Comprehensive Guide to Salon Infection Control and Safety Standards

Principles of Infection Control

• Client Impression and Professional Responsibility:

  • The initial impression of a salon creates a lasting effect on clients, encompassing everything they see, smell, hear, and touch, alongside the specific services provided.
  • While delivering high-quality beauty services is rewarding, the most critical service provided to a client is keeping them safe from injury or disease.
  • Maintaining a clean and orderly environment while adhering to health and safety guidelines must be the top priority for nail professionals.
  • A single careless action can spread disease, cause severe injury, or lead to death for either the salon professional or the client.

• Infection Control Definition and Scope:

  • Infection Control: The method used to reduce or eliminate the transmission of pathogens and infectious organisms from one individual to another.
  • Preventing the spread of infectious disease is fully achievable if proper procedures are systematically followed at all times.
  • Cutting corners on infection control measures is strictly unacceptable.
  • Reducing and eliminating contaminants from surfaces, implements, and tools is imperative for the safety of professionals, clients, and co-workers.

Levels of Decontamination

• Decontamination Definition:

  • Decontamination: The removal of infectious materials from a surface.

• The Four Levels of Decontamination:

  • 1. Cleaning:
    • The first level of decontamination.
    • A mechanical process using soap and warm water or detergent to remove debris, dirt, and many disease-causing microorganisms from a surface.
    • Examples: Washing hands with warm, soapy water; using a clean brush to scrub visible debris from an implement.
    • Infection control experts consider the word "sanitation" to be a sales marketing term; "cleaning" is the preferred technical description for the step performed prior to disinfection.
  • 2. Sanitizing:
    • A chemical process used to reduce the number of disease-causing germs on surfaces to a safe level.
    • Example: Applying hand sanitizer to hands after thoroughly washing them with warm, soapy water.
  • 3. Disinfection:
    • A chemical process that utilizes specific products (disinfectants) to eliminate and destroy most microorganisms on non-porous surfaces.
    • Disinfection does not kill bacterial spores.
    • Requires Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) registered disinfectants that are verified as bactericidal, fungicidal, and virucidal.
    • Disinfectants contain detergents and pathogenic pesticides that are harmful to human skin and tissue. Skin contact must be strictly avoided by using protective gloves or tongs when removing items from disinfectant solutions.
    • Implements cannot be properly disinfected without first being cleaned, as disinfection solutions cannot penetrate organic debris or film hiding bacteria.
    • Oils and debris contaminate disinfectant solutions, rendering them completely ineffective against microorganisms.
    • Unless specified otherwise on the product label, implements being disinfected must remain completely immersed in the disinfectant solution for at least 10 minutes.
  • 4. Sterilizing:
    • The process of rendering an object completely germ-free, equivalent to hospital standards.
    • Sterilization is not mandated for beauty salons.
    • Typically requires the use of an autoclave, which utilizes heat and pressure to destroy all microbial life, including spores.
    • Implements must be thoroughly cleaned before being placed into an autoclave.
    • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) mandates that autoclaves undergo monthly testing and proper maintenance to verify functionality.
    • Spore Test: The standard accepted method for testing autoclaves. Sealed packages containing test organisms are processed through a standard sterilization cycle and then sent to a laboratory for analysis.

Decontamination and Sanitation Procedures

• Decontaminating Non-Submersible Surfaces:

  • To clean surfaces that cannot be immersed in a liquid solution, use EPA-registered disinfection wipes.
  • Procedure: Put on protective gloves, then wipe the surface, table, or item completely.
  • Use additional wipes if necessary to keep the surface visibly wet for the entire contact time specified by the chemical manufacturer.

• Storage of Disinfected Items:

  • Follow state board rules regarding storage.
  • Most state regulations require that fully disinfected, thoroughly dried items be stored in a clean, covered, labeled container stating that the items inside are disinfected.
  • Multi-use or reusable items can be cleaned, disinfected, and reused on subsequent clients even if accidentally exposed to blood or bodily fluids.

• Step-by-Step Handwashing Procedure:

  • 1. Turn on water taps to adjust to a proper, comfortable warm temperature.
  • 2. Thoroughly saturate hands with water, apply liquid soap to the palms, and work into a rich lather.
  • 3. Rub hands together vigorously for at least 20 seconds.
  • 4. Apply liquid soap and water to a clean manicure brush; scrub horizontally under the free edges of the nails, then scrub the top surfaces of the nails vertically.
  • 5. Place the used nail brush into a container labeled for items to be disinfected.
  • 6. Use a towel to turn off the water taps to prevent re-contaminating clean hands.

