Environment of Care (EC) (Critical Access Hospitals / Critical Access Hospitals)
Medical Equipment - Sharps/Needle Boxes Risk Assessment
Publish | January 01, 0001
Are there specific requirements for the deployment of sharps/needle boxes or containers?
The Joint Commission does not specify criteria for sharps/needle boxes or container deployment and security. The Joint Commission standards require that organizations conduct a comprehensive risk assessment in accordance with standard EC.02.01.01 to determine the potential adverse impact of equipment, supplies and other factors on the safety and health of patients, staff, and others. The standards also require that organizations use the information from the risk assessment to implement procedures and controls to address the potential adverse impact, such as access control or container security. The risk assessment should determine whether the selected placement of containers pose a risk to the occupants of the vicinity. In addition to considering patient population, it also is important to consider whether visitors (perhaps with small children) could access the containers. Include input from infection control, risk management, and the safety officer in the risk assessment process. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) provide further guidance that may be useful. [EC.02.01.01]
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