officers 

may not report sharps injuries, including not being aware of 

the procedure for reporting a sharps injury, not having time 

(being granted leave) to receive medical follow-up testing or 

treatment, or hesitancy to report possible unsafe work practices. Law enforcement officers may also consider the injury 

to be low risk and therefore not report it. 

It is important to report needlestick or sharps injuries because these injuries have the potential to transmit BBPs such 

as HBV, HCV, and HIV†

 [CDC 2020c; NIOSH 2016, 2021]. 

Seeking treatment is imperative to the officer’s health, since 

the use of post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) could reduce the 

chance of transmission and infection. A survey of first responders in 2018–2019 revealed that approximately half of 

the 112 respondents who reported ≥1 needlestick injury reported receiving no medical services after a needlestick injury [Carter et al. 2020]. 

Approximately 60%–80% of persons who inject drugs have 

HCV, and 9% of new HIV cases are a result of syringe sharing [Conklin 2018]. Chronic HBV infection has been identified in 3.5%–20.0% of persons who inject drugs in a variety 

of settings, and 22.6% of persons who inject drugs have evidence of past infection [Nelson et al. 2011]. 

In addition, reporting injuries can help identify patterns of injuries and inform prevention measures to reduce the potential for future sharps injuries among law enforcement officers. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has 

fact sheets about the transmission and treatment of hepatitis B [CDC 2016b], hepatitis C [CDC 2020a], and HIV

[CDC 2020b]. Also see information about the Ryan White 

Act in the Resources Section. 

Sharps Hazards in the 

Workplace: Corrections

Sharps injuries may occur when correctional officers perform pat down searches of incarcerated or detained persons 

(IDPs) as IDPs move between areas of the facility (such as 

after returning from visitation, a work detail, or an outside 

medical trip; or when being admitted to an isolation or segregation unit).

†

For detailed information about the risk of seroconversion, see CDC [2018, 

2020e], and Kuhar et al. 2013 in the References. 

Pat-down searches generally involve officers using their 

hands to lightly press against an IDP’s body in search of 

contraband items such as homemade weapons, drugs, drug 

paraphernalia (which may include needles), or prison contraband. IDPs may conceal contraband in inconspicuous 

places such as within the waistband, inside sewn-in fabricated pockets, or underneath clothing, etc. Officers are required 

to collect these devices and retain them as evidence. 

Officers must also search underneath mattresses and dismantle the contents stored within IDPs’ lockers to properly 

inspect all items. Blind searches of areas such as metal beds 

and lockers present a high risk of a sharps injury. Correctional employees may also be required to search common areas (where IDPs often hide prison contraband). 

Workers in correctional facilities are at additional risk of 

infection because rates of infectious diseases are far higher 

among the incarcerated population compared with the general population (5 times higher for HIV, and 17–28 times 

higher for HCV) [Healthy People 2020; Flanigan et al. 2009]. 

Sharps Hazards in the

Workplace: Policing

Police officers may encounter contaminated sharps and needles when searching a suspect’s person (frisk), property, vehicle, or home. For example, searches may occur as the result of a traffic stop, or executing a search warrant at a private 

residence, or while arresting a subject. Executing a residential search warrant may require police officers to search inside drawers, cabinets, garbage containers, etc. Needles and 

sharps may be encountered while searching in and underneath furniture and household goods. 

Police officers could also encounter contaminated sharps 

while retrieving an identification card (from a purse or a 

pocket) if the suspect is in handcuffs or is incapacitated. Officers may also encounter used needles in community settings or while patrolling on foot in parks, on sidewalks or 

streets, etc. 

Sharps Hazards in the Workplace: 

Probation and Parole

Probation and parole officers may encounter contaminated 

sharps or needles when searching the person, property, or 

home of a person on parole or probation supervision. A person on parole or probation is often required to report to an 

office setting to meet with their assigned officer. If the person on parole or probation is taken into custody from the 

office setting, the officer must conduct a pat-down search 

before transporting the person to a detention center. 
3

Case Study

NIOSH investigators reviewed policies from a police department in Ohio regarding BBPs and exposures to blood 

or other potentially infectious materials (OPIM). They also 

analyzed the police department’s needlestick injury and exposure incident reports from 2011–2016. Thirteen needlestick injuries were reported among a force of approximately 

1,000 officers during a 6-year period. Most needlestick injuries occurred during pat-down searches of a suspect and 

during searches of a suspect’s property or vehicle. Nine of 11 

source persons with test results were found to have hepatitis C [NIOSH 2017]. 

