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LABORATORY PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

New Hanover Health Network will provide, at no cost to the employee, appropriate personal protective equipment such as, but not limited to:

 

The appropriate personal protective equipment must not permit blood or other potentially infectious or hazardous materials to pass through to reach the employee's work clothes, street clothes, under garments, skin, eyes, mouth, or other mucous membranes.

 

The department manager shall ensure that the employees are properly trained and use the appropriate personal protective equipment.

 

All personal protective equipment shall be removed prior to leaving the work area and the personal protective equipment shall be placed in the appropriately designated area or container for storage, washing, decontamination, or disposal.

 

HRMC

 

The following personal protective equipment shall be worn as indicated:

 

GLOVES
Disposable gloves shall be worn when it is reasonably anticipated that employees will have contact with blood, body fluids, tissue, or other potentially infectious material, non-intact skin, and/or mucous membranes. Gloves will be used for venipuncture, venous access, arterial specimen collection, blood analysis, working around contaminated surfaces or equipment or when there is the potential for exposure to contaminated work surface or equipment.

Gloves must always be used for specimen collection procedures.

Gloves must fit properly:

Gloves should fit snugly over entire hand and pulled over cuff of lab coat. There should be no loose fitting or excess "material" which could interfere with procedure or cause a hazard during handling of specimens or using equipment.
Gloves must remain intact and be replaced immediately when torn or contaminated.
Disposable gloves are used one time and must be removed and hands washed or sanitized with waterless hand sanitizer after each patient.
Disposable gloves must not be washed, disinfected or re-used.
Each area or department will list in the space provided the task, location, and disposal for their areas.

TASK

LOCATION OF
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

DISPOSAL CONTAINER
Venipuncture specimen collection or Arterial blood collection. Laboratory sections
Patient rooms		 Non-regulated medical waste
Handling or processing of blood, body fluids, or tissue Laboratory sections Non-regulated medical waste
QC, maintenance, or troubleshooting laboratory instruments or equipment Laboratory sections Non-regulated medical waste
Handling or preparation of chemicals or reagents Laboratory sections Non-regulated medical waste
Cleaning, touching, or working on or near contaminated/potentially contaminated work surfaces Laboratory sections Non-regulated medical waste

 

 

LAB COAT
Lab coats shall be worn when it is reasonably anticipated that employees will have contact with blood, other potentially infectious materials and/or non-intact skin.
Each area or department will list in the space provided the task, location, and disposal for their areas.

TASK

LOCATION OF
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

DISPOSAL CONTAINER

Venipuncture specimen collection and Arterial blood collection.

 

 Laboratory specific site for clean laboratory coats Contaminated linen hamper
Handling or processing of blood, body fluids, or tissue Laboratory specific site for clean laboratory coats Contaminated linen hamper
QC, maintenance, or troubleshooting laboratory instruments or equipment Laboratory specific site for clean laboratory coats Contaminated linen hamper
Handling or preparation of chemicals or reagents Laboratory specific site for clean laboratory coats Contaminated linen hamper
Cleaning, touching, or working on or near contaminated/potentially contaminated work surfaces Laboratory specific site for clean laboratory coats Contaminated linen hamper

 

 

SURGICAL GOWN
Surgical gowns shall be worn when it is reasonably anticipated the employees will have contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials. Must be worn in areas so designated by policy. Gowns are needed when gross contamination is expected. (Example: during orthopedic surgery or autopsies)
Each area or department will list in the space provided the task, location, and disposal for their areas.

TASK

LOCATION OF
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

DISPOSAL CONTAINER
Transporting blood and/or blood products to and from the Operating Room Blood Bank Contaminated linen hamper
Autopsies Autopsy storage area Contaminated linen hamper

 

 

SHOE COVERS - DISPOSABLE
Shoe covers shall be worn when it is reasonably anticipated that employees will have contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials or chemicals that will contaminate foot wear. Shoe covers are needed when gross contamination is expected. (Example: during orthopedic surgery or autopsies)
Each area or department will list in the space provided the task, location, and disposal for their areas.

TASK

LOCATION OF
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

DISPOSAL CONTAINER
Transporting blood and/or blood products to and from the Operating Room Blood Bank Non-regulated medical waste
Autopsies Autopsy storage area Non-regulated medical waste.

 

 

FACE PROTECTION DEVICES
Masks, goggles, glasses with side shields or chin length face shields are required to be worn whenever slashes, spray, or splatter or droplets of blood or other infectious materials may be generated and/or contamination of the eye, nose or mouth can reasonably be anticipated.

An engineering device, full-face shield, or mask and goggles (or mask and safety glasses) must be worn to protect all facial area. If safety glasses or goggles are worn, a mask must also be worn as part of the full-face protection when there is a reasonable risk of splash or aerosol of specimen.

During venipuncture procedure, masks, hepa-hoods, or other protective equipment is determined by isolation precautions for each patient. Face protection devices may not be necessary if isolation precautions are not present.

Each area or department will list in the space provided the task, location, and disposal for their areas.

