Biological hazards and sharps toolbox talk

What it is

Needles, sharps and materials contaminated with blood, body fluids or waste that can cause needlestick injuries and viral or bacterial infection.

Controls to check, most effective first

1. Use sharps containers and tongs or pick-up tools so nobody has to handle needles or sharps by hand.
2. Never recap needles or reach blindly into bins, bags, gaps or crevices where sharps may be hidden.
3. Provide hand-washing facilities, and clean up blood and body fluid spills using a spill kit and suitable disinfectant.
4. Offer vaccination, such as for hepatitis B, to workers at risk of exposure to blood, body fluids or contaminated waste.
5. Have a post-exposure procedure: wash the area, report the incident and get prompt medical assessment after any needlestick injury.
6. Wear puncture-resistant gloves and protective clothing when handling waste or material that may be contaminated.

Where it comes up on the job

Work steps from SafetyDocs templates that deal with biological hazards and sharps:

• Spills & sharps managementSign and clean up spills and pick up sharps and broken glassFrom Cleaning Public Areas
• Biohazards (including sharps)Skin irritation and allergies to infectionsFrom Hoarder Cleaning Plan
• Removal of contaminated materials, i.e., carpets, furniture & other affected materialsSafe handling and disposal of hazardous materials.From Meth Lab Clean
• Spills, litter & sharps managementManage spills, litter and sharps safelyFrom Garden Maintenance
• Sweeping, mopping & surface cleaningClean surfaces while controlling infection, dust, chemicals and strainFrom Cleaning Public Areas

Questions for the crew

1. Where could biological hazards and sharps come up on this job today?
2. Is any of this work on today's job: Spills & sharps management; Biohazards (including sharps); Removal of contaminated materials, i.e., carpets, furniture & other affected materials?
3. The most effective control is: “Use sharps containers and tongs or pick-up tools so nobody has to handle needles or sharps by hand”. Can we do that here? If not, why not?
4. Which controls for biological hazards and sharps are missing or not working on this site?
5. When would you stop work because of biological hazards and sharps, and who would you tell?
6. How do we report a hazard, a near miss or an incident on this job?