Recommendations

In the case study, NIOSH investigators recommended that 

the police department implement a comprehensive BBP exposure program. NIOSH staff also recommended that the 

police department regularly train all employees in search 

techniques and require reporting of all needlesticks and 

other sharps injuries [NIOSH 2017]. 

In general, employers and workers should follow OSHA’s BBPs standard‡

 [OSHA 2001] to prevent needlestick/

sharps injuries. NIOSH recommends the following safety 

measures to reduce needlestick/sharps injuries:

What Employers Can Do

Planning

 Implement a comprehensive BBP Exposure Control Plan 

that complies with the OSHA BBPs Standard including BBP 

training. (For a model Exposure Control Plan, see page 4 of 

Model Plans and Programs for the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens 

and Hazard Communications Standards [OSHA 2003].)

 Ensure that employees are up to date on their HBV vaccinations. It is important to know whether the employee had 

a titer or blood draw to test immunity to HBV after the vaccine series, in the event of a needlestick/sharps injury.

 The requirement for consent for HIV testing of a source 

case depends on state law [CDC 2020d]. 

 Ensure that employees are familiar with needlestick injury 

protocols and your organization’s reporting requirements.

Ensure that all employees receive training in the 

following:

 Exposure control plan and definition of BBPs

 Sharps disposal. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration 

(FDA) recommends that used needles and other sharps 

be immediately placed in FDA-cleared sharps disposal

‡

For more information on the BBP, including coverage of state and 

local employees, see State Plans | Occupational Safety and Health 

Administration (osha.gov)

containers. FDA-cleared sharps disposal containers are 

made from rigid plastic and come marked with a line 

that indicates when the container should be considered 

full, which means it’s time to dispose of the container to 

prevent needlestick/sharps injuries or exposures [FDA 

2018b]. Secure containers in emergency response vehicles so that they do not spill, and keep containers in correctional facilities in secure locations.

 OSHA’s definition of a needlestick injury for OSHA recordkeeping purposes. A needlestick injury is defined 

as penetration of the skin by a needle or other sharp object that has been in contact with another person’s blood, 

tissue, or other body fluid before the injury [OSHA 2001; 

CDC 2011].

 Personal protective equipment (PPE). Ensure the following measures:

— Employees are trained in proper procedures for putting on and removing PPE. 

— Employees understand that single-use nitrile gloves 

are not puncture resistant.

— Employees are trained in the use of gloves that meet 

the ASTM Standard F2878–19 for puncture resistance to needles (if these types of gloves are provided 

[ASTM 2019]). 

— Employees wear properly fitted gloves.

Treating injuries

 Keep information about the nearest urgent care or occupational health clinic available, and consider the following:

— The need for accessibility after hours and on weekends.

— The facility’s capability of handling sharps injuries/

exposure incidents.

— Establish a working relationship in advance, so that 

employers can be assured that these injuries will be 

treated as urgent cases by a competent provider. 

 Arrange immediate first aid (e.g., wash the needlestick/

sharps injury site, cover with a bandage) for employees 

who experience a needlestick/sharps injury. 

 Arrange immediate evaluation by a licensed healthcare 

provider, preferably a provider familiar with post-exposure 

protocols.

Reporting injuries

 Have a plan for employees to promptly report needlestick 

injuries and ensure that the plan includes medical followup and testing of the source case (if known).

 Establish a sharps injury risk reporting system to track 

each incident for documentation and follow-up to help 

prevent future incidents.
4

 Establish and maintain a separate sharps injury log§ to 

track/report the device involved in the incident (not the 

injury to the person). 

 Report injuries. OSHA requires needlestick injuries to be 

recorded on the OSHA Form 300 (Log of Work-Related 

Injuries and Illnesses) if the sharp is known to be contaminated with another person’s blood or OPIM.¶

 Ensure that employees also report near-miss needlestick/

sharps injuries to supervisors for documentation and follow-up to help prevent future incidents.**

Provide recommended tools and PPE

 Provide officers with access to and training on handheld 

tactical search mirrors and flashlights for conducting searches in hard to see areas, such as underneath mattresses. 