TASK

LOCATION OF
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

DISPOSAL CONTAINER
Handling of blood, body fluid, or tissue Laboratory sections Non-regulated medical waste
Venipuncture, Arterial puncture or bedside patient testing. Nursing station or near patient room as required by isolation level. Non-regulated medical waste
Autopsies Autopsy area Non-regulated medical waste
Handling or preparing chemicals or reagents Laboratory sections Non-regulated medical waste

 

 

DISPOSABLE APRONS
Aprons are to be worn when it is reasonably anticipated that an employee will have contact with blood or other potentially infectious material. Aprons may be worn over other protective material to add greater protection. Aprons are needed when gross contamination is expected. (Example: during orthopedic surgery or autopsies)

Aprons are not to be worn as the primary protective covering during procedures. Aprons are intended for use as additional (secondary) protection only.

See Lab Coat Section.

 

 

CONTAMINATED WORK SURFACE
All contaminated work surfaces will be cleaned (decontaminated) at the completion of procedures or testing and immediately, or as soon as possible, after any spill of blood or other potentially infectious material. Laboratory work surfaces must be cleaned by employee at the end of his/her shift. Areas will be cleaned and decontaminated according to the following schedule:

AREA

SCHEDULE

RESPONSIBLE
PARTY

DECONTAMINATION MATERIAL/SOLUTION
TO BE USED
All contaminated or potentially contaminated work surfaces Each shift Laboratory staff 10% bleach* or other approved cleaner for biohazard contamination
All contaminated or potentially contaminated work surfaces As needed Laboratory staff 10% bleach* or other approved cleaner for biohazard contamination
All contaminated or potentially contaminated equipment and/or supplies that are not disposable As needed Laboratory staff 10% bleach* or other approved cleaner for biohazard contamination
All contaminated or potentially contaminated equipment and/or supplies that are not disposable Each shift Each shift 10% bleach* or other approved cleaner for biohazard contamination

      * 1:10 dilution of a 5.25% solution of sodium hypochlorite

 

 

CHEMICAL RESISTANT GLOVES
Splash protection for use when working with chemicals or substances, which are or could be harmful if splashed on skin or clothing. (Highly impervious to moisture vapors and liquids.)
Each area or department will list in the space provided the task, location, and disposal for their areas.

TASK

LOCATION OF
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

CLEANING AND/OR DISPOSAL
Clean up of chemical spill In safety section behind Core Lab Central Processing

General cleaning of gloves is by wiping with clean damp cloth. 

Potential contamination with biohazard substance requires cleaning with 10% bleach* or other approved cleaner for biohazard contamination. When no longer in use, decontaminate with approved biohazard cleaning solution and dispose of in non-regulated medical waste.
Handling or manipulating highly caustic or acid chemicals. In Histology next to fume hood

General cleaning of gloves is by wiping with clean damp cloth. 

Potential contamination with biohazard substance requires cleaning with 10% bleach* or other approved cleaner for biohazard contamination. When no longer in use, decontaminate with approved biohazard cleaning solution and dispose of in non-regulated medical waste.

     * 1:10 dilution of a 5.25% solution of sodium hypochlorite

 

CHEMICAL RESISTANT APRONS
Splash protection for use when working with chemicals or substances, which are or could be harmful if splashed on skin or clothing. (Highly impervious to moisture vapors and liquids).
Each area or department will list in the space provided the task, location, and disposal for their areas.

TASK

LOCATION OF
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

CLEANING AND/OR DISPOSAL
Clean up of chemical spill In safety section behind Core Lab Central Processing

General cleaning of the apron is by wiping with clean damp cloth. 

Potential contamination with biohazard substance requires cleaning with 10% bleach* or other approved cleaner for biohazard contamination. When no longer in use, decontaminate with approved biohazard cleaning solution and dispose of in non-regulated medical waste.
Handling or manipulating highly caustic or acid chemicals. In Histology next to fume hood

General cleaning of the apron is by wiping with clean damp cloth. 

Potential contamination with biohazard substance requires cleaning with 10% bleach* or other approved cleaner for biohazard contamination. When no longer in use, decontaminate with approved biohazard cleaning solution and dispose of in non-regulated medical waste.

     * 1:10 dilution of a 5.25% solution of sodium hypochlorite

 

 

CHEMICAL RESISTANT GLOVES / TEMPERATURE RESISTANT GLOVES
Protects hands when handling or manipulating equipment or reagents that may be harmful to hands due to extreme heat or cold.
Each area or department will list in the space provided the task, location, and disposal for their areas.

TASK

LOCATION OF
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

CLEANING AND/OR DISPOSAL
Manipulating equipment from autoclave Autoclave room

General cleaning of gloves is by wiping with clean damp cloth. 

Potential contamination with biohazard substance requires cleaning with 10% bleach* or other approved cleaner for biohazard contamination. When no longer in use, decontaminate with approved biohazard cleaning solution and dispose of in non-regulated medical waste.
Handling specimens from -70° freezer Histology beside freezer

General cleaning of gloves is by wiping with clean damp cloth. 

Potential contamination with biohazard substance requires cleaning with 10% bleach* or other approved cleaner for biohazard contamination. When no longer in use, decontaminate with approved biohazard cleaning solution and dispose of in non-regulated medical waste.
Heating and handling reagents on hot plate Histology beside freezer

General cleaning of gloves is by wiping with clean damp cloth. 

Potential contamination with biohazard substance requires cleaning with 10% bleach* or other approved cleaner for biohazard contamination. When no longer in use, decontaminate with approved biohazard cleaning solution and dispose of in non-