The 5 Best Sharps Containers [Ranked]
The disposal of sharp objects at home or in medical environments has caused havoc among many health workers in the world.
This is because such objects, if mishandled, can lead to life-threatening infections and, therefore, the need to look for a proper way of disposing of them.
If you have a health condition such as arthritis, allergies, diabetes, cancer, hepatitis, migraines, osteoporosis, sclerosis, or any other health condition that might require you to use sharp objects, then you will need sharps container.
According to MedPro, over 7 billion sharp objects are disposed of in the United States alone (Source). This is enough to tell you why it is essential to have proper disposal of sharp objects.
Contents
Comparing Them
- GREAT FOR HOME-. Ideal for diabetics. Fits perfectly on bathroom countertops. Keeps contaminated waste safe from pets and small children - Safe disposal of needles, needles with syringes, pen needles, lancets, blades (razors, scalpels, etc.
- DURABLE AND HIGH QUALITY – The durable and high-quality sharps container is constructed of puncture and impact resistant material.
- Pack of 2 containers. Horizontal drop provides easy access to the large counter balanced opening (8.5"x 1.7"). This self-closing door is 33% larger than comparable products
- Light weight and compact this sharps container is perfect for on the go use. Fits easily into a medium sized purse, backpack or gym bag
- TYPICAL CUSTOMER of this type of packout (10 eachs) is often a Physician's Office or other professional setting where larger quantities of contaminated needles and other biohazard waste are produced
Oakridge Containers (FDA Approved)
Oakridge makes a range of popular sharps containers. The video below demonstrates some of their product lines:
If you need a refresher on which containers are FDA approved, check out this article from FDA.gov. It includes which portable, travel, disposable options are approved and what are viable, alternative options.
Apparently, the criteria for alternatives are:
“heavy-duty plastic household container as an alternative. The container should be leak-resistant, remain upright during use and have a tight fitting, puncture-resistant lid, such as a plastic laundry detergent container.”
More Details
It is not strange to find people who do know the definition of sharps containers. If, for instance, you have never had the need to handle sharp objects, then there is a possibility that you do know what it is. First, let’s start by understanding what sharps are. These are medications that have a sharp pointing that can cat through the skin of a human being.
One can easily think that because they are medical devices, they are used only in medical institutions. Well, that is not entirely true, as almost 10% of Americans have been diagnosed with diabetes, meaning that they use syringes daily.
Although many people all over the world understand the dangers associated with mishandling of sharp objects, it is unfortunate that many of these people never accord the required attention to the disposal process. ISIPS recommends that people utilizing sharp objects at home or event at the workplace adopt safe disposal of such objects. This is important because it will help to drastically reduce the number of people who get infected after being hurt by contaminated objects.
Therefore, from that definition of sharps, one can easily deduce that sharps container is a type of container that is only used for the disposal of sharp objectives like syringes and needles.
Take note that it is illegal to dispose of sharp objects with other rubbish as these increase the chances of people getting infections from those sharp objects. Getting stuck by an unseen needle is a terrible experience that you would not want a fellow human being to go through.
How Set Up A Sharps Disposal Box And What To Do In The Event Of A Sharps Injury
Health & Safety Manager, Craig Webster, gives guidance on how to safely dispose of sharps and tips on how to deal with an injury.
Buying Guide
Once you have seen the importance of having a needles container in your home or at the workplace, the next thing will be to buy one for yourself. Unfortunately, this can be an uphill task, especially if it is your first time to shop for such essential containers.
Thanks to the internet, that is readily available to provide you with all the information that you might need to make informed choices. All that you need is to put some of your time aside for extensive research. Here are some of the essential factors that you should consider when shopping for the best sharps container.
FDA Regulations
The first and perhaps the most important criteria that will enable you to make the right choice is to ensure that you choose a container that is compliant with FDA regulations. Buying a container that is not compliant with FDA regulations can end up putting yours in complex legal tussles.
The good thing is that FDA regulations for sharps disposal objects containers are simple. The containers must be made of rigid plastic that is clear for people to see through. In addition to that, the containers need to be stable, have a tight-fitting lid, and also leak resistance.
Lastly, the containers must display clear warning labels. All these regulations are meant to ensure the safety of the people who will be handling the container in one way of the other.
The Right Size
Another important factor that you must consider is the size of the container. This depends on the volume of the sharp objects that you will be handling. You need to ensure that you choose a medical waste containers that will be able to accommodate all the wastes output at your home or at your workplace.
If, for instance, you have a large output of sharp wastes and you buy a small container, it means that you will be compelled to have many small containers. That is not a wise move and, therefore, the need to first evaluate your sharp wastes output before making the purchase.
Durability
If you do not want to keep ordering for sharps container every now and then, then it is important to consider the durability factor before making your choice. This means that you will settle for a container that is sturdy and resistant to punctures throughout the period that you want to use it.
If you’re trying to establish the durability of a syringe container, one of the things that you must pay close attention to, is the kind of the materials that were used. Some containers are made of materials that become soft with time, and those are the types that you should avoid by all means possible.
Apart from the durability issues, ensure that the material is transparent to allow the users to see through the container.
Effective Closure Mechanism
Quality sharps disposal containers need to have a permanent closure mechanism to ensure that they do not cause unwarranted accidents.
You have seen people try to handle the other containers used for other wastes, and the content ends up spilling over. This is not supposed to happen when handling sharp objects; as a result, it can be catastrophic.
Ease of Use
Lastly, you need to make sure that you buy a sharps waste container that is easy to use. Easy to use in this context entails a number of important points that you can never overlook if you care about the people who will be using the container. First, the container must be highly visible to encourage people to use it. If the container is not conspicuous, there is a likelihood that many people will not use it, and that can be very dangerous.
Additionally, ensure that your container is compatible with the kind of wastes that you have. If, for instance, you have long, sharp objects, ensure that your container can perfectly accommodate all those objects.
