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Quizzes > Health & Medicine

Are All Medical Instruments Sharps?

Quick, free quiz to check which instruments are sharps. Instant results.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Jasmine SibbaldUpdated Aug 26, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustration for sharps safety knowledge quiz on a coral background

This quiz helps you decide whether all medical instruments are sharps, spot items not considered a sharp, and choose safe disposal. For added practice preventing injuries, try our OSHA needlestick prevention quiz and review risks in the bloodborne pathogens quiz. To reinforce handling basics, check the sterile processing quiz before your next shift.

Which definition best describes a 'sharps' in medical waste?
Any large broken object
Any object contaminated with fluid
Any object that can cut, puncture, or penetrate skin
Any object made of metal
Sharps are defined by OSHA and CDC as objects capable of cutting or puncturing skin, including needles, scalpels, and broken glass. They pose a high risk of needlestick injuries and bloodborne pathogen transmission. Proper identification of sharps is critical for safe disposal and injury prevention.
Which of the following items is NOT typically considered a sharps hazard?
Broken glass slide
Sterile gauze pad
Syringe needle
Scalpel blade
Sterile gauze pads do not have sharp edges or points and are not capable of puncturing skin, so they are not classified as sharps. Needles, scalpels, and broken glass are all capable of causing punctures or cuts and are regulated as sharps. Recognizing non-sharp waste prevents overuse of sharps containers.
What is the most common color of dedicated sharps disposal containers?
Red
Yellow
Green
Blue
Sharps containers are typically red to provide a standardized visual warning about biohazardous contents. The red color alerts staff to the risk of puncture injury and contamination. Consistent container color coding helps prevent disposal errors.
What is the primary risk associated with improper disposal of sharps?
Needlestick injuries leading to infections
Hearing loss
Skin irritation
Chemical exposure
Improper disposal of sharps primarily increases the risk of needlestick injuries, which can transmit bloodborne pathogens such as HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C. Needlesticks are a leading cause of occupational exposure in healthcare. Proper disposal protocols reduce these serious health risks.
According to OSHA standards, what should you do immediately after using a needle?
Recap the needle by hand
Lay it on a flat surface
Hand it to a coworker
Place it in a designated sharps container
OSHA requires that used needles be placed immediately into a sharps container at the point of use to prevent needlestick injuries. Recapping or handling used needles in any other way increases the risk of accidental puncture. Prompt disposal is a core work practice control.
Which of these instruments always qualifies as a sharps waste?
Sterile cotton swab
Disposable scalpel
Absorbent pad
Plastic pipette
A disposable scalpel has a sharp blade capable of puncturing or cutting skin and is therefore regulated as sharps waste. Plastic pipettes and absorbent pads lack sharp edges, and cotton swabs are blunt. Identifying true sharps ensures correct disposal containers are used.
Which label must be present on any approved sharps disposal container?
Biohazard symbol
Flammable warning
Explosive hazard
Radioactive symbol
Sharps containers must bear the biohazard symbol to warn of potentially infectious material inside. This labeling is mandated by OSHA and international standards. Proper labeling prevents accidental exposure.
At what fill level must a sharps container be taken out of service and replaced?
Over 90% full
Over 75% full
Over 50% full
Completely full
OSHA recommends that sharps containers be replaced when they reach three-quarters full to prevent overfilling and accidental injuries. Leaving containers beyond this point increases the risk of needlesticks when disposing additional sharps. Routine monitoring of fill levels is essential.
Which of the following is an example of an engineering control designed to reduce needlestick injuries?
Extended shift hours
Using larger sharps containers
Safety-engineered needle with retractable sheath
Double gloving
Engineering controls involve redesigning equipment to reduce hazards at the source. Safety-engineered needles feature built-in sharps injury prevention such as retractable sheaths or sliders. This reduces reliance on user technique alone.
How should broken laboratory glassware be disposed of to minimize sharps hazards?
In approved puncture-resistant sharps containers
In recyclable bins
In cardboard boxes
In regular trash bags
Broken glassware can cause cuts and must be treated as sharps. Disposing of broken glass in puncture-resistant sharps containers prevents injuries. Regular trash or recycling bins are inappropriate for this hazard.
Under the Bloodborne Pathogens Standard, employers must maintain which log related to needlestick injuries?
Sharps Injury Log
Occupational Illness Log
Ergonomic Incident Log
Chemical Exposure Report
The Bloodborne Pathogens Standard requires employers to maintain a Sharps Injury Log that documents needlestick and other sharps-related injuries. This log helps track incidents and evaluate control measures. It must include device type, department, and a description of the incident.
When transporting a sealed sharps container off-site, what is the minimum requirement?
It can be left unwrapped since it's sealed
It must be frozen
It needs no labeling
It must be placed in leak-proof outer packaging
Even sealed sharps containers must be placed in leak-proof outer packaging when transported off-site to prevent contamination in case of container failure. Proper labeling of the outer package as biohazard may also be required.
If a used lancet falls on the floor, what is the safest method to dispose of it?
Pick it up by hand and recap
Use forceps or tongs to place it in a sharps container
Leave it until housekeeping arrives
Sweep it into a regular trash can
Using forceps or tongs to pick up fallen sharps prevents direct hand contact and reduces the risk of injury. Once picked up, the lancet should go directly into a puncture-resistant sharps container. Waiting or sweeping increases hazard exposure.