 Consider providing tools (e.g., tongs) to pick up sharps, so 

employees don’t use their hands. 

 Provide officers with access to sharps containers that are 

closable, puncture-resistant, crush-resistant, leak-proof, 

color coded, and clearly marked at the level where the 

container is full (and should be replaced) [FDA 2018b].

 Provide for final disposal of sharps containers (e.g., having a company pick them up).

 Provide all necessary PPE for officers to use, appropriate 

for the work-related task an officer may perform. 

 Provide single use nitrile gloves, which are used to prevent dermal (skin) exposure to blood and other body fluids. 

While single-use nitrile gloves do not provide puncture resis-

§

1910.1030(h)(5)(i) The employer shall establish and maintain a sharps 

injury log for the recording of percutaneous injuries from contaminated 

sharps. The information in the sharps injury log shall be recorded and 

maintained in such manner as to protect the confidentiality of the 

injured employee. The sharps injury log shall contain, at a minimum:

 1910.1030(h)(5)(i)(A) The type and brand of device involved in the 

incident,

 1910.1030(h)(5)(i)(B) The department or work area where the 

exposure incident occurred, and

 1910.1030(h)(5)(i)(C) An explanation of how the incident occurred.

 1910.1030(h)(5)(ii) The requirement to establish and maintain a 

sharps injury log shall apply to any employer who is required to 

maintain a log of occupational injuries and illnesses under 29 CFR 

part 1904.

 1910.1030(h)(5)(iii) The sharps injury log shall be maintained for 

the period required (5 years) by 29 CFR 1904.33. ¶

1904.8(a) Basic requirement: Record all work-related needlestick injuries 

and cuts from sharp objects that are contaminated with another person’s 

blood or other potentially infectious material (as defined by 29 CFR 

1910.1030). Enter the case on the OSHA 300 log as an injury. To protect 

the employee’s privacy, do not enter the employee’s name on the OSHA 

300 log (see the requirements for privacy cases in paragraphs 1904.29(b)

(6) through 1904.29(b)(9)). **OSHA defines a near miss as an incident in which no personal injury 

was sustained, but where (given a slight shift in time or position) injury 

could have easily occurred. OSHA encourages employers to investigate 

near misses to define the problem, disseminate solutions to affected 

workers, and help prevent future workplace incidents by alerting 

professionals to hazards and unsafe conditions.

tance, gloves are part of standard precautions when coming 

into contact with blood or body fluids [BOP 2017]. 

 Consider providing needle puncture-resistant gloves that 

meet the ASTM Standard F2878–19 for puncture resistance to needles [ASTM 2019; BOP 2017].

What Employees Can Do

Take proper safety measures:

 Complete required training pertaining to search techniques, evidence-collection techniques, and sharps/needlestick injury prevention and reporting.

 Search common areas with the same precautions as individual areas.

 Before conducting a frisk or pat-down search, ask the person if they have anything sharp concealed on their person, 

within their pockets, etc. 

 Within the correctional environment, metal detectors 

(walk-through or handheld) may be used by employees to 

detect some types of sharps. 

 Use tactical search mirrors and flashlights to search areas that are not readily visible (under mattresses, crevices, 

edges of shelving, door frames, etc.). 

 Do not pass needles/sharps between officers.

 Do not pass items (evidence/contraband) between officers 

while handling sharps and needles.

 Notify your supervisor about any needlestick/sharps hazards you observe while working, so the hazards can be 

identified and corrected. 

 Wear all necessary PPE. Consider using gloves that meet 

ASTM Standard F2878–19 for puncture resistance to needles for additional protection [ASTM 2019; BOP 2017]. 

Puncture resistant gloves may not provide protection 

against BBPs or chemical (illicit drug) permeation unless 

the manufacturer data provides performance data for 

virus penetration using a method such as ASTM 1671 (virus) and ASTM D6978–19 (chemical).

Report needlestick/sharps injuries:

 If you experience a needlestick from a potentially used/

contaminated needle, you may have been exposed to a 

BBP. Wash needlesticks and cuts (injury site) with soap 

and water [CDC 2016a; NCCC 2021]. 

