How to Buy a Sharps Container

Sharps are classified as a needle or other sharp object that could pose a public health risk if a person were stuck with these objects. The healthcare industry closely follows protocol on buying Sharps containers and the proper disposal of these containers. Another industry that should be highly concerned about Sharps protocol is the tattoo industry where needles are used all day, every day.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Measure the size of the Sharps. In a tattoo shop environment, look at the biggest needle you would ever use to determine how large the container needs to be in order to accommodate this needle. You'll need to determine how big the opening of the container needs to be and how deep the inside should be so that the needle isn't sticking out the top. If the container is big enough for the largest needle, then every other size needle will also fit.
2. Determine how large of a container is required. The volume of your business will help you figure out if one of the smaller Sharps containers will work or if you need a bigger size. You don't want constantly to be changing out full containers or take the chance the containers will be overfilled in between change outs.
3. Choose a convenient design. Make sure the shape of the container accommodates the type of Sharps you'll be disposing.
4. Check the durability of various containers. When shopping for Sharps containers, you should inspect its thickness to ensure it's durable, leak resistant and puncture resistant under normal working conditions and under any added stress it undergoes during transportation and disposal or under mild fluctuations in temperature that might occur.
5. Visit local drugstores and department stores with pharmacies. Many of these stores carry inexpensive Sharps containers and it could save you on shipping costs if you purchase them from a mail order distributor. On the flip side, the containers may not be as high a quality of those you would receive from a company that deals specifically in medical supplies. You also have to factor in added cost for disposal if you shop with a local store that doesn't provide this service, which most don't.
6. Shop with a tattoo supply company. Many of these companies also offer Sharps containers. Their prices tend to be a little higher than what you'd find at a local department store's pharmacy and the quality may or may not be any better. Most, if not all, tattoo supply companies don't offer any kind of a disposal service for filled Sharps containers, but they may be able to refer you to a company that does.
7. Contact a medical supply company. These companies supply containers possibly at a higher rate, but should be a better quality since they cater to the medical industry where strict protocol is followed in regards to this type of waste. Many may also offer a disposal service for a fee. These services generally require you to properly package and ship filled containers either to them or another company who dispose of them as required by law.
8. Contract with a medical waste pick-up company. By far the priciest route to pursue, but they generally not only supply the containers, but also pick up your waste and dispose of it. Some will even physically replace the containers for you, but this isn't usually a feasible service for the price when dealing with a small scale tattoo shop.

Tips & Warnings

• Check with your local post office to learn their policy on picking up properly packaged and sealed boxes containing Sharps. For an added fee, they may be able to pick them up from your shop and ship them where they need to go.
• Sharps containers are usually red, although some are yellow, and are imprinted with the biohazard symbol on the front.
• Good Sharps containers should be extremely difficult to reopen once sealed. This is for the safety of the person transporting the container for disposal and another quality you want to look for when comparing containers.
• Sharps can carry Hepatitis, HIV, AIDS and many other infectious diseases, always use extreme caution when handling and during disposal.
• Never dispose of Sharps in your regular garbage and risk the lives of anyone that comes into contact with them.