Q: Do hypodermic needles and syringes need to be stored under lock and key?
A: Standard EC.1.10, EP #4 requires that organizations conduct a comprehensive risk assessment to determine the potential adverse impact of equipment, supplies and other factors on the safety and health of patients, staff, and others. EP #5 at the same standard requires that organizations use the information gleaned from the risk assessment to implement procedures and controls to address the potential adverse impact. In other words, organizations must determine, given the location of potentially abusable needles and syringes, whether or not access by unauthorized individuals is controlled and if not, address that issue.