Sharps Management Program

This Sharps Management Program (Program) establishes provincial standards for the safe use, handling, and disposal of sharps across all Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) facilities and programs. The program ensures compliance with Saskatchewan Occupational Health & Safety Regulations, 2020,The Dangerous Goods Transportation Regulations and Accreditation Canada Standards, aiming to protect workers and patients from sharps-related injuries and exposure to bloodborne pathogens and other hazardous substances.
 
This Program applies to all SHA sites, departments, and programs where sharps are used, handled, stored, or disposed of, including acute care, long-term care, community health, home care, mental health and addictions, and all other care settings.

Related document

Sharps Management Program
(PDF 346.07 KB)
Published November 5, 2026

Definitions

Needleless System - A device that does not use a needle to establish intravascular access (e.g., needleless IV connectors, jet injection systems).

Point of Use - The immediate location where a sharp is used, including the patient’s bedside, procedure room, clinic, or any other area where clinical care is delivered.

Safety Engineered Sharp Device (SESD) - A sharp device used for medical purposes that has a built-in safety feature or mechanism that effectively reduces the risk of an exposure incident. Examples include needles that retract after use, shielded needle devices, and blunted suture needles.

Sharps - Any object that can penetrate the skin or mucous membranes. Sharps include, but are not limited to, needles, syringes with attached needles, scalpel blades, lancets, glass ampoules, broken glass, glass slides, suture needles, IV stylets, and tubing with attached needles.

Sharps Container - A puncture-resistant, spill-proof, and tamper-resistant container specifically designed and approved for the collection and disposal of sharps. The container must meet applicable Canadian Standards Association (CSA) requirements.

Sharps Injury - A percutaneous injury (e.g., needlestick, cut, or puncture) caused by a sharp object. Includes injuries from both contaminated and uncontaminated sharps.