In general, exposed syringes, that is, unpackaged, unused single syringes, and safer injection supplies such as cottons, cookers, tourniquets, etc. should always be treated with universal precautions. This means that staff and volunteers should never handle them without gloves and/or proper precautions, even if they are capped. Syringes that are still in containers such as boxes or bags are not subject to universal precautions.

Safer injection supplies, especially used supplies, should always be treated with universal precautions. This means that staff and volunteers should never handle any supplies or equipment that might enter a participant’s body without gloves and/or proper precautions.

Safety for Accepting Used Equipment

Used syringes should always be treated with universal precautions and as if they are contaminated. Harm reduction workers should never use bare hands to handle used sharps or sharps containers. Instead, they should use gloved hands to open the large sharps container, and ask participants to place their used syringes and waste inside. The exchange worker who manages the sharps container on the shift should wear gloves throughout the shift to avoid cross-contamination.

REMINDER: Avoid Cross-Contamination

Harm reduction workers can avoid cross-contamination by being mindful not to touch any used object and then a new one, such as a used syringe and then new supplies. Instead, harm reduction workers should change or remove gloves in-between to handle another object or set of objects.