1910.1030(h)(5)(i): Sharps Injury Log
Employers must set up and keep a sharps injury log to record needlesticks and other skin-piercing injuries from contaminated sharps, while protecting the injured worker's privacy. At a minimum, each entry must list the device type and brand, the department or work area, and how the incident happened.
Key takeaways
- 1910.1030(h)(5)(i) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910).
- OSHA cited it 87 times in the last 3 years, in 82 inspections, with $58,035 in current penalties.
- Most citations: OR (23), PR (10), NV (9).
- Related part: 1910.1030(h) Recordkeeping (481 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.1030(h)(5)(i) is one requirement inside 1910.1030 Bloodborne pathogens, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910). It includes 3 sub-paragraphs. 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
(i) The employer shall establish and maintain a sharps injury log for the recording of percutaneous injuries from contaminated sharps. The information in the sharps injury log shall be recorded and maintained in such manner as to protect the confidentiality of the injured employee. The sharps injury log shall contain, at a minimum: 87 citations
(A) The type and brand of device involved in the incident, Open (h)(5)(i)(a) 11 citations
(B) The department or work area where the exposure incident occurred, and 4 citations
(C) An explanation of how the incident occurred. Open (h)(5)(i)(c) 4 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 | 2 |
| 2024 | 26 |
| 2025 | 29 |
| 2026 | 30 |
Top states: OR (23), PR (10), NV (9), NC (6), MN (4)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| THE WILLIAM W. BACKUS HOSPITAL | NORWICH, CT | $11,350 |
| NEXUS AT ALTON LLC DBA BRIA OF ALTON LLC | ALTON, IL | $8,442 |
| ADVENTIST HEALTH CASTLE | KAILUA, HI | $8,228 |
| ALASKA REGIONAL HOSPITAL | ANCHORAGE, AK | $8,066 |
| 155156 - DEPLOYED SERVICES, LLC | GREENSBORO, NC | $8,000 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.1030(h)(5)(i), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.1030(h) Recordkeeping 481 citations
- 1910.1030(h)(2) Training Records 199 citations
- 1910.1030(h)(1) Medical Records 182 citations
- 1910.1030(h)(1)(ii) 164 citations
- 1910.1030(h)(1)(ii)(B) 158 citations
- 1910.1030(h)(2)(i) 154 citations
- 1910.1030(h)(5) Sharps injury log 91 citations
- 1910.1030(h)(2)(i)(C) 49 citations
- 1910.1030(h)(2)(ii) 44 citations
- 1910.1030(h)(2)(i)(D) 32 citations
- 1910.1030(h)(2)(i)(B) 18 citations
- 1910.1030(h)(1)(i) 13 citations
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Frequently asked questions
What is a sharps injury log?
A log the employer keeps to record percutaneous injuries from contaminated sharps.
What must each entry include at a minimum?
The type and brand of device, the department or work area where it happened, and an explanation of how it happened.
Is the injured worker's name protected?
The log must be kept in a way that protects the confidentiality of the injured employee.
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.