Metal and biohazard sharps:
Any sharps made of metal (including, but not limited to: scalpel blades, razor blades and needles), and/or biohazard-contaminated glassware will be placed in a puncture-resistant container. When said container is full, it will be autoclaved (if necessary), sealed and placed in a cardboard box, which will in turn be sealed. The container and box will both be labeled with the laboratory PI’s name, a contact phone number, the date, and the words, “Decontaminated Laboratory Sharps” written conspicuously on the top of the box.
To avoid needle stick injuries and possible exposure to hazardous agents, needles should not be recapped, bent, sheared or broken. Retractable or self re-sheathing needles should be used when appropriate. In rare instances a one-handed technique (eg., use a one-handed scoop technique, or hold the cap with a hemostat or forceps) may be used to recap needles, but this is discouraged. Used needles, as is the case with other sharps, must be appropriately disposed of in a sharps container.
Glassware:
Any non-biohazard-contaminated glassware will be placed in a cardboard box. When full, the box will be sealed and placed in a second box, which will be sealed. The outer box will be labeled with the laboratory PI’s name, a contact phone number, the date, and the words, “Sharps” (and/or) “Broken Glass” written conspicuously on the top of the box.
EHS does not pick up sharps or glassware. To dispose of the sharps or glassware check with your particular department/building proctors or custodial staff. Each building and department handles it differently! Some departments have an agreement with the custodial staff so all you have to do is leave it in the hallway or next to the trash can in your lab. Some departments want you to physically carry the sharps container to the nearest dumpster and throw it away yourself. Some departments have large sharps containers in the hallway that you can throw your box of sharps into!
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