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Sharps Container Log
A log that follows every sharps container through its life: where it was placed and when, when it was closed at the fill line, when it left the building, and the manifest or receipt number from your medical waste company.
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Sharps Container Log
MedSpaBinder
Clinic
Medical waste company
Account #
Year
OSHA: sharps containers must be closable, puncture-resistant, leakproof, labeled, kept upright, replaced routinely and never overfilled.
Reviewed by: ______________________ Date: ____________
What OSHA requires of sharps containers
OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens Standard says containers for contaminated sharps must be closable, puncture-resistant, leakproof on the sides and bottom, and labeled or color-coded. They must be easy to reach and as close as practical to where sharps are used, kept upright, replaced routinely and not allowed to overfill.
What happens after a container is closed, including storage, pickup and treatment, is set by your state's medical waste rules. Your waste company's manifests or receipts are the proof it left properly.
How to use this log
- Add a line whenever a new container goes into a room, with its location and size.
- Close and lock the container when it reaches the fill line marked on it. Don't press sharps down to make room.
- When the waste company collects it, write the date and the manifest or receipt number, and file the paperwork with this log.
- Use the notes column for anything unusual, such as a container that was overfilled or damaged, and what you did.
Questions
When should a sharps container be replaced?
When it reaches the fill line printed on it, usually about three-quarters full, or sooner if your routine says so. OSHA's rule is that containers are replaced routinely and never allowed to overfill.
Is this the same as a sharps injury log?
No. A sharps injury log records needlestick and other sharps injuries, and OSHA requires it from employers who must keep OSHA injury and illness records. This log tracks the containers themselves. Record injuries on an incident report and follow your exposure control plan.
Sources
General guidance, not legal or medical advice. Requirements vary by state; follow your medical director and product labels.