According to OSHA guidelines, which item should a medical assistant dispose of in a regular waste container?

The correct choice regarding what a medical assistant can dispose of in a regular waste container is an empty urine container. This item is typically not considered hazardous and does not pose any risk of infection or injury. Once the urine has been safely disposed of, the container itself is no longer contaminated and can be treated like regular waste.

Biohazardous waste, contaminated gloves, and sharps waste require special handling and disposal methods to prevent exposure to harmful pathogens or injuries. Biohazardous waste must be disposed of in designated biohazard containers. Contaminated gloves should also be placed in biohazard waste containers to minimize the risk of cross-contamination. Sharps waste, which includes needles and other sharp instruments, poses a significant risk for injury and infection, and is also required to be disposed of in designated sharps containers. Thus, the empty urine container stands out as safe for regular waste disposal.