• Step-by-Step Cleaning and Disinfecting Non-Porous Implements:

  • 1. Place the implement under warm running water.
  • 2. Scrub all surfaces of the implement using soap and a clean scrub brush, ensuring all hinged implements are fully opened to reach all crevices.
  • 3. Thoroughly rinse the implement using warm (not hot) running water.
  • 4. Completely dry the implement with a paper towel or a clean terry towel.
  • 5. Completely submerge the cleaned implement in a properly diluted, EPA-registered disinfection solution that is bactericidal, fungicidal, and virucidal. Put on safety goggles and gloves prior to chemical handling.
  • 6. Soak in the disinfection solution for 10 minutes, or the exact duration specified by the manufacturer and state guidelines.
  • 7. Thoroughly rinse the implement in warm running water, then air dry completely or dry manually with a clean paper towel. Ensure full dryness before storage.
  • 8. For tools or implements too large for complete submersion: place clean items on a clean towel and thoroughly saturate all surfaces with disinfectant solution. The item must remain visibly wet for the entire manufacturer-designated contact time.
  • 9. After the contact time has elapsed, rinse items with warm water using gloves or tongs to handle them.

Precautions Against Bacterial Infection

• Bacterial Growth Conditions:

  • Bacteria require four primary conditions to grow and proliferate: filth, warmth, moisture, and food.
  • In salon environments, bacteria are transmitted between individuals via soiled linens, dirty hands, dirty fingernails, and unclean equipment or implements.

• General Precautions Checklist:

  • 1. Deposit all soiled towels immediately into a covered container.
  • 2. Clean and disinfect all implements and equipment prior to every individual client use.
  • 3. Never store soiled implements in the same drawer or container as clean implements.
  • 4. Strictly follow manufacturer instructions when mixing and using chemical products.
  • 5. Avoid direct contact with skin or eyes when handling chemicals.
  • 6. Keep disinfectant containers covered, but avoid making them completely airtight.
  • 7. Immediately change disinfectant solutions whenever they become cloudy or contaminated.
  • 8. Clean and disinfect wet disinfectant containers each time solution is replaced to prevent cross-contamination.
  • 9. Always add concentrated disinfectant solution into water (never pour water into disinfectant, as this causes excess sudsing and alters proper mixing ratios).
  • 10. Ensure implements are completely submerged in disinfectant solution for a minimum of 10 minutes unless product labeling instructs otherwise.
  • 11. Maintain a detailed logbook tracking equipment usage, maintenance, testing, cleaning, and disinfection schedules.
  • 12. Never pre-mix and store large bulk quantities of diluted disinfectant solution.
  • 13. Recognize that presence of oils, skin cells, dust, or hair renders disinfectants completely useless.
  • 14. Apply disinfectants exclusively to pre-cleaned, non-porous surfaces.
  • 15. Maintain pristine cleanliness and organization across stations, drawers, cabinets, and machinery.
  • 16. Ensure salon bathrooms are kept clean and disinfected for every client, stocked with liquid soap and disposable paper towels. Bar soap must never be used due to bacterial harboring.
  • 17. Maintain clean and neat dispensaries; thoroughly clean all supply containers prior to storage.
  • 18. Ensure all chemical containers are clearly labeled and stored per manufacturer specifications.
  • 19. Keep all chemical products protected from direct sunlight or extraneous heat sources.
  • 20. Wipe up chemical spills immediately upon occurrence.
  • 21. Always wash hands thoroughly after handling salon chemicals.
  • 22. Sanitize hands immediately after touching trash receptacles, dropping items on the floor, or touching face or hair.
  • 23. Never use chemical liquids contained in unlabeled bottles or jars.
  • 24. Immediately discard any unidentified or unknown chemical substances.
  • 25. Ensure every single container in the facility is properly and clearly labeled.
  • 26. Store all cleaning and disinfecting chemicals together in a clean, dry dedicated space.
  • 27. Keep all chemical supply containers tightly capped and covered.
  • 28. Before using an implement, ask: "Is this implement, tool, or surface clean enough that I would use it on myself?" If no, repeat the entire cleaning and disinfection procedure.

