Written and maintained by CASRAI Editorial Board
Last updated
General product information only, not medical advice. It does not replace the instructions for use of a specific cart or a facility’s own policies.
Purpose and setting
Medical cart accessories are the add-on parts that turn a bare cart body into a working cart: sharps and waste holders, bins and trays, IV poles, equipment shelves, power strips, writing and computer surfaces, and the casters it rolls on. This page lists the accessory categories one US manufacturer, Harloff, documents for its small medical carts, with the sizes the manufacturer prints, plus the one federal rule that governs sharps containers on any cart and the caster specifications one manufacturer line publishes. It is meant for someone building a list of what a cart can carry and how those parts attach.
Sizes and part numbers below are those printed in Harloff’s Small Cart Accessories catalog (August 2022 edition, checked 2026-10-30). Other makers use different mounts and dimensions, so an accessory from one brand is not assumed to fit another brand’s cart.
Checklist table by category
Sharps and waste
| Item | Size or quantity data in the catalog | Why it is on the list | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Locking sharps container holder with 5 qt sharps container (LKSHRPHOLD5Q) | 13.5 in W x 11.5 in H x 5.5 in D | Keeps a sharps container on the cart; see the OSHA rule below | A version with a plastic glove box is listed at 13.5 in W x 17 in H x 5.5 in D |
| Universal sharps container bracket (UNIVBRKT) | Holds multiple brands and sizes of containers | Lets the cart use a container the facility already stocks | Catalog states compatibility by brand and size, not by model |
| 3 gal sharps container with wire holder (MD-SHARPSRC) | 3 gal | Larger container option | Direct-mount version MD-SHARPSDM |
| Plastic waste container with wire holder (WASTE3GALDM / WASTE3GALRC) | 3 gal | General waste on the cart | Plastic waste container, 2 gal, 10 in H x 9.5 in W x 6.5 in D, is listed separately (680408) |
Storage and organisation
| Item | Size or quantity data | Why it is on the list | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tilt bins, 4, 5 or 6 compartments | Rail-clip or direct-mount versions | Small-item storage within reach | Rail-clip versions clip to a rail; direct-mount versions attach to the cart |
| Utility basket (BASKET3RC) | 10 in L x 7.5 in D x 5.25 in H, three rail clips | Open storage on the rail | Direct-mount version BASKETDM |
| Drawer trays and dividers | 3 in tray fits 2 per drawer in an MDS30 body, 1 per drawer in MDS24 and MDS18; 6-compartment tray fits 3 per drawer in MDS30, 2 in MDS24, 1 in MDS18 | Organises the contents of drawers | Divider sets are sold as basic, standard and premium for 3, 6, 9 and 12 in drawers |
| Glove box holders | Single (5.5 in H x 11.5 in W x 4.1 in D), double (10.9 x 10.6 x 3.6 in) and triple (16 x 10.6 x 3.6 in); vertical-mount holder 27.9 in H x 5.5 in W x 4.1 in D | Holds glove boxes on the cart | Rail-clip and direct-mount versions |
| Chart holder (CHARTHLDRRC / CHARTHLDRDM) | 10.5 in H x 12 in W x 3 in D | Keeps paper charts on the cart | |
| Catheter boxes with rail clips | 18 in H x 6 in W x 5.5 in D, or 36 in H x 6 in W x 5.5 in D | Storage box mounted on the cart | Two-compartment boxes |
Equipment and emergency items
| Item | Size or quantity data | Why it is on the list | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| IV pole, 2 prong (MD-IV2) | 2 prongs | Hangs fluid bags from the cart | |
| Oxygen tank bracket for D/E cylinders (O2HLDR) | For D and E cylinders | Cylinder bracket | Cylinder handling rules: oxygen tank cart |
| Defibrillator shelf (MD-DEFIB) | Painted shelf, inside 12 in x 20 in | Shelf for a defibrillator | Related: AED wall mount and cabinet guide |
| Suction unit holder (SUCTIONSHLF) | 16.9 in W x 9.5 in D, corner bumpers | Shelf for a suction unit | |
| Cardiac board (MD-CARDBRD) | Listed item | Listed in the catalog’s emergency accessory range | See what a crash cart is |
| Numbered breakaway lock seals (BASEALS-100) | Quantity of 100, yellow | Seals a closed cart |
Work surface and power
