Sharps

A sharp is an object that has the ability to puncture or cut someone or something. Examples include:

• needles
• syringes
• lancets
• scalpel or razor blades
• glass pipes
• any other item(s) that may cut or puncture the skin, which may have also been contaminated by blood or bodily fluids (i.e. diabetes, hormone injections, fertility treatment).

Most people in our communities dispose of used sharps properly, but sometimes sharps can be found in parks, beaches, sidewalks, trails, etc.

If you find a sharp on city property, review and follow the steps for safe handling and disposing of a sharp. If you are not comfortable handling the sharp, please call your municipality's public works department.

If you find a sharp on private property, review and follow steps for safe handling and disposing of a sharp. There is currently no phone number to call if a sharp is found on private property. It is the responsibility of private property owners (or landlords) to discard sharps found on private property.

Knowing how to safely pick up and dispose of a sharp can help to prevent the spread of diseases such as HIV and hepatitis. Follow these steps to safely handle and dispose of a sharp.

You can get hard-sided containers from home (such as a pop bottle or laundry container with a lid), or pick up a free biohazard container from a participating pharmacy in the Nipissing and Parry Sound district. 

Once a sharp has been safely collected in a hard-sided container (e.g., biohazard container, pop bottle, laundry container with a lid), it can be dropped off at a number of places across the Nipissing and Parry Sound districts. These include:

• Needle syringe programs
• Participating pharmacies
• Hazardous waste depots
• Community sharps bins (click on the [   ] icon to see where you could find one in your community) 

There is a very low risk of blood borne infections from a sharp injury. Someone who does get injured by a used sharp should:

• Let it bleed freely.
• Wash the area with soap and water.
• Seek medical attention for serious injuries, and for advice about risks of infection and suggested treatment.

If the incident happened while working, contact your occupational health department and report the incident accordingly.

The Health Unit operates on the harm reduction principle of providing clients with an adequate amount of sterile needles to meet their requirements for safe injecting. The main goal of this program is to prevent the spread of communicable diseases, primarily HIV and Hepatitis C, and minimize the risks associated with substance use in the greater community.

The Health Unit educates all individuals who use on how to dispose of needles safely and the risks of failing to do so. We provide them with sharps containers and information on various disposal locations, and also encourage them to return their supplies directly to the program.

Putting together a safe sharps handling and disposal kit is inexpensive and easy to do. It is recommended that a safe sharps handling and disposal kit include the following items:

• Puncture-proof and/or disposable gloves
• Tongs, forceps or tweezers
• Hard-sided container with a lid (e.g. biohazard container, pop bottle, laundry container with a lid)
• Disinfectant wipes
• Information on how to safely handle and dispose of a sharp

For organizations/workplaces that require regular sharps pick-up and disposal, connect with your municipality or the Health Unit for information about local disposal options. Organizations/workplaces may also connect with one of the following companies to set-up an account for regular disposal services:

• Daniel's Health
• ECS Cares
• Stericycle

Where can I get training for my staff?

Training is available online at no cost. Contact harm.reduction@healthunit.ca for an upcoming Safe Sharps Handling and Disposal training!