SOM018
Guidelines for the use of Sharps (including syringes)
Many of the risks associated with sharps used in the laboratory can be avoided through proper safe sharps
usage and sharp safe disposal practices. Sharps are devices or objects with corners, edges, or projections
capable of cutting or piercing. The following guidelines should be observed in all laboratories.
Note with regards to needles: where possible an alternative means should be employed, e.g. a pipette.
Where no alternative a blunt ended needle should be always be used. Sharp needles can only be used with
the approval of the supervisor or technical staff and task must be covered by a risk assessment that identifies
the need for a sharp needle and identifies adequate control measure to minimise the risk.
Handling Sharps Safely
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Use needles or sharp items only if it is necessary to do so and then use it for only for the purpose
designed for – keep sharps guarded as much as possible.
Assess the procedure; can you use a safer alternative? i.e. a pair of scissors as opposed to a Stanley
knife as opposed to a razor blade, a pipette instead of a syringe with needle.
Use plastic alternatives to glass where possible
Handle with extreme care. When handling glass items avoid applying force or excessive pressure in
case the item slips or gives way suddenly and breaks.
Carry glass items in a box or something similar to minimise the risk of dropping them.
DO NO LEAVE SHARPS LYING AROUND.
Repair or throw away broken or chipped glassware.
Properly dispose of all sharps when finished using.
Avoid re-sheathing needles following use.
Wear appropriate Personal Protective Equipment, e.g. eye protection, hand protection where
necessary.
Wear eye protection when using syringes or when cutting with a blade as contents can spray out or
blade or syringe can break.
If unsure, ASK.
Sharps Disposal
The following items are deemed as ‘sharps’ and can be disposed in a sharps container:
 All needles
 Glass syringes
 Razor blades
 Scalpels
 Any glass items, such as slides or Pasteur pipettes.
 Broken plastic pipettes should also be classed as sharps.
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DO NOT over fill sharp disposal containers. Overfilling sharps containers is a common mistake;
containers must not be filled more than ¾ full and disposed of before ¾ full.
 DO NOT dispose of glass items that are chemically or biologically contaminated in sharps containers,
especially mercury thermometers.
 Deactivate any bio-hazardous agents before putting in sharps container.
 Chemical contamination must be neutralised before disposing in sharps container.
 DO NOT use the sharps container for the disposal of non-sharps items such as gloves, plastic
pipettes.
 DO NOT substitute items such as coffee cans, reagent bottles for an approved sharps container.
 DO NOT dispose of loose sharps or sharps containers with the common rubbish. Doing so may injure
those emptying the rubbish bins.
 DO NOT leave sharps and needles exposed when not in use, either dispose or carefully re-guard.
 DO NOT shear, clip or bend needles.
 DO NOT re-open closed sharps containers.
 Disposal of larger un-contaminated sharps, such as beakers etc., should be put in a special glass
disposal bin or by putting into a box and made safe and then placed directly into the skip.
Blades
 Do not use a blade without its handle.
 For blades with guards – take care when fitting guard.
ivan.easdon@manchester.ac.uk (School Senior Safety Advisor) room C15, Materials Science Building, Ext. 63596
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SOM018
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Used blades must be placed immediately and directly into a sharps bin. Do not leave blades on work
surfaces or in drawers.
When not in use – make blade safe and store in its proper place.
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Glassware
 Check for damage before use; never use damaged glassware.
 Never store glassware above shoulder height.
 Store tall vessels at the back of shelves with smaller ones in the front.
 Store heavy glassware at bench height.
 Carry Winchesters in specially designed carriers; do not hold them by the neck, or even with two
hands.
 Sweep up broken glass or pick up with forceps.
Chemical syringes
Needle stick Injuries – Hypodermic needles are designed to penetrate body tissue, to facilitate the
introduction of fluid or to remove blood. Thus a penetrating injury with a needle is very likely to introduce
material contained inside the needle (and syringe if attached) into the body. Material on the outside of the
needle may also be introduced into the wound.
Syringes are used in research labs for multiple tasks including injection of gases or liquids into
chromatographs or chemical apparatus. Syringes can range from precision micro-syringes to inexpensive
disposable units. Needle-stick injuries remain a significant hazard during syringe use, but it is not the only
hazard – improper syringe use and chemical handling can result in eye and face injury due to syringe
spray-back.
Syringe spray-back accidents typically occur when the syringe or injection needle become plugged. If the
syringe becomes ‘plugged’, do not push the plunger harder. High pressures inside the syringe can cause
the plunger seal to fail or the barrel to crack spraying out liquid, or to eject the needle at high speed off the
syringe as well as spraying out liquid. The following steps are recommended for safe syringe use.
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Use blunt ended needles where possible
Use new syringes where possible.
Examine all syringes for evidence of physical damage before use.
Check the plunger for use of motion before drawing up any liquids or gas.
Fit needle onto syringe whilst still in its sheath.
Bent or broken needles must not be used.
Check again for ‘free plunger’ movement after installing needles or tubing.
Syringes with frozen plungers or plugged needles must be removed from service.
Clean re-usable syringe after use. Always wear eye protection or a face shield when cleaning
syringes and handling chemicals in a lab.
Where possible keep hands behind needle tip at all times.
Minimise handling of syringe and needle.
Special wash solvents, detergents, and brushes should be available for cleaning. For stubborn stains
or contamination ultrasonic cleaning in an appropriate solution may be effective.
After cleaning, the syringe plunger should be removed for drying and all seals checked, re-assemble
the syringe and plunger for storage.
Avoid using lubricants on plungers unless required by the manufacturer.
Some syringes are temperature sensitive and rapid heating or cooling should be avoided. Check with
the manufacturer for maximum and minimum temperature.
Where possible use Luer-lock syringes, which secure the needle thereby preventing blowout of the
needle and chemical release.
If a needle is dropped, it must be retrieved immediately. If it cannot be found, inform people of the
danger, and search the area until it is found and disposed of.
Risk control measures when using syringe needles
Using the Needle – It is the unsheathed needle that offers the hazard and it must be made safe, there
are two obvious control options that might prevent injury to the user and any other person concerned with
the work in the lab or support services. After using the needle;
 Place the unsheathed needle (as used – either attached to a syringe or free) immediately and
directly in a dedicated ‘sharps’ bin – recommended. Do not leave an exposed needle on work
surfaces.
ivan.easdon@manchester.ac.uk (School Senior Safety Advisor) room C15, Materials Science Building, Ext. 63596
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Re-sheath (placing the needle back in its plastic sheath).This can be accomplished safely as
described below but it is not recommended. The sheathed needle must be disposed of correctly or
stored safely.
‘Re-sheathing a syringe needle’ – depending on the hazard of the material in the needle.
Having removed the unused needle from the sheath (directly onto a syringe if using one), the
simplest means is to place the sheath on a level surface with the opening towards the
operator. After use, the needle is guided into the sheath and lifted so the sheath falls over it.
Alternatively, commercial devices, such as ‘needle guard’ and ‘safe T cap’ can be purchased.
If required, the sheathed needle can then be detached safely from the syringe and placed
promptly in the sharps bin.
First aid treatment for needle stick injuries.
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Encourage the puncture wound to bleed – DO NOT SUCK THE WOUND
Wash injury well under warm running water without soap and cover with a dry dressing
Seek medical advice if it is not known what the needle was used for or if is known that hazardous
materials were involved in its use.
Complete and submit an accident report form.
ivan.easdon@manchester.ac.uk (School Senior Safety Advisor) room C15, Materials Science Building, Ext. 63596
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