Specialized Disinfection Protocols and Chemical Disinfectants

• Pedicure Equipment Protocols:

  • Pedicure foot baths, tools, and equipment carry high contamination risks and demand rigorous disinfection to prevent spreading infectious diseases such as Tinea Pedis (athlete's foot).
  • Advise clients not to shave their legs for 24 to 48 hours prior to receiving a pedicure service.
  • Mycobacterium Fortuitum is a microscopic microorganism existing in low concentrations in tap water that can enter skin micro-incisions (caused by shaving) and create severe, chronic leg skin infections.
  • When disinfecting whirlpool foot spas after client use, circulate EPA-registered disinfectant through the system for 10 minutes (or the full time stated on the product label).

• Chemical Disinfectants (Germicides) vs. Sanitizers:

  • Disinfectants / Germicides: Liquid chemicals formulated to kill bacteria and retard microbial growth without destroying 100% of all bacterial life; they render non-pathogenic and pathogenic bacteria harmless.
  • Sanitizers and disinfectants are distinct chemical classes: products labeled as sanitizers only clean and cannot disinfect tools, implements, or hard surfaces.
  • Hand sanitizers and antiseptics are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and contain active ingredients such as ethyl alcohol or benzalkonium chloride.
  • Hand sanitizers cannot clear visible dirt, oils, or organic debris and must only be applied after thorough 20-second handwashing with warm water, soap, and a nail brush.
  • Never use antiseptics or hand sanitizers as surface or tool disinfectants.
  • The mechanical washing action of soap and water lifts surface bacteria, rinsing flushes the majority away, and disinfectant application destroys remaining pathogens.

• Specific Chemical Disinfectant Profiles:

  • Formalin:
    • A heavy germicidal chemical containing a high percentage of formaldehyde.
    • Acts as both a contact disinfectant and a vapor fumigant.
    • Severe skin and respiratory tract irritant; direct contact can cause severe chemical burns.
    • Historically recommended as a hand sanitizer, but banned for skin application due to tissue destruction.
  • Quaternary Ammonium Compounds (Quats):
    • Odorless, tasteless, non-staining, highly effective surface disinfectants.
    • Standard solution strength mandated by most states is a 1/1000 dilution ratio (must not exceed 1/2000 strength to avoid skin burns).
    • Active ingredient formulations per 1 gallon ($3.82\,\text{L}$) of water:
      • $\text{15\% Active Concentrate} = \frac{3}{4}\,\text{oz}\,(22.18\,\text{mL})$
      • $\text{12.5\% Active Concentrate} = 1\,\text{oz}\,(29.57\,\text{mL})$
      • $\text{10\% Active Concentrate} = 1\frac{1}{4}\,\text{oz}\,(36.96\,\text{mL})$
  • Sodium Hypochlorite (Chlorine Bleach):
    • Household bleach contains $5.25\%$ sodium hypochlorite.
    • Only chlorine bleach possessing an EPA registration number explicitly listed as a disinfectant may be used for salon disinfection.
    • Store bleach solutions in cool, dark environments to avoid chemical breakdown.
    • Corrosive to metals and plastics; causes severe respiratory, skin, and eye irritation.
  • Isopropyl Alcohol:
    • Effective skin cleaner and common hand sanitizer ingredient, but causes cutaneous drying and irritation.
    • Prohibited from use as a disinfectant for salon implements, tools, or hard surfaces; restricted strictly to antiseptic or cleaning uses.
  • Hydrogen Peroxide:
    • A widely available antiseptic agent.
    • Must never be applied to open wounds because it interferes directly with cellular healing processes.
  • Cresol (Lysol):
    • Commercial chemical preparation made from phenol and coal tar forming a brownish liquid.
    • Recommended for broad disinfection of shampoo bowls, sinks, floors, and restroom fixtures.
  • Chelating Soaps and Detergents:
    • Specially formulated non-sudsing agents designed to break down stubborn chemical films, mineral buildup, and pedicure product residue (such as salts, scrubs, and foot masks).
    • Perform exceptionally well in hard water conditions (hard water reduces the efficacy of standard disinfectants).
  • Phenolics:
    • Disinfectants possessing an extremely high pH that cause severe damage to skin and eyes.
    • Phenolics are a form of formaldehyde and recognized carcinogens.
    • Most beauty industry manufacturers have phased out production due to toxicity risks outstripping benefits.
    • Restricted strictly to environments where tuberculocidal action is legally mandated by state regulations.

