{"id":3752,"date":"2016-11-29T17:23:21","date_gmt":"2016-11-29T23:23:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/chemical-hygiene\/?page_id=3752"},"modified":"2023-06-07T08:12:19","modified_gmt":"2023-06-07T13:12:19","slug":"sharps-safety","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/chemical-hygiene\/sharps-safety\/","title":{"rendered":"Sharps Safety"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-modular-content-collection><p>Precaution\u00a0must always be taken when using\u00a0items such as needles, glass slides and cover slips, glass stir rods, pipettes, capillary tubes, scalpels\/blades, or potentially even petri dishes (if these break then they have sharp edges). \u00a0The most common causes of needle sticks\/sharps injuries are re-capping needles, improper disposal of needles, cuts caused by breakage of pipettes\/capillary tubes, etc., and cuts caused by handling broken glassware.<\/p>\n<p>All sharps injuries carry the risk of secondary infections in addition to exposure to the item&#8217;s\u00a0content and\/or contamination on the outside of the needle or other sharp instrument. \u00a0Furthermore, needle\/syringe usage may present a risk of exposure to infectious agents or other hazardous materials via sprays and aerosols, particularly from non needle-locking syringes.<\/p>\n<span class=\"collapseomatic arrowleft\" id=\"id69e36b34d0a6e\"  tabindex=\"0\" title=\"&lt;strong&gt;Sharps Policies; Use Safety-Engineered Sharps&lt;\/strong&gt;\"    ><strong>Sharps Policies; Use Safety-Engineered Sharps<\/strong><\/span><div id=\"target-id69e36b34d0a6e\" class=\"collapseomatic_content \">\n<ul>\n<li>Needles and syringes, or other sharp instruments, should be used only when there is no alternative.<\/li>\n<li>Plasticware should be substituted for glassware whenever possible.<\/li>\n<li>Use needleless systems, blunt-ended needles, syringes that\u00a0re-sheathe the needle, safety scalpels, or\u00a0other sharps safety devices whenever possible. \u00a0For example:\n<ul>\n<li>The University of Virginia has a list of vendors for safety-engineered sharps devices, including re-sheathing needles and safety scalpels, available at\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.medicalcenter.virginia.edu\/epinet\/new\/safetydevice.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">https:\/\/www.medicalcenter.virginia.edu\/epinet\/new\/safetydevice.html<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Mylar-wrapped safety hematocrits are available (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.fishersci.com\/shop\/products\/hemato-clad-mylar-wrapped-hematocrit-tubes-2\/p-179700\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Hemato-Clad<\/a>) from venders such as Fisher<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/safeneedle.org\/safety-needles\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">safeneedle.org<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Procedure-specific handling and disposal of sharps must be included in your lab&#8217;s written Standard Operating Procedures.<\/li>\n<li>Perform an annual review your lab&#8217;s need to use sharps. \u00a0Is it possible to modify a procedure so sharps are not needed?<\/li>\n<li>Note: <strong>The need to re-use and\/or re-cap needles, along with the method employed, must be documented in your Standard Operating Procedures. \u00a0The\u00a0BMBL does not permit re-capping of needles used in\u00a0BSL-2 procedures\u00a0for any reason.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><br class=\"none\" \/><br class=\"none\" \/><span class=\"collapseomatic arrowleft\" id=\"id69e36b34d0b59\"  tabindex=\"0\" title=\"&lt;strong&gt;Handling Procedures&lt;\/strong&gt;\"    ><strong>Handling Procedures<\/strong><\/span><div id=\"target-id69e36b34d0b59\" class=\"collapseomatic_content \">\n<ul>\n<li>Needles must not be bent, sheared, broken, recapped, removed from disposable syringes, or otherwise manipulated before disposal.<\/li>\n<li>Do not pick up broken glass with hands. \u00a0Use mechanical means such as a brush and dustpan, tongs, or forceps.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><br class=\"none\" \/><br class=\"none\" \/><span class=\"collapseomatic arrowleft\" id=\"id69e36b34d0baa\"  tabindex=\"0\" title=\"&lt;strong&gt;If You Must Re-Use or Re-Cap a Needle\/Syringe&lt;\/strong&gt;\"    ><strong>If You Must Re-Use or Re-Cap a Needle\/Syringe<\/strong><\/span><div id=\"target-id69e36b34d0baa\" class=\"collapseomatic_content \">\n<p>If there is no alternative to re-using a needle\/syringe for a specific procedure:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Avoid re-capping the needle by placing the needle\/syringe in a tray or other protective\u00a0container for transportation or storage between injections.<\/li>\n<li>If there is no alternative to re-capping the needle:\n<ul>\n<li><strong>First Choice:<\/strong> use a re-sheathing needle, or an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sterimatic.co.uk\/products\/sterimatic-multi-dose\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">automatic re-sheathing needle<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Second Choice:<\/strong> use a simple and inexpensive mechanical device to safely hold caps while re-capping.\u00a0 \u00a0Two examples:\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.medidose.com\/EPS-NeedleSafeII.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">NeedleSafe II<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=jhag8ppVtGU\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Solo-Cap Needle Recappers<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Third Choice:<\/strong> if the above re-sheathing or mechanical re-capping devices do not work for an application, <em>for RG1 Agents only<\/em>:\n<ul>\n<li>The one-handed scoop method may be used to recap the needle.