What is the recommended maximum volume for a portable sharps container in patient care areas?
5 gallons
3 gallons
0.5 gallon
1 gallon
Portable sharps containers are commonly no larger than 1 gallon to maintain manageability and reduce overfilling risks. Smaller containers are easier to handle at the point of use. Larger capacities are typically reserved for central disposal stations.
Why is manual recapping of needles by hand discouraged in healthcare settings?
It wastes time
It increases the risk of needlestick injury
It sterilizes the needle
It makes containers heavier
Recapping needles by hand is discouraged because it brings hands dangerously close to the sharp point, increasing the risk of accidental puncture and bloodborne pathogen exposure. OSHA prohibits hand recapping except when no alternative is feasible. Safer work practices involve immediate disposal.
Which OSHA regulation citation specifically mandates a Sharps Injury Log?
29 CFR 1910.134(d)(2)
29 CFR 1926.501
29 CFR 1910.1030(b)(5)(xi)
29 CFR 1910.1200
OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens Standard at 29 CFR 1910.1030(b)(5)(xi) requires employers to maintain a Sharps Injury Log. This log records details of needlestick and sharps incidents and is separate from the OSHA 300 log. Compliance with this specific citation is mandatory.
A partially filled sharps container may only be moved within a facility under which condition?
If taped with duct tape
If removed by housekeeping staff
If it is more than 50% full
If it is sealed and properly closed
OSHA requires that partially filled sharps containers be closed and sealed before being moved to prevent spillage or protrusion of contents. Moving an unsealed container poses significant injury risk. Proper closure mechanisms are integral to safe handling.
Which closure method is acceptable for an OSHA-approved sharps container?
Securing with duct tape
Stapling the lid shut with metal staples
Using the built-in locking cap provided
Tying a plastic zip tie around it
An OSHA-compliant sharps container uses a manufacturer-provided locking cap or closure system to secure contents. Using external materials like tape or staples is not approved. The built-in mechanism ensures puncture resistance and prevents accidental opening.
In a busy clinical area with multiple users, where should the sharps container ideally be located?
As close as feasible to the point of sharp use
In the facility's main trash room
At a central nursing station three rooms away
Inside a locked storage room
Sharps containers should be placed as close as practicable to where sharps are used to minimize handling and transport of exposed sharps. This reduces the risk of injury and contamination during movement. Centralized or distant placement increases hazards.
Which disposal method is recommended for home healthcare patients using injectable medications?
Leave at the curb in a plastic bag
Flush used syringes down the toilet
Seal in a puncture-resistant container and return to a drop-off or mail-back program
Combine with regular household trash
Home healthcare sharps should be placed in approved puncture-resistant containers and returned to designated drop-off sites or mail-back programs. Flushing or mixing with regular trash poses significant public health risks. Many communities offer disposal programs specifically for home sharps.
Which attribute is NOT a requirement for an OSHA-compliant sharps container?
Autoclavable compatibility
Puncture-resistant sides and bottom
Closable with a secure lid
Leak-proof on sides and bottom
OSHA requires sharps containers to be puncture-resistant, leak-proof on sides and bottom, and closable with a secure lid, but it does not mandate that containers be autoclavable. Autoclavable containers are optional for certain facilities but not part of the regulatory definition.
Within how many days must an employer record a needlestick injury on the Sharps Injury Log after being notified?
30 days
2 days
15 days
7 days
OSHA requires that needlestick and sharps-related injuries be recorded in the Sharps Injury Log within 15 working days after the employer is made aware of the incident. Timely recording ensures accurate tracking of exposures. Delays can compromise injury surveillance.
Before implementing a new safety-engineered needleless IV connector, which formal analysis should be conducted to assess potential failure points?
Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA)
Cost-Benefit Analysis
Root Cause Analysis
SWOT Analysis
A Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) systematically evaluates potential failure modes and their effects before device implementation. It identifies risks at every step of the process, allowing for mitigation strategies. This proactive engineering control is recommended by patient safety authorities.
When shipping regulated medical sharps waste off-site under DOT regulations, what type of packaging is required?
Any color-coded container
Standard corrugated box
UN-certified, rigid, leak-proof packaging with proper labeling
No special packaging if sealed
The Department of Transportation requires regulated medical sharps waste to be packaged in UN-certified, rigid, leak-proof containers with proper marking and labeling. This ensures safe transport and compliance with federal hazardous materials regulations. Non-certified containers are not permitted.
Under the Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act, employers are required to solicit input from which group when identifying and selecting effective engineering and work practice controls?
Occupational health physicians
Non-management employees responsible for direct patient care
Senior management only
External auditors
The Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act mandates that employers involve non-managerial employees who are responsible for direct patient care in the selection and evaluation of sharps safety devices. This frontline consultation ensures chosen controls are practical and effective. Management-only input is insufficient under the regulation.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Understand what constitutes a sharps hazard -

