Cities and towns, as well as some Executive Departments, have been seeking guidance to safely clean up and dispose of used syringes that increasingly have been found in Massachusetts communities. The Massachusetts Department of Labor Standards (DLS), whose mission includes protecting workers’ safety and health through education and training, has developed a training program that covers safe cleanup procedures for discarded syringes, consistent with affiliated OSHA standards (OSHA Pathogen Standard, 29 CFR 1910.1030) with which both Executive Departments and cities and towns must comply. This training was presented by Mary Dozois of DLS at OSD’s Fall Fleet Event in November and her presentation was received with great interest. If you missed that presentation, we are happy to report that the training module is available via webcast. State employees also may complete the PACE e-learning module: How to Pick Up Discarded Syringes Safely.

After viewing DLS’s presentation, the purchase of several items is recommended before moving forward with cleanup efforts. These include puncture resistant gloves, protective footwear, sharps disposal containers, tools for remote handling of the debris, and a means to properly dispose of collected items. Below we’ve listed some Statewide Contract resources for your reference. Select the Statewide Contract link for additional information, including details to reach the Contract Manager.

Reach Mary Dozois at DLS at 617-626-5987.

Tags: Goods and Services, Massachusetts Department of Labor Standards, Municipalities, Operational Services Division, Purchasing from Statewide Contracts, Safe Drug Paraphernalia Cleanup