\n<figure id=\"attachment_5122\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-5122\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=AYUbpBLceTg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"5122\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/chemical-hygiene\/sharps-safety\/screen-shot-2018-08-28-at-11-07-02-am\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/chemical-hygiene\/files\/2018\/08\/Screen-Shot-2018-08-28-at-11.07.02-AM.png\" data-orig-size=\"926,521\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Screen Shot 2018-08-28 at 11.07.02 AM\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/chemical-hygiene\/files\/2018\/08\/Screen-Shot-2018-08-28-at-11.07.02-AM.png\" class=\"wp-image-5122 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/chemical-hygiene\/files\/2018\/08\/Screen-Shot-2018-08-28-at-11.07.02-AM-300x169.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-5122\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">One-hand scoop video<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/li>\n<li>Place the cap on the counter top and &#8220;scoop&#8221; it up with the needle, keeping your free hand out of the way.<\/li>\n<li>Documentation must demonstrate that re-sheathing or mechanical re-capping devices cannot be implemented.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><br class=\"none\" \/><br class=\"none\" \/><span class=\"collapseomatic arrowleft\" id=\"id69e36b34d0c4b\"  tabindex=\"0\" title=\"&lt;strong&gt;Spray and Aerosol Prevention&lt;\/strong&gt;\"    ><strong>Spray and Aerosol Prevention<\/strong><\/span><div id=\"target-id69e36b34d0c4b\" class=\"collapseomatic_content \">\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Needles &amp; Syringes.<\/strong> Sprays or aerosols may be generated if a needle disengages from a syringe. \u00a0CDC\/NIH guidelines in<a href=\"http:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/biosafety\/publications\/bmbl5\/index.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">\u00a0BMBL<\/a>\u00a0states, &#8220;Only needle-locking syringes or disposable syringe-needle units (i.e., needle is integral to the syringe) are used for injection or aspiration of infectious material.&#8221;\n<ul>\n<li>Use needle-locking syringes for all needle\/syringe applications to prevent exposure to sprays and aerosols. \u00a0This includes injections, filtration, transfer of liquids, and loading columns.<\/li>\n<li>The use of needle-locking syringes will also prevent the loss of valuable samples. \u00a0One cc syringes are now available with needle locks or permanently attached needles.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Follow these guidelines for\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/chemical-hygiene\/preventing-aerosol-production\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">preventing aerosol production<\/a><\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><br class=\"none\" \/><br class=\"none\" \/><span class=\"collapseomatic arrowleft\" id=\"id69e36b34d0c8c\"  tabindex=\"0\" title=\"&lt;strong&gt;Sharps Disposal&lt;\/strong&gt;\"    ><strong>Sharps Disposal<\/strong><\/span><div id=\"target-id69e36b34d0c8c\" class=\"collapseomatic_content \">\n<ul>\n<li>Promptly dispose of all used sharps into the sharps container. \u00a0Do not re-cap used needles; instead place them directly into the sharps container.<\/li>\n<li>Place broken glass into the broken glass containers.<\/li>\n<li>Place the sharps containers within easy reach of work stations where sharps are generated.<\/li>\n<li>Use a size and shape container that will allow the sharp to freely and completely enter the container.<\/li>\n<li>Never fill containers more than 3\/4 full.<\/li>\n<li>Bring the full sharps container to RNS 341, or contact a Stockroom Manager\u00a0or the CHO for container removal.<\/li>\n<li>If you need a new sharps or broken glass container then contact the Stockroom Manager.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p><!-- begin-migrated-from-panel-builder --><!-- end-migrated-from-panel-builder --><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Precaution\u00a0must always be taken when using\u00a0items such as needles, glass slides and cover slips, glass stir rods, pipettes, capillary tubes, scalpels\/blades, or potentially even petri dishes (if these break then [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":156,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-3752","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/chemical-hygiene\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3752","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/chemical-hygiene\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/chemical-hygiene\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/chemical-hygiene\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/156"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/chemical-hygiene\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3752"}],"version-history":[{"count":26,"href":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/chemical-hygiene\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3752\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5632,"href":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/chemical-hygiene\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3752\/revisions\/5632"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/chemical-hygiene\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3752"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}