Alan Bitar apb33@cornell.edu

October 2015

Safe Handling of Sharps

About me…

10 years at Micro & Immunology (VMC)

2 years at Cornell EHS (Research Safety)

Bloodborne Pathogens

Waste Disposal Guidance Documents

Lab inspections

Agenda

• Injuries involving sharps Needles, blades, glass and other

• Numbers of reported injuries from 2011 to now Break down by category

• Promote the use of our website Biosafety tip sheet Safe handling of sharps video

Needles

Blades

Glass

OtherSharp Edges!

Example of sharp injuries reported by your colleagues at Cornell …

“I was using a syringe needle to

homogenize previously lysed cells. Once I was

done, I tried to put the cap back on the needle

and got a needle stick injury on my left thumb. ”

“ I just finished trimming a set of formalin fixed tissues.

I had sprayed my instruments with disinfectant.

I noticed the knife falling and grabbed it subconsciously.

When I was rinsing out the wound I fainted and hit my

head.”

“ I was inserting the end of a glass pipet into a

pipettor device to aspirate fluid.

The pipet broke and the broken end cut

my left middle finger. “

“ I was instructing a student on a technique

when the hand saw slipped, lacerating my left

thumb. ”

Reported sharps injuries 2011 - 15

39

4844 45

30

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

2012

15

520

8

bladesother

needles glass

2013

13

12

16

3

blades

other

needlesglass

2014

19

4

19

3

blades

other

needles

glass

2011

9

717

6

bladesother

needles

glass

2015

12

6

11

1

blades

other

needles

glass

Summary

• Visit Sharps Handling Webpage

• Please share the video

• Promote the use of tip sheet

Thank you!

Questions

Environmental Health & Safety(607) 255-8200

orAsk EHS at askEHS@cornell.edu