1910.1030(d)(2)(vii)(A): No Bending or Recapping Contaminated Needles
Employers must not allow contaminated needles and other contaminated sharps to be bent, recapped or removed unless they can show no alternative is feasible or the action is required by a specific medical or dental procedure.
Key takeaways
- 1910.1030(d)(2)(vii)(A) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910).
- OSHA cited it 33 times in the last 3 years, in 33 inspections, with $15,796 in current penalties.
- Most citations: TN (25), CT (1), AZ (1).
- Related part: 1910.1030(d) Methods of compliance (455 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.1030(d)(2)(vii)(A) is one requirement inside 1910.1030 Bloodborne pathogens, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910). The official text below is copied word for word from the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR). The numbers, injury cases and training on this page show how OSHA enforces it on real job sites.
Official text
(A) Contaminated needles and other contaminated sharps shall not be bent, recapped or removed unless the employer can demonstrate that no alternative is feasible or that such action is required by a specific medical or dental procedure. 33 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.1030.
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 7 |
| 2025 | 20 |
| 2026 | 5 |
Top states: TN (25), CT (1), AZ (1), NC (1), NH (1)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| CPX2023XTN976X0011 - NEW DIRECTION FERTILITY CENTERS, PLLC | GILBERT, AZ | $5,469 |
| BEACON DENTAL | BEACON, NY | $4,965 |
| SM ENFIELD LLC | ENFIELD, CT | $3,000 |
| 108838 - SCANDIA FAMILY DENTAL PA | SCANDIA, MN | $1,500 |
| LAUREN EVERETT SAVELL DDS | DECATURVILLE, TN | $350 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.1030(d)(2)(vii)(A), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
- Is a single-handed scalpel blade removal device an engineering control under the Bloodborne Pathogens standard? (2023-02-08)
- Use of reusable microblading tools in the cosmetic tattoo industry (2017-01-06)
- Removal of Contaminated Needles Prior to Disposal. (2011-12-19)
- OSHA's position on the use of fingers or a two-handed procedure with a hemostat to remove scalpel blades. (2008-11-21)
- Needle removal procedures for situations where other methods of disposal are infeasible or required by a specific procedure. (2004-12-09)
- Re-use of blood tube holders. (2002-06-12)
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.1030(d) Methods of compliance 455 citations
- 1910.1030(d)(4) Housekeeping 262 citations
- 1910.1030(d)(4)(iii) Regulated Waste 195 citations
- 1910.1030(d)(2) Engineering and work practice controls 141 citations
- 1910.1030(d)(4)(iii)(A) Contaminated Sharps Discarding and Containment 131 citations
- 1910.1030(d)(2)(i) 53 citations
- 1910.1030(d)(2)(vii) 48 citations
- 1910.1030(d)(3) Personal protective equipment 48 citations
- 1910.1030(d)(4)(iv) Laundry 23 citations
- 1910.1030(d)(4)(i) General 23 citations
- 1910.1030(d)(2)(viii) 22 citations
- 1910.1030(d)(4)(ii) 21 citations
Get your crew competent
Trainers on Black Belt Safety: Marc Harvey, Dana Reyes
Trainers and suppliers: feature your business on this rule for $25/month.
Frequently asked questions
Can contaminated needles be recapped?
No, unless the employer can demonstrate no alternative is feasible or a specific medical or dental procedure requires it.
Does this cover sharps other than needles?
Yes. It covers contaminated needles and other contaminated sharps.
Can needles be removed from syringes?
Only if no alternative is feasible or a specific procedure requires it.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1910.1030 (eCFR), text current as of 2026-10-15
- U.S. Department of Labor enforcement data: OSHA inspections, citations and accident records, copied nightly; data as of 2026-10-20
3-year window. Federal OSHA only; state-plan rules are not counted. Plain-language text is a summary, not legal advice; the official text controls. Black Belt Safety is not part of OSHA or the Department of Labor.