Discarding Sharps Safely

Many people use needles, syringes and lancets—called "sharps"—to manage medical conditions such as diabetes, allergies, infertility, arthritis, hepatitis, HIV, blood clotting disorders, migraines and cancer. Sharps are also used to give medication to pets and farm animals.

But, according to FDA, the haphazard disposal of these devices puts many other people, including waste-disposal workers, housekeepers, family members and children, at risk of injury and serious infections. EPA estimates that 9 million people in the U.S. use sharps at home. And, FDA says, many of those sharps end up in the household trash. FDA has posted guidelines on how to safely dispose of needles, syringes and other sharps here.

View a video on needlestick prevention--submitted to ASSE's 100th Anniversary Video Essay contest, "Why the World Needs More Safety Professionals"--here.

For information on occupational exposure to sharps, check out OSHA's info here and learn about NIOSH's STOP STICKS campaign here.