How to Dispose of Used Syringes and Lancets at Home
and in the Workplace
Keep
the environment clean and safe
To prevent accidental needle sticks:
-
Don't try to bend, break, or put the
cap back on your needle...you might injure
yourself.
- Never throw sharps directly into the garbage.
- Never flush, bury, or burn sharps.
- Never use a container that is not rigid and
puncture-resistant.
- Never use clear plastic or glass containers
- Never mix sharps with recyclable items.
- Never leave sharps accessible to others.
- Never overfill the container.
Steps for safe sharps removal:
- All sharps should be disposed of in rigid
puncture-resistant containers such as liquid
detergent bottles, bleach bottles or metal
containers such as empty coffee cans.
- Fill the container 3/4 of capacity.
- All containers must have a lid that can be
tightly sealed before it goes in the garbage
container. Reinforce the lid with heavy-duty
tape.
Boeing Health Services
STL offers assistance to employees that use needles or lancets. Locations
for assistance are Bldgs 111 and 598.
- You may pick up a sharps disposal container from
any of the Medical Care Units.
- You may return the full container to one of the
same locations for proper disposal.
- If you forget, contaminate, or damage your syringe
or lancet, you may obtain a replacement.
