(c) Guidelines for the safe use of gloves include the following:
1 Change gloves immediately if they become torn, punctured, or
contaminated, and after handling high risk samples or performing a physical
examination.
2 Remove gloves by keeping outside surfaces only in contact with
outside, and by turning the glove inside out as it is being removed from the hand.
3 Avoid touching unclean
surfaces such as telephones, door knobs, or computer terminals with gloves.
4 Wash hands with soap after removing gloves.
5 Change gloves between patient contacts.
6 Do not wash or disinfect surgical or examination gloves for reuse.
(d) OSHA does not require that gloves be worn by the phlebotomist
collecting healthy donor blood:
1 Unless the phlebotomist is in training.
2 Unless the phlebotomist has open cuts or breaks in the skin.
(e) Gloves must be available for those phlebotomists who desire to use
gloves. If gloves are used, the guidelines outlined earlier should be followed.
(6) Face shields and masks.
(a) The face should be protected whenever the possibility of splashes,
splatters, or aerosols of blood or body fluids exist.
(b) The purpose of the face shields and masks is to protect the eyes and
mucous membranes of the nose and mouth.
(c) As an alternative to wearing facial protection, permanent shields can
sometimes be attached to pieces of equipment to prevent splashing (e.g., splash barrier
(7) Hand washing.
(a) Hand washing is the most important action anyone can take to prevent
the transmission of diseases (first line of defense in infection control).
MD0868
2-18