 This exposure requires immediate evaluation within 

hours. It is ideal to start treatment as soon as possible (and 

ideally within 48–72 hours).

— Seek care from a licensed healthcare provider at an 

occupational health clinic, urgent care, emergency 

department, or your healthcare provider for appropriate treatment.
5

— Refer to your employer’s protocol for reporting 

guidance which may include local options for seeking care.

 Promptly report the needlestick/sharps injury to your supervisor, in addition to any needlestick/sharps near-misses 

(to help prevent future incidents). 

Follow steps for safe sharps handling, 

transportation, and disposal:

 Do not recap, shear, or disassemble syringes for any reason.

 Use FDA-cleared sharps containers that are closable, 

puncture-resistant, crush-resistant, leak-proof, color coded, labeled to warn of hazardous waste inside the container, and clearly marked with a line that indicates when the 

container should be considered full.

 Replace or exchange sharps containers when they reach 

the full line as labeled by the manufacturer. (Final disposal [e.g., having a company pick up the containers] should 

be the responsibility of the employer.) 

 Dispose of all regulated waste in accordance with applicable regulations of the United States, States and Territories, 

and political subdivisions of States and Territories.

Suggested Citation

NIOSH [2022]. Reducing work-related needlestick and other sharps injuries among law enforcement officers. By Hughes 

SE, de Perio MA, Afanuh SE. Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease 

Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational 

Safety and Health, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2022-154. 

Resources

State and Federal Law: BBP Reporting 

and Notification

In considering this document’s recommendations, employees and employers should be aware of applicable state and local laws that may impact their implementation. Many states 

have enacted laws that require the notification or reporting 

of exposure to infectious diseases, including BBPs, to law enforcement officers, correctional officers, and others who respond to victims of emergencies during the course of their 

professional or volunteer duties. Some states require treating 

medical facilities to report exposure to BBPs for correctional 

officers only. Other states require such reporting for correctional employees and police officers. In some states, the only 

reportable disease identified by law is HIV; in other states, 

HIV, HBV, and HCV are specified; some states include all 

diseases included in the NIOSH list of potentially life-threatening infectious diseases to which emergency response employees may be exposed, discussed below.††

††Some states require law enforcement officers who know or suspect that 

Part G of Title XXVI of the Public Health Service Act requires 

medical facilities receiving and treating the victims of an 

emergency or ascertaining the cause of the victims’ death 

to notify and respond to requests from emergency response 

employees (ERE) (such as law enforcement officers) pertaining to any determinations that the victim or deceased had 

a potentially life-threatening infectious disease. Such notification allows EREs to receive timely diagnosis and postexposure medical treatment. NIOSH has developed and 

published a list of potentially life-threatening infectious diseases, including BBPs, and accompanying guidelines for use 

by medical facilities [NIOSH 2013, 2020]. 

Resources

NIOSH

Personal protective equipment

Bloodborne infectious diseases

Strategies for sharps disposal containers

CDC

Sharps Safety for Healthcare Settings gives resources for developing a sharps injury prevention program and teaching tools 

for training healthcare staff in preventing sharps injuries

FBI

Handbook of Forensic Services

FDA

Describes FDA-approved  Sharps Disposal Containers  and 

things that can be used as alternative containers if FDAapproved containers are not available.

OSHA

Bloodborne Pathogens and Needlestick Prevention web

page explains the BBPs standards, describes sharps injuries 

and how to prevent them, and also illustrates how to select 

safe syringes and dispose of sharps safely.

Protecting Yourself When Handling Contaminated Sharps

fact sheet describes safe medical devices, sharps disposal, 

and disposal containers.

U.S. Public Health Service

Guidelines for the Management of Occupational Exposures 

to Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Recommendations 

for Postexposure Prophylaxis | National Prevention Information Network | Connecting public health professionals with 

trusted information and each other (cdc.gov)

another person has an infectious disease, including BBPs, to report the 

case to the local health authority.
6

References

ASTM [2019]. ASTM F2878–19, Standard test method for 

protective clothing material resistance to hypodermic needle puncture. West Conshohocken, PA: ASTM International. www.astm.org

BOP [2017]. Cut and puncture resistant gloves. Program 

Statement. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, 

Federal Bureau of Prisons, CPD/CSB 5576.05. https://www.

