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Sharps container

Also called: sharps box, needle box

The puncture-proof container for needles, blades and other contaminated sharps.

OSHA requires contaminated sharps (needles, scalpel blades, broken glass, orthodontic wire) to go right away into a container that closes, resists punctures, does not leak and is labeled or colored red. It must stay upright, be close to where sharps are used, and be replaced before it overfills.

How to spot it

  • A red or yellow hard plastic box with a biohazard symbol and a one-way lid, often wall-mounted in the operatory.

What it is used for

  • Drop sharps in immediately after use; never push them down or reach in.
  • Close and lock it when it reaches the fill line, and replace it.

Safety and care

  • Recap needles only with a one-handed scoop or a recapping device.
  • Never put amalgam in a sharps container.

Related

Sources: OSHA. Bloodborne Pathogens Standard, 29 CFR 1910.1030, CDC. Guidelines for Infection Control in Dental Health-Care Settings, 2003. MMWR 2003;52(RR-17)