The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) defines a sharp as any object that can pierce the skin. Sharps containers are reserved only for contaminated items that could puncture the skin. It’s important that staff are educated on what should and should not be included in a sharps container.
Things that should be included in a sharps container:
- Scalpels
- Needles
- Dental anesthetic carpules containing residual blood
- Wires, sutures, and dental files
Things that should not be included in a sharps container:
- Tape, paper, bandages/gauze, exam gloves, alcohol preps
- Medication and medication wrappers
- Aerosols or inhalers
- Garbage or liquids of any kind
- Batteries of any type
- Cauterizers
- Fluorescein
- Hazardous, chemical, radioactive or red bag waste
- Fixatives and preservatives