SafetyNet #62 - Needle and Syringe Safety
This SafetyNet outlines steps that can be taken to prevent potential needle stick injury or illness from sterile or contaminated needles.
Recommended Methods:
- To Remove Syringe from Case:
- Grasp the casing top with the fingers of one hand and the case with fingers of other hand; push the top in toward the case and twist in opposite directions; or, hold the case perpendicular with the top facing downward and with one brisk tap, hit the top of the case against a counter top, then twist off the cap.
- Slip the syringe out of the case and hold by the barrel (do not touch the open end where the needle will be attached).
- To Remove a Needle from Sterile Plastic Packaging:
-
Remove cap carefully.
- The plastic cap is pitted and may be sealed snugly against a plastic needle hub.
- Hold the small end (hub end) of the plastic packaging with fingers of one hand and the larger end with fingers of the other hand; then rotate the two pieces in opposite directions to break the seal.
- Remove smaller plastic cap from the hub end of the needle, leaving the needle (sharp end) covered and protected.
- To Attach a Needle to a Syringe:
- Holding the capped needle in one hand and syringe in the other, insert the small end of the syringe into the hub of the needle. Slightly rotate the syringe as you push it into the hub of the needle. This also helps break the cap seal on the needle.
- To Remove a Needle Cap:
- Hold the syringe with one hand and grasp and push the needle cap toward the syringe with the other hand while rotating the cap just slightly (about 1/4 turn) to break the seal (do not try to pull the cap off the needle as you may inadvertently stick yourself when the cap comes off suddenly).
- Never leave an uncovered needle on the counter. Always rest needle in its cap while waiting to use the assembled needle and syringe; it is not necessary to place the cap securely onto the needle at this point.
Needle and Syringe Disposal Instructions:
- Dispose of needles and syringes in puncture-resistant (hard-walled) containers (red sharps container if it contains medical waste).
- A sharps container should be placed close to where the needles and syringes are being used.
- Do not break or shear the needle shaft from the hub; this may aerosolize the material.
- Do not bend the needle.
- Do not remove the needle from the disposable syringe.
- Do not walk around the room with an uncapped needle or syringe and needle.
- Place the needle and syringe, without cap, directly into a disposable sharps container.
- If you need to replace the cap, do not hold the cap while attempting to reinsert the needle. Place the cap on a surface (e.g. counter top) and insert needle into cap. Carefully elevate the needle and cap, while applying slight forward pressure against the counter to set the needle in the cap. After securing the cap on the needle, dispose of materials into sharps disposable container.
For additional information, contact your EH&S Safety Advisor, EH&S at 752-1493 or ehsdesk@ucdavis.edu.
Reviewed/Revised. 05/2003
SJ