    Define sharps and identify which of the following presents a sharps hazard in various medical settings.

  2. Evaluate whether any medical instrument can be considered a sharp -

    Assess scenarios to determine if any medical instrument can be considered a sharp under bloodborne pathogen guidelines.

  3. Debunk myths about needle disposal -

    Clarify why you should not bend all your needles before disposal and learn the correct disposal practices to ensure safety.

  4. Analyze bloodborne pathogen safety guidelines -

    Interpret key guidelines for sharps disposal to ensure compliance with health and safety regulations.

  5. Apply best practices for safe sharps handling -

    Implement recommended steps for sharps disposal to minimize the risk of needlestick injuries and exposure to bloodborne pathogens.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Definition of Medical Sharps -

    According to OSHA and CDC guidelines, any medical instrument that can puncture or lacerate skin - such as needles, scalpels, lancets, and broken glass slides - qualifies as a sharp. Use the "NSSL" mnemonic (Needles, Scalpels, Syringes, Lancets) to recall which of the following presents a sharps hazard. Recognizing this broad definition ensures you never overlook a hidden risk.

  2. Bloodborne Pathogen Risks -

    Sharp injuries can transmit hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV, so safe handling is critical (CDC 2022). Apply the hierarchy of controls - engineering controls (safety needles), administrative policies, and PPE - to minimize exposure. Remember "E-A-P" (Engineering, Administrative, PPE) for a quick mental checklist before any procedure.

  3. Never Bend or Break Needles -

    The myth that you should bend all your needles before disposal is both unsafe and prohibited by OSHA 1910.1030(d)(2)(iv). Bending or breaking increases accidental sticks, so always drop uncapped sharps directly into a puncture-resistant container. Keep confidence high by following "no-bend" best practices every time.

  4. Proper Sharps Container Use -

    Choose rigid, leak-proof containers labeled with the biohazard symbol and replace them at the two-thirds full mark. Use the "SAFE" mnemonic: Secure container, Appropriate labeling, Fullness monitoring, Easy access in clinical areas. Consistent container protocols cut disposal errors by up to 60% (NIOSH study, 2021).

  5. Any Medical Instrument as a Sharp -

    Yes - any medical instrument capable of piercing skin can be considered a sharp under OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens Standard. Items like suture needles, glass pipettes, or even acupuncture needles must be handled as sharps. When in doubt, ask: "Could this item prick me?" If yes, treat it as a sharps hazard.

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