Safe Handling, Use, and Disposal of Sharps

Sharps safety begins the moment a sharp is picked up and does not end until it is safely and permanently discarded. Each step of the handling process — from removal from packaging to final disposal — poses a potential injury risk. Adopting a consistent, safety-minded technique for handling sharps is essential for protecting staff and patients alike.

🩺 Safe Handling Techniques

• Always handle sharps with deliberate, focused movement — never rush.
• Maintain visual control of the sharp during use. Avoid distractions or multitasking when performing procedures.
• When handing sharps to another person (e.g., in surgery or wound care), use a neutral zone or “no-hands” passing technique.
• Never leave a used or unused sharp unattended in a patient bed, tray, or counter — injuries often occur during cleanup by others.

🚫 Unsafe Practices to Avoid

• Recapping needles (unless using a one-handed scoop method in rare, permitted cases).
• Placing sharps in pockets, on bedrails, or in open containers.
• Carrying sharps from one room to another without a transport-safe system.
• Handing sharps directly to another staff member without warning or neutral-zone use.

🧪 Proper Use of Sharps During Procedures

• Use the least hazardous device available — such as blunt-tip suture needles or retractable lancets.
• Stabilize the patient whenever possible before beginning injections, line starts, or blood draws.
• Be prepared for unexpected movement, especially with pediatric, agitated, or confused patients.
• If a sharp is dropped, do not attempt to catch it — let it fall, then pick it up with a tool or glove-protected hand.

🗑️ Safe Disposal Guidelines

• Immediately discard sharps after use — never set them down “for just a second.”
• Use one-handed technique when depositing into sharps containers.
• Sharps containers must be:
  • Within arm’s reach
  • Securely mounted at eye level
  • Not overfilled (no more than ¾ capacity)
• Replace containers that are full, cracked, leaking, or contaminated on the outside.
• Ensure that sharps containers are disposed of per your facility’s regulated medical waste policy — usually by incineration or via a licensed biohazard service.

🧠 Key Takeaways:

• Safe handling of sharps is a clinical habit, not a one-time training.
• Always maintain awareness, control, and access to disposal.
• Preventing sharps injuries is everyone’s responsibility, from start to finish of a procedure.