Bloodborne Pathogens Manual

16 Bloodborne Pathogens Manual Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Departments will provide readily accessible personal protective equipment (PPE) in appropriate sizes at eachwork site. Hypoallergenic gloves will be provided for those employees who are allergic to those normally provided. PPE and clothing should fit the working conditions. When skin or clothing may be splashed with human blood or other PIMs, personnel should wear nitrile or latex gloves and lab coats, gowns or aprons. When personnel may potentially be exposed via the head, eyes, mouth, or nose with human blood or other PIMs, they should wear goggles, dust masks or face shields, and possibly surgical caps, depending on the quantity of PIMs and degree of possible splashing. Where personnel may need to perform emergency resuscitation, pocket masks, resuscitation bags or other ventilation devices use is encouraged instead of direct mouth-to-mouth procedures. Departments will provide for decontamination, cleaning, laundering, or disposal of required PPE and the repair or replacement of items as needed to maintain their effectiveness. All PPE must be removed immediately upon leaving the work area and placed in an appropriately designated container that displays the biohazard symbol for decontamination, storage, washing, or disposal. Gloves Personnel must wear appropriate gloves when performing procedures in which human blood or other PIMs may be handled or contacted. Gloves must also be worn when handling bagged PIMs or obviously contaminated linen. Appropriate gloves include either disposable or utility gloves made of either latex or nitrile. Disposable gloves must be replaced when visibly soiled, torn, punctured or otherwise compromised and may not be washed or disinfected for re-use. Sharps Safety Sharps pose the greatest hazard to personnel working with human blood or other PIMs. In order to prevent sharps injuries, personnel must: • never recap, bend, or break needles • use safer sharps devices, such as retractable or self-blunting syringes and needles whenever possible • if absolutely necessary to recap a needle, use a mechanical device, such as a hemostat or forceps, to handle the cap • handle other sharps, such as broken glass, scalpels, razor blades, broken Pasteur pipettes, and broken capillary tubes