bop.gov/policy/progstat/5576_005.pdf

Carter C, Lawrence C, Woodward B, Ohmit A [2020]. Accessing medical care after a needlestick injury: first responders’ 

perception of HIV risk and attitudes toward syringe service 

programs. J Community Health 45(3):554–560. https://

doi.org/10.1007/s10900-019-00775-x

CDC [2011]. The national surveillance system for healthcare 

workers (NaSH). Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health 

and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/nhsn/PDFs/NaSH/NaSHReport-6-2011.pdf 

CDC [2013]. CDC guidance for evaluating health-care personnel for hepatitis B virus protection and for administering postexposure management. By Schillie S, Murphy TV, 

Sawyer M, Ly K, Hughes E, Jiles R, de Perio MA, Reilly M, 

Byrd K, Ward JW. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health 

and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. MMWR 62(RR10):1–19. https://www.cdc.gov/

mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr6210a1.htm

CDC [2016a]. Bloodborne infectious diseases: emergency needlestick information. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department 

of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/

bbp/emergnedl.html

CDC [2016b]. Hepatitis B. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department 

of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/hbv/

pdfs/HepBGeneralFactSheet.pdf

CDC [2018]. Prevention of hepatitis B virus infection in the 

United States: recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. By Schillie S, Vellozzi C, 

Reingold A, Harris A, Haber P, Ward JW, Nelson NP. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. MMWR 

67(1):1–31. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/67/

rr/rr6701a1.htm

CDC [2019]. Stop Sticks Campaign: sharps injuries. Atlanta, 

GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.

gov/nora/councils/hcsa/stopsticks/sharpsinjuries.html

CDC [2020a]. Hepatitis C. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of 

Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control 

and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/HCV/

PDFs/HepCGeneralFactSheet.pdf

CDC [2020b]. HIV 101. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of 

Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control 

and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/pdf/library/

consumer-info-sheets/cdc-hiv-consumer-info-sheethiv-101.pdf

CDC [2020c]. PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis). Atlanta, GA: 

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers 

for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.

gov/hiv/basics/pep/pep-workplace.html

CDC [2020d]. State laws that address high-impact HIV prevention efforts. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health 

and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/policies/law/states/

index.html

CDC [2020e]. Testing and clinical management of health 

care personnel potentially exposed to hepatitis C virus— 

CDC guidance, United States, 2020. By Moorman AC, de 

Perio MA, Goldschmidt R, Chu C, Kuhar D, Henderson 

DK, Naggie S, Kamili S, Spradling PR, Gordon SC, Russi 

MB, Teshale EH. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health 

and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. MMWR 69(6):1–8. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/

volumes/69/rr/rr6906a1.htm?s_cid=rr6906a1_w

CDC [2021]. HIV basics. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of 

Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control 

and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/basics/index.html

Cepeda JA, Beletsky L, Sawyer A, Serio-Chapman C, Smelyanskaya M, Han J, Robinowitz N, Sherman SG [2017]. Occupational safety in the age of the opioid crisis: needle stick 

injury among Baltimore police. J Urban Health 94(1):100–

103. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11524-016-0115-0 

CFR. Code of Federal regulations. Washington, DC: U.S. 

Government Printing Office, Office of the Federal Register.

Conklin [2018]. Proper needlestick hand protection amidst 

the opioid crisis. EHS Today (Jan 24). https://www.ehstoday.com/ppe/article/21919470/proper-needlestickhand-protection-amidst-the-opioid-crisis

Davis CS, Johnston J, de Saxe Zerden L, Clark K, Castillo T, 

Childs R [2014]. Attitudes of North Carolina law enforcement officers toward syringe decriminalization. Drug Alcohol Depend 144:265–269. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.

drugalcdep.2014.08.007

FDA [2018a]. Safely using sharps (needles and syringes) at 

home, at work and on travel. Washington, DC: Food and 

Drug Administration. https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/consumer-products/safely-using-sharps-needlesand-syringes-home-work-and-travel

FDA [2018b]. Sharps disposal containers. Washington, DC: 

Food and Drug Administration. https://www.fda.gov/
7

medical-devices/safely-using-sharps-needles-and-syringeshome-work-and-travel/sharps-disposal-containers 

Flanigan TP, Zaller N, Taylor L, Beckwith C, Kuester L, Rich 

J, Carpenter CCJ [2009]. HIV and infectious disease care in 

jails and prisons: breaking down the walls with the help of academic medicine. Trans Am Clin Climatol Assoc 120:73–83.