Labeling Requirements, Solution Mixing, and Measurements

• Required Disinfectant Label Information:

  • Under federal law, using any chemical disinfectant in a manner inconsistent with its labeling is illegal.
  • All disinfectant containers must explicitly state:
    • 1. EPA registration number.
    • 2. Broad-spectrum claims: Bactericidal, Virucidal, and Fungicidal.
    • 3. Precise mixing and solution-changing instructions.
    • 4. Specific listing of targeted pathogens, including MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), HPV (hepatitis B virus), Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and HIV (human immunodeficiency virus).
    • 5. Tuberculocidal efficacy claims (where required by state law to control Tuberculosis, a airborne bacterial disease transmitted via coughing or sneezing).

• Solution Storage and Maintenance:

  • Do not store pre-mixed chemicals for prolonged durations.
  • Thoroughly wash wet disinfectant containers with warm soapy water between every solution change to prevent bacterial colonization.
  • Disinfectant containers must be covered to prevent airborne contamination and sized sufficiently to permit full submersion of tools. Nonmetal containers are required for certain reactive chemicals.

• Standard Volume Measurement Conversions:

  • $\text{1 teaspoon} = 60\,\text{drops} = \frac{1}{8}\,\text{oz} = 3.696\,\text{mL}$
  • $\text{2 teaspoons} = \frac{1}{4}\,\text{oz} = 7.393\,\text{mL}$
  • $\text{3 teaspoons} = 1\,\text{tablespoon} = \frac{3}{8}\,\text{oz} = 11.09\,\text{mL}$
  • $\text{4 teaspoons} = \frac{1}{2}\,\text{oz} = 14.787\,\text{mL}$
  • $\text{6 teaspoons} = \frac{3}{4}\,\text{oz} = 22.18\,\text{mL}$
  • $\text{8 teaspoons} = 1\,\text{oz} = 29.57\,\text{mL}$
  • $\text{1 Cup} = 8\,\text{oz} = 236.59\,\text{mL}$
  • $\text{1 Pint} = 2\,\text{cups} = 16\,\text{oz} = 0.74\,\text{L}$
  • $\text{1 Quart} = 2\,\text{pints} = 4\,\text{cups} = 32\,\text{oz} = 0.946\,\text{L}$
  • $\text{1/2 Gallon} = 2\,\text{quarts} = 4\,\text{pints} = 8\,\text{cups} = 64\,\text{oz} = 1.892\,\text{L}$
  • $\text{1 Gallon} = 4\,\text{quarts} = 8\,\text{pints} = 16\,\text{cups} = 128\,\text{oz} = 3.785\,\text{L}$

• Guide for Making Percentage Solutions (Using 100% Active Liquid Concentrate into 12 oz / 0.354 L Water):

  • $\frac{1}{8}\,\text{oz}\,(3.60\,\text{mL})\text{ concentrate to }12\,\text{oz}\,(0.354\,\text{L})\text{ water}$
  • $\frac{1}{4}\,\text{oz}\,(7.39\,\text{mL})\text{ concentrate to }12\,\text{oz}\,(0.354\,\text{L})\text{ water}$
  • $\frac{1}{2}\,\text{oz}\,(14.78\,\text{mL})\text{ concentrate to }12\,\text{oz}\,(0.354\,\text{L})\text{ water}$
  • $\frac{3}{4}\,\text{oz}\,(22.18\,\text{mL})\text{ concentrate to }12\,\text{oz}\,(0.354\,\text{L})\text{ water}$
  • $1\,\text{oz}\,(29.57\,\text{mL})\text{ concentrate to }12\,\text{oz}\,(0.354\,\text{L})\text{ water}$
  • $1\frac{1}{4}\,\text{oz}\,(36.96\,\text{mL})\text{ concentrate to }12\,\text{oz}\,(0.354\,\text{L})\text{ water}$

Salon Regulations and Operational Safety Standards

• Facility Requirements:

  • Walls, ceilings, floors, and station equipment must be constructed of washable materials and maintained free of dust accumulation.
  • Work areas require adequate lighting, heating, and ventilation systems.
  • Facilities must possess an ample supply of hot and cold running water with legally installed plumbing and electrical fixtures.
  • Restroom facilities (lavatories) must feature running hot and cold water, liquid soap dispenser systems, and single-use paper towels.
  • Sanitary drinking facilities and paper cups must be provided.
  • Animals (dogs, cats, birds, etc.) are strictly prohibited from salon premises, with the sole exception of certified service animals.

