Sharps Fact Sheet
What are sharps?
Sharps are discarded articles that may cause puncture or
cuts including, but not limited to, all used and discarded hypodermic
needles and syringes, pasteur pipettes, scalpels, razor blades
and suture needles.
How to dispose of sharps?
All sharps must be disposed of in puncture-proof and leakproof
containers, which indicate sharp waste. The container must be
labeled with an International Biohazard Symbol. Sharps
should be placed directly into the containers and not recapped,
bent, broken, or removed from disposable syringes. Once containers
are filled, they must be disposed of by Environmental Health and
Safety (EHS) and NOT PLACED WITH REGULAR TRASH. Care must be taken
to follow these procedures to prevent serious injury and comply
with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health regulations,
105 CMR 480, Storage and Disposal of Infectious or Physically
Dangerous Medical or Biological Waste.
How to obtain sharps containers?
Personal Medical Care
On campus resident students who regularly use hypodermic
needles for medical care and must dispose of these needles can
obtain sharps containers and proper procedures for handling
sharps from the University Health Services (UHS) Pharmacy. When
these containers are full, they must be returned to the UHS
Pharmacy for proper disposal and new containers will be issued.
Laboratories
Employees and students who use sharps in their work can
obtain proper procedures for handling sharps and sharps containers
from EHS. These containers must be disposed of through EHS and
NOT WITH REGULAR TRASH (See Laboratory Health and Safety
Manual) . Sharps containers can be purchased through laboratory
supply companies listed in the Massachusetts Higher Education
Consortium contracts.
When hypodermic needles are found?
When a hypodermic needle (improperly disposed)
is found on the campus, notify EHS. EHS will pick it up, dispose
of it properly, and investigate the incident. If it is possible
for you to pick it up without harming yourself, you may place
it in a puncture-proof container (e.g. coffee, EHS sharps containers)
before EHS personnel arrives.
If you are injured with a hypodermic needle?
- Report the incident to your supervisor and the Biosafety
Officer at EHS
- Immediately seek medical attention at the University Health
Services - Urgent Care Department
- File a Notice of Injury Report
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