Needles & Sharps Found on Jobsites

Used needles turn up in vacant buildings, demolition debris, landscaping beds, under bridges, in trash and in restrooms. A needlestick can expose you to hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV. Handle every needle as if it’s contaminated, and get care fast if you’re stuck.

• Demolition
• Landscaping
• Sanitation
• Maintenance

Before you reach

• Look before you reach into bushes, debris, behind ceiling tiles, under seats and into bags.
• Use tools, like a rake or grabber, to move debris in areas where needles have been found.
• Wear puncture-resistant gloves for cleanup in high-risk areas. No glove is fully needle-proof.
• Don’t compress trash bags with your hands or feet, or carry them against your body.

Picking up a needle

1. Get a rigid, puncture-resistant sharps container and bring it to the needle.
2. Pick up the needle with tongs or pliers, by the barrel, with the point away from you.
3. Put it in the container point first. Don’t try to recap, bend or break it.
4. Close the container and dispose of it as your employer or local rules require.

If you’re not trained or equipped, mark the area, keep people away and report it.

If you’re stuck

Protect yourself ahead of time

• Get the hepatitis B vaccine series if you may be exposed; ask your employer
• Keep your tetanus shot current
• Know where sharps containers and your employer’s exposure procedure are
• Report areas where needles are frequently found so they can be cleaned

Needlesticks from contaminated needles are recordable injuries and are covered by workers’ compensation. See Bloodborne Pathogens and Recordable or Not?

Last updated: October 2, 2026