Healthy People [2020]. Incarceration. Social determinants of 

health. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and 

Human Services. https://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/

topics-objectives/topic/social-determinants-of-health

Kuhar DT, Henderson DK, Struble KA, Heneine W, Thomas 

V, Cheever LW, Gomaa A, Panlilio AL, U.S. Public Health 

Service Working Group [2013]. Updated US Public Health 

Service guidelines for the management of occupational exposures to human immunodeficiency virus and recommendations for postexposure prophylaxis. Infect Control 

Hosp Epidemiol 34(9):875–892. https://www.jstor.org/

stable/10.1086/672271

NCCC [2021]. PEP quick guide for occupational exposures. 

San Francisco, CA: University of California, National Clinical Consultation Center. https://nccc.ucsf.edu/clinicalresources/pep-resources/pep-quick-guide-for-occupational-exposures/

NIOSH [2008]. Encourage your workers to report bloodborne pathogen exposures. Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease 

Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/

docs/2008-118/default.html

NIOSH [2013]. Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension 

Act of 2009. Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health 

and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and 

Health. https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/ryanwhite/

default.html

NIOSH [2016]. Bloodborne infectious diseases: HIV/AIDS, 

hepatitis B, hepatitis C. Workplace safety and health topics. Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. 

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/bbp/default.html

NIOSH [2017]. Evaluation of needlestick injuries and other 

exposures to bloodborne pathogens among officers in a 

city police department. By de Perio M. Health Hazard 

Evaluation. Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health 

and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and 

Health, HHE Report No. 2016–0121–3284. https://www.

cdc.gov/niosh/hhe/reports/pdfs/2016-0121-3284.pdf

NIOSH [2020]. Infectious diseases and circumstances relevant to notification of emergency response employees: implementation of Sec. 2695 of the Ryan White HIV/AIDS 

Treatment Extension Act of 2009. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for 

Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for 

Occupational Safety and Health, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2020–119. https://doi.org/10.26616/NIOSHPUB2020119

NIOSH 2021]. Preventing needlestick injuries at COVID–19 

vaccination sites. NIOSH Science Blog. Cincinnati, OH: U.S. 

Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for 

Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. https://blogs.cdc.gov/nioshscience-blog/2021/03/02/needlestick-prevention/

OSHA [2001]. Bloodborne pathogen standard. Washington, DC: 

U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health 

Administration, 29 CFR 1910.1030. https://www.osha.gov/

laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1910/1910.1030

OSHA [2003].  Model plans and programs for the OSHA 

Bloodborne Pathogens and Hazard Communications 

Standards. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Labor, 

Occupational Safety and Health Administration, OSHA 

3186–06R 2003. https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/

files/publications/osha3186.pdf

OSHA [2020]. Guidance on preparing workplaces for 

COVID-19. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Labor, 

Occupational Safety and Health Administration, OSHA 

3990–03 2020. https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/

files/publications/OSHA3990.pdf

Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act of 2009 

(Pub. L. 111–87, 42 USC 300ff–131 et seq.).
For More Information

Find NIOSH products and get answers to workplace safety 

and health questions:

1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636) 

TTY: 1-888-232-6348

CDC/NIOSH INFO: cdc.gov/info | cdc.gov/niosh

Monthly NIOSH eNews: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/enews/

Mention of any company or product does not constitute 

endorsement by NIOSH. In addition, citations to websites 

external to NIOSH do not constitute NIOSH endorsement of the sponsoring organizations or their programs or 

products. Furthermore, NIOSH is not responsible for the 

content of these websites.

This document is in the public domain and may be 

freely copied or reprinted. NIOSH encourages all 

readers of the Workplace Solutions to make them 

available to all interested employers and workers.

As part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 

NIOSH is the Federal agency responsible for conducting 

research and making recommendations to prevent workrelated illnesses and injuries. All Workplace Solutions 

are based on research studies that show how worker exposures to hazardous agents or activities can be significantly 

reduced.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.26616/NIOSHPUB2022154

DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2022-154

July 2022