Contact me if you want the presentation ahmad.thanin@outlook.com

1. The Safe Handling and
Disposal of Sharps
Ahmad Thanin

2. What is a Sharp?
A sharp is any item having corners, edges, or projections
capable of cutting or piercing the skin:
• Needles with syringes
• Needles from vacutainers
• Needles with attached tubing
• Insulin pen
• Blades (razors, scalpels, exacto, etc. )
• Broken glass that has come into contact with blood or other body fluids

3. Selecting, Evaluating, and Using Sharps
Containers

4. What is NOT
a “sharps
container”?

5. SYRINGE DISPOSAL BASICS
If you find a needle,
secure it using a sharps
container or alternative.
NEVER put loose sharps
in the trash, recycling, or
flush down the toilet!

6. what to do
in case of a
needlestick
Remain calm
Wash the
needlestick
wound with soap
& water
Do not squeeze
the wound
Apply antiseptic
and cover with a
band-aid
Seek post-
exposure
evaluation at a
health clinic

9. How to Safely Dispose
of Sharps Containers
The safe disposal of sharps procedure begins
with placement of all needles and other sharps
in a disposal container immediately after use.
Proper sharps disposal also entails storing the
container in a safe location, and keeping sharps
and disposal containers far out of reach of
children and pets

11. 9 Sharps “Do NOTs”
Throw loose sharps in the trash.
DO NOT
Put sharps in recycling bins.
DO NOT
Flush sharps down the toilet.
DO NOT
Keep sharps containers where children can reach them.
DO NOT
Use glass bottles, plastic water bottles, milk jugs or cartons, or soda cans as do-it-yourself sharps containers.
DO NOT
Fill sharps containers past the fill line or three-quarters (3/4) full, and don’t force needles inside.
DO NOT
Put your sharps into the container immediately after use.
DO NOT
Bend or break needles.
DO NOT
Recap others’ needles; if you don’t have a sharps container, you may want to carefully recap your own needles.
DO NOT

13. How do I dispose
of a full sharp's
container?
Do not wait until the
container is
completely full.
Dispose of your
container when it is
about three-quarters
(3/4) full.

14. How long can I keep a sharps container?
Most sharps containers do not have an expiration date and as long as the
sharps container remains durable and sealed, it should be fairly safe to keep the
container until the proper disposal time.
A sharps container should be replaced when it is at the fill line or two-thirds
(3/4) full. However, we recommend disposing of a sharps container even if it’s
half (1/2) full because this will ensure safety of you and everyone around you.

15. Where Can I Dispose
of Sharps Containers?
• In general, there are two
important steps to prepare your
sharps containers for drop-off:
• Ensure your sharps
containers are labeled
correctly
• Secure the lid of the disposal
container in the appropriate
manner per local guidelines

16. Where Can I Dispose of Sharps Containers?

17. Where Can I Dispose of Sharps Containers?

18. the CDC
guidelines
structure of
sharps bins
used for
disposal.
The sharps container must be placed somewhere visible, ideally at eye-level.
The container should be located in an area free of obstacles.
The container should be big enough to accommodate the quantity of sharps produced in
the area.
The container should be well-sealed and fully leak-proof, ideally made of heavy plastic
and clearly labelled as a sharps container.
The sharps container needs to be fully anchored and stabilized to prevent any movement.
The container should remain upright during use.
Filled only to 3/4 of its capacity, fortunately most sharps containers’ have “filled” line to
make it easy to know when you’ve reached 3/4. Once you reach 3/4 then it’s time to
replace the container

19. Summery
DO NOT
• force needles or sharps into
container
• put fingers inside the
container
• bend, break, recap or remove
the needle
• leave the needle unattended.
If you must leave to get
disposal supplies, ask another
person to keep watch to avoid
an accidental stick
INSTEAD
• make sure that you can
clearly see and move around
the needle
• ensure no children or others
are nearby
• use gloves
• bring your sharps container or
alternative to the needle, not
the other way around
TAKE ACTION
• Put on gloves
• Place the container on the
ground beside the syringe
• Pick up the syringe by the
middle of the barrel using
tongs or gloved hands,
whichever provides the most
control
• Place the syringe into the
sharps container sharp end
firstSecure the lid of the
sharps container
• Remove gloves and wash your
hands