| Item | Size or quantity data | Why it is on the list | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hospital-grade outlet strips (MD-OUTLET4 / MD-OUTLET6) | 4 or 6 sockets, 15 ft cord with cord-wrap hooks | Powers devices on the cart | |
| Raised back rails and top rails | 24 in 3-tier raised back rail in versions for MD30, MD24 and MD18 bodies; top rails for the same three bodies, with an antimicrobial-paint option in white only | Top-of-cart accessory | |
| Laptop shelf and articulating computer arm | Adjustable height and swivel | Computer on the cart | SHELF-LAPTOP, LTP-HLDR |
| Side rails (SIDERAIL12 / SIDERAIL16) | 12 in or 16 in aluminium push rails | Mounting and push surface |
Medical cart casters
Casters are specified by the cart’s maker and are not part of the accessory catalog above. A MedCaster RZ-series single-wheel swivel caster (chrome, 5 in x 0.875 in thermoplastic rubber wheel, 3/8 in-16NC x 1 in threaded stem, total lock brake) is rated by its manufacturer at 165 lb per caster. The series description states that the total lock models lock both swivel and wheel, that the wheels are non-marking, and that the polished chrome finish is for aesthetics, corrosion resistance and sanitation. The manufacturer recommends the series for medical furniture, medical carts, bassinets and other healthcare uses (product page checked 2026-10-30). A rating is per caster, so it applies to the individual caster and not to the whole cart.
What varies by cart model
The Harloff catalog ties several accessories to the cart body. Drawer trays are listed by the fit per drawer in MDS30, MDS24 and MDS18 bodies, which are the 30, 24 and 18 inch wide carts. Some options exist only for certain widths: the side-panel option that replaces drawers is stated as available only for 30 in wide carts. Many accessories come in a rail-clip version, which clips to a rail, and a direct-mount version. The catalog also marks MRI-safe versions as available for several accessories.
Storage, handling and the sharps rule
For sharps containers on any cart, OSHA’s bloodborne pathogens standard, 29 CFR 1910.1030(d)(4)(iii), requires that contaminated sharps be discarded in containers that are closable, puncture resistant, leakproof on sides and bottom, and labeled or color-coded. During use the containers must be easily accessible and as close as feasible to where sharps are used, maintained upright, and replaced routinely rather than allowed to overfill. When a container is moved from the area of use it must be closed first, and placed in a secondary container if leakage is possible. See sharps container dimensions and OSHA rules for container sizes.
Standards and rules that apply
- OSHA, 29 CFR 1910.1030, Bloodborne Pathogens, sharps container requirements in paragraph (d)(4)(iii), text checked via Cornell LII on 2026-10-30.
- For an outpatient emergency cart contents list, see the emergency response cart checklist.
FAQ
What are medical cart casters?
They are the wheels under the cart. One published example is a 5 in swivel caster with a total lock brake rated at 165 lb per caster, with a 3/8 in-16NC x 1 in threaded stem.
Does OSHA regulate the sharps container on a cart?
Yes. 29 CFR 1910.1030(d)(4)(iii) sets the requirements for containers of contaminated sharps: closable, puncture resistant, leakproof, labeled, upright and not overfilled.
What is the difference between rail-clip and direct-mount accessories?
The Harloff catalog lists many accessories in both versions: a rail-clip version, which clips to a rail on the cart, and a direct-mount version. Whether either fits depends on the cart model.
Can accessories from one brand be used on another brand’s cart?
Not assumed. Mounts and dimensions differ between makers, so fit is stated by the manufacturer for its own carts.
Sources
- Harloff, Small Cart Accessories catalog, August 2022: https://www.harloff.com/wp-content/uploads/documents/Small-Cart-Accessories-AUG2022.pdf (checked 2026-10-30)
- OSHA, 29 CFR 1910.1030, via Cornell LII: https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/29/1910.1030 (checked 2026-10-30)
- MedCaster RZ-series total lock swivel caster, product page: https://www.casterspecialists.com/products/rz-05tpp-090-tl-ts06-medcaster-swivel-caster (checked 2026-10-30)