• Implements and Materials Handling:

  • Linens and towels must be fresh and clean for every client, used exactly once, and deposited immediately after service into a covered container designated for soiled linens.
  • Any tool or item dropped onto the floor must not be reused until fully cleaned and disinfected. Hands must be sanitized immediately following contact with dropped items.
  • Floor waste must be swept up and placed in covered waste containers labeled for trash/waste; hand sanitation must follow disposal.
  • Creams, pastes, and semi-solid cosmetics must be removed from primary containers using a clean, disinfected spatula and transferred to a single-use receptacle.
  • Fluids and lotions must be dispensed into secondary containers and applied using single-use cotton pledgets or disinfected applicators.
  • Soiled implements must be removed from workstations immediately after client service, washed, disinfected, dried, and stored in covered containers labeled "clean implements".

Regulatory Agencies, Laws, and Universal Safety Precautions

• Laws vs. Rules and Regulations:

  • Laws (Statutes): Written by federal and state legislatures to establish overarching community guidelines, agency authority, and scope of practice limits for license holders. Laws are broad in scope.
  • Rules and Regulations: Detailed standards of conduct drafted by regulatory state boards or specific state agencies. Rules define precise operational enforcement of laws and are subject to frequent updates. Professionals are responsible for maintaining compliance with all rule changes.

• Regulatory Agency Roles:

  • Federal Agencies: Establish parameters for manufacturing, chemical ingredient standardizations, safety monitoring, and baseline scope of service definitions.
  • State Regulatory Agencies: Enforce worker conduct, state licensing, and facility inspections through state boards, commissions, and health departments. Enforce compliance via investigative authority and can impose penalties including warnings, financial fines, probation, license suspension, or full license revocation.
  • Prohibited Procedures: Regulations explicitly forbid nail technicians from cutting or puncturing living skin tissue, or attempting medical removal of calluses, warts, corns, and ingrown nails.

• Key Federal Agencies:

  • OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration): Created by U.S. Congress to mandate safe and healthy workplace conditions for employees and the public. Governs chemical handling, mixing, workplace hazard awareness, and exposure safeguards.
  • EPA (Environmental Protection Agency): Protects public health and the environment. Registers all surface chemical disinfectants distributed in the U.S. Disinfectant efficacy claims are invalid without an official EPA Registration Number.

• CDC Standard Precautions & Infection Protocols:

  • Standard Precautions: Guidelines created by the CDC requiring professionals to treat all human blood and bodily fluids as if they are infectious for blood-borne pathogens.
  • Asymptomatic Transmission: Infected individuals often display zero clinical signs of infection; therefore, identical infection control measures must be applied to every single client without exception.
  • Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Includes protective safety goggles, face masks, and protective gloves.
  • Glove Protocols: Nitrile gloves are strongly recommended over latex (due to widespread latex allergies) or petroleum-based materials (which degrade rapidly under salon chemical exposure). Gloves are strictly single-use.
  • Safe Glove Removal Technique:
    • 1. Grasp the outer edge of the first glove near the wrist and peel away from the hand, turning the glove inside out.
    • 2. Hold the balled-up removed glove in the remaining gloved hand.
    • 3. Slide un-gloved fingers underneath the wrist cuff of the second glove and peel off, turning it inside out over the first glove.
    • 4. Discard both gloves immediately into trash and wash hands with liquid soap and warm water.

Safety Data Sheets (SDS) and the Globally Harmonized System (GHS)

• Transition from MSDS to SDS:

  • In 2012, OSHA adopted the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS), replacing old Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) with standardized Safety Data Sheets (SDS).
  • MSDS formats lacked international consistency, creating critical delays during chemical emergency responses.
  • The SDS format is universally standardized across 16 indexed categories, featuring 9 recognized hazard pictograms on product packaging.
  • Federal law mandates that salon owners maintain a complete SDS binder, stocked with current sheets for every chemical product present in the building, accessible to all workers at all times.

• The 16 Standardized SDS Categories:

  • 1. Identification: Product name, manufacturer/distributor details, emergency contact info, recommended uses, and operational restrictions.
  • 2. Hazards Identification: Full list of chemical hazards, hazard classifications, mandatory warning statements, and general precautions.
  • 3. Composition / Information on Ingredients: Specific listing of chemical ingredients, trade secret claims, and exact substance concentrations.
  • 4. First-Aid Measures: Essential acute/delayed symptoms, emergency exposure effects, and required initial medical treatments.
  • 5. Fire-Fighting Measures: Specific chemical hazard risks resulting from fire, suitable extinguishing media, protective equipment, and firefighter precautions.
  • 6. Accidental Release Measures: Personal protection, environmental containment guidelines, cleanup procedures, and emergency response methods.
  • 7. Handling and Storage: Precautions for safe handling, chemical incompatibility risks, and safe storage environment parameters.
  • 8. Exposure Controls / Personal Protection: Mandatory exposure limits (OSHA PELs/ACGIH TLVs), engineering controls (ventilation), and required PPE.
  • 9. Physical and Chemical Properties: Details on physical state, appearance, odor, pH, flash point, boiling point, and unknown properties.
  • 10. Stability and Reactivity: Chemical stability, possibilities of hazardous reactions, conditions to avoid, and incompatible materials.
  • 11. Toxicological Information: Acute/chronic health exposure routes, toxicity values, numerical symptoms, and carcinogenic classifications.
  • 12. Ecological Information: Ecotoxicity data, impact on terrestrial/aquatic flora and fauna, environmental persistence, and bioaccumulation potential.
  • 13. Disposal Considerations: Proper waste treatment practices, container disposal methods, and local/federal disposal restrictions.
  • 14. Transport Information: UN proper shipping name, transportation hazard class, packing group, environmental hazards, and special transport precautions.
  • 15. Regulatory Information: National and regional safety, health, and environmental regulations applicable specifically to the product.
  • 16. Other Information: Includes creation date, document revision tracking, and internal disclaimer notes.

Blood Exposure Incident Protocols

• Exposure Incident Definition:

  • Exposure Incident: Any direct contact with non-intact (broken) skin, blood, or bodily fluids resulting from the performance of an employee's duties.
  • Nail technicians are strictly prohibited from cutting living skin; if an accidental puncture or cut occurs, blood exposure procedures must be executed immediately.

• Client Exposure Incident Procedure (Step-by-Step):

  • 1. Immediately stop the service.
  • 2. Put on protective gloves to shield against blood-borne pathogens.
  • 3. Clean the client's injured area thoroughly with soap and water.
  • 4. Dry the injured site using a clean disposable paper towel.
  • 5. Apply antiseptic agent to the wound, then cover completely with a sterile adhesive dressing.
  • 6. Discard all contaminated single-use items (including used nail files) in a sealable plastic bag and place into trash (or biohazard receptacle per state law). Dispose of sharp items in an approved sharps container.
  • 7. Remove and discard gloves, then wash hands thoroughly with liquid soap and warm running water. Dry hands with disposable towels.
  • 8. Put on a fresh pair of protective gloves; clean and disinfect all tools, implements, and workstation surfaces.
  • 9. Remove and discard gloves, then wash hands again with warm water and liquid soap.
  • 10. If client agrees, resume service. If state rules require continuous glove usage during services, put on a fresh set of gloves and proceed using clean, disinfected implements. (Advise client to see a physician if signs of infection occur).

• Employee Exposure Incident Procedure (Step-by-Step):

  • 1. Immediately stop the service, notify the client of the injury, and explain the need to address the cut immediately.
  • 2. Clean the cut or wound thoroughly under warm running water with soap.
  • 3. Dry the injury using a fresh disposable paper towel.
  • 4. Apply antiseptic to the injury and seal with a sterile adhesive bandage.
  • 5. Put on protective gloves and discard all contaminated single-use items/files into a plastic disposal bag for trash or biohazard disposal. Place sharps in a sharps container. Remove and discard gloves.
  • 6. Put on fresh gloves, then clean and disinfect all exposed tools, equipment, and the workstation.
  • 7. Remove and discard gloves; wash hands thoroughly using warm water and liquid soap.
  • 8. Apply a protective glove or finger guard over the bandaged wound to protect the client. Put on a new pair of service gloves if state regulations mandate.
  • 9. Resume service using fresh, fully disinfected implements.

Questions & Discussion

• Review Question 1: What is a blood exposure incident?

  • Answer: Contact with non-intact (broken) skin, blood, or bodily fluid that results from the performance of an employee's professional duties.

• Review Question 2: Why is it important to follow the blood exposure steps?

  • Answer: Following blood exposure protocols prevents the transmission of infectious blood-borne pathogens, protecting both the salon professional and the client from disease contamination and biological harm.

• Review Question 3: What is the first step of a blood exposure incident procedure?

  • Answer: The service must be stopped immediately.

• Review Question 4: Can you continue to work on a client after a blood exposure incident?

  • Answer: Yes, provided that the wound is properly cleaned, treated with antiseptic, bandaged, all single-use items discarded, implements and surfaces disinfected, hands washed, and fresh protective gloves/finger guards applied before resuming with clean, disinfected tools.