Summary: This page focusses on how to handle and dispose of medical sharps safely and securely.
Who’s it for: All staff
Safe handling of sharps
A sharp is any medical instrument, device or object which can cause cuts or injury (e.g., a scalpel, needle, broken glass). Sharps which are handled inappropriately or not disposed of correctly are dangerous.
To prevent injury, we should always adhere to the following Do’s and Don’ts when handling sharps:
Do | Don’t |
Ask for help when using sharps with a confused or agitated patient | Re-sheath a needle |
Use a sharps tray with an integrated sharps container which conforms to BS7320 and UN3291 | Carry sharps in your hand. Sharps containers should be available at
the point of use |
Carry sharps containers away from the body, ensuring the
the temporary closure mechanism is closed | Leave sharps lying around |
Wear disposable gloves for invasive procedures and when there is a risk of exposure to contaminated sharps | Pass sharps from person to person by hand |
Avoid unnecessary use of sharps | Attempt to retrieve an item from the sharps container |
Use the correct size sharps container, as determined by the volume of sharps generated | Place a sharps container on the floor |
Store sharps containers out of reach of vulnerable people | Place sharps containers inside waste bags prior to disposal |
Use sharps containers for any other purpose than the disposal of sharps |
For certain procedures, needle-free equipment is available and must be used
Needles with built-in safety features minimise the risk of injury. The use of needles with integrated safety features is essential in cases where there is a high risk of infection (e.g., taking the blood of a patient with potential hepatitis C), and preferred in all other instances.
Safe disposal of sharps
Sharps must always be disposed of immediately after use in a sharps bin, at the point of use (by the person who used them). Always take a sharps bin with you to the point of use.
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What type of sharps bin should I use?
Use the following diagram to help you select a suitable sharps bin:
Using sharps bins
It is the personal responsibility of the individual using a sharp to dispose of it safely, the exception being in situations where it may be necessary to delegate this responsibility to another named person (e.g., during surgical procedures).
The following guidance should be followed when using a sharps bin:
- Needles and syringes must be disposed of together (do not separate). If it is necessary to detach the needle, great care must be taken, preferably using the device on the sharps container
- Do not dispose of sharps with other clinical waste
- After disposing of sharps, use the temporary closure device to close the bin
- Once placed in the bin, a sharp cannot be removed
- When filled to the manufacturer's marked line or if used for 3 months (whichever comes first), the sharps bin should be locked/sealed securely, and labelled appropriately for final disposal via the licensed route (as described in the manufacturer's instructions)
- When moving a sharps bin, carry the bin by the handle or using a carry tray
- Used sharps bins should be kept in a locked room, not accessible to patients or visitors
- Damaged sharps bins should be placed in a large secure rigid container, which is properly labelled
If a patient brings in a sharps container, check that the container is secure, filled to the manufacturer's line, and labelled. Note the date of collection in the yellow sharps log at reception and transfer to the correct sharps bin.
Regular audits will be completed to make sure we are handling and disposing of sharps appropriately
Collection of sharps bins
Reception team should make sure that sharps bins are collected every Thursday by waste management contractor SRCL.
If you have any questions or concerns with any of these infection control policies, please let your Line Manager know or tell us here