Contaminated Needles
1910.1030(d)(2)(vii)
Contaminated needles and other contaminated sharps shall not be bent,
recapped, or removed except as noted in paragraphs (d)(2)(vii)(A) and
(d)(2)(vii)(B) below. Shearing or breaking of contaminated needles is
prohibited.
1910.1030(d)(2)(vii)(A) Contaminated needles and other contaminated
sharps shall not be bent, recapped or removed unless the employer can
demonstrate that no alternative is feasible or that such action is required
by a specific medical or dental procedure.
1910.1030(d)(2)(vii)(B) Such bending, recapping or needle
removal must be accomplished through the use of a mechanical device or a
one-handed technique.
All Needles
used for tattoo and piercing are "Sharps."
All used tattoo and piercing needles are considered Contaminated Sharps.
All "Contaminated Sharps" must be disposed of
immediately after use
by being placed in puncture-proof sharps containers with closable
leak-proof lids.
Conclusion:
All used tattoo and piercing needles are to be disposed of
immediately after use into a sharps hazard container.
Removing or disposing of the needle portion by
bending, breaking, melting or incineration is directly contrary to OSHA
regulations and a violation
of safe work practices.
They must be immediately discarded.
You cannot give them away.
You cannot save them for later use on the same customer.
You cannot melt the tips off.
You cannot re-process them. Period.
YOU CANNOT Re-STERILIZE USED NEEDLES.
It is 100% clear and unambiguous: they go into the sharps container.
Period.
Because tattoo needles are solid it would be reasonable to expect that they could be re-used after proper cleaning and sterilization. But
NO.
Regulations require all sharps to be single use and
all contaminated sharps must be discarded
immediately after
use. into Sharps Containers
Needle List
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