Shearing plastic syringe ends in a sharps collection system

September 25, 1997

Mr. William M. Wagner, President
Hospital Waste Management, Inc.
[Recipient address omitted]
Dear Mr. Wagner:

This is in response to your letter dated July 28, 1997, concerning further clarification of the Safe Medical Systems' SNR sharps collection system. You have asked for an interpretation as it pertains to the "shearing" action of the SNR, and whether the shearing of the plastic end of the syringe is prohibited by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's Occupational Exposure to Bloodborne Pathogen standard (CFR 1910.1030).

The system for needle disposal you described in a previous letter is a system that shears the plastic end of the syringe holding the needle. The sheared end with the needle then falls into a sharps container. The shearing of the plastic syringe is not prohibited by the standard. The standard does prohibit the shearing of the needle. As discussed in the previous letter, the remaining parts of the syringe and plunger are contaminated and must be properly disposed of as well.

I hope this letter has fully addressed your request for clarification of the Bloodborne Pathogen standard. If you have further questions, please call [the Office of Health Enforcement at (202) 693-2190].

Sincerely,
Stephen Mallinger, Acting Director
Office of Health Compliance Assistance

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[Corrected 12/6/2024]