Sharps Waste Definition
Sharps waste is defined as any biohazardous material capable of piercing the skin and becoming contaminated with biological fluids. Sharps-related injuries put healthcare workers who use medical devices such as needles, syringes, and scalpels at risk for contracting bloodborne diseases. Therefore, it is imperative that medical clinics, offices, surgery centers, and other facilities that generate infected needles and syringes properly dispose of medical sharps waste.
Qualifying Materials
Sharps waste includes not only needles and blades but also anything that is connected to them, like syringes and injection equipment.
Blades can be razors, scalpels, X-Acto knives, scissors, or any other medical device used for cutting in a medical context, regardless of whether they are contaminated with biohazardous substances. While glass and sharp plastic are classified sharps trash, their disposal techniques vary.
Glass items that have been contaminated with a biohazardous material are treated with the same concern as needles and blades, even if they are unbroken. Glass is often treated as a sharp because it can break during the disposal process. Contaminated plastic items that are not sharp can be disposed of in a biohazardous waste receptacle rather than a sharps container.
Dangers Involved
Because used sharps may contain biohazardous substances, injuries from sharps waste can be a serious public health risk. If contaminated sharps pierce the skin, this waste could spread blood-borne diseases. Blood-borne illnesses like hepatitis B (HBV), hepatitis C (HCV), and HIV are directly caused by the spread of these infections. When healthcare workers handle sharps waste, they put themselves at risk of spreading these illnesses. The likelihood of an injury occurring is increased by the volume that health care providers handle on a daily basis.
What to do if You get Accidentally Struck by a Used Sharp
If you are accidentally stabbed by a needle or sharp object that has been used by someone else, the FDA provides certain safety precautions. The actions to be taken are as follows:
Immediately wash the exposed area with soap and water or a skin disinfectant such as rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer.
To get tested for any infection you may have, contact your doctor or a nearby hospital immediately. If blood or other body fluids get on your skin, mouth, nose, or eyes, follow these instructions carefully.
When sharps are not disposed of properly, anyone who comes into contact with the waste is in serious danger. To maintain the health of those around you, use sharp objects responsibly and dispose of them properly.
