{"id":3536,"date":"2024-06-24T12:24:02","date_gmt":"2024-06-24T12:24:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.initial.co.uk\/blog\/?p=3536"},"modified":"2026-02-03T06:56:53","modified_gmt":"2026-02-03T06:56:53","slug":"how-to-dispose-of-sharps-waste-safely","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.initial.co.uk\/blog\/how-to-dispose-of-sharps-waste-safely\/","title":{"rendered":"How to dispose of sharps waste safely"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Sharps create many chances for injury and infection in healthcare. These are especially prevalent once a sharp has been used, and needs to be disposed of.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Understanding which items should be designated for sharps disposal<\/a> and how to do this safely is essential in helping to prevent injuries to healthcare professionals, patients, and the wider community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is a medical sharp?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A medical sharp is an object or instrument that is necessary for healthcare activities, and can cut, prick, or cause a similar injury.<\/a> This could include anything from needles and lancets to scissors and surgical blades. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other sharp items, such as broken glass, may be present in a healthcare environment. These must equally be treated in the same way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are unsure whether an item qualifies as sharps waste, you should always treat it as such to minimise the risk of injury to yourself and others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Public Health England<\/a> review found that percutaneous injuries made up 71% of healthcare associated occupational exposures to body fluid in the assessed period, and 81% of such injuries were sustained by doctors, nurses, and healthcare assistants. The need for safe procedures in sharps disposal is therefore crucial. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"What<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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Ensure you have a safe sharps disposal process in place<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You must ensure your healthcare environment is setup to facilitate the safe disposal of sharps. Secure sharps waste containers <\/a>and the relevant instructions<\/a> for their use must be close to the work area, but not sited on the floor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Effective containers are designed to prevent punctures caused by sharps waste. Place items into a sharps bin immediately after use, and do not try to remove them again. Sharps containers should be locked when they become three-quarters full, and you shouldn\u2019t try to compress the sharps waste contents<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the most prevalent and commonly used medical sharps is a needle. The recapping of needles should be prevented before disposal<\/a>. This is because the process of recapping often creates a higher risk of injury, especially when performed with two hands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where recapping needles is necessary to prevent a greater risk of harm<\/a>, the chance of injury to the healthcare professional must be reduced. This could be with the use of a suitable appliance or tool to aid the process, <\/sup>before it is immediately discarded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Follow the colour code<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As with all other waste products in healthcare environments, you must identify what regulations apply to sharps disposal.The Health Technical Memorandum 07-01 (HTM 07-01) <\/a>provides a complete insight into the best practice colour coding needed in your working environment, dependent on the care you provide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a brief guide, the colour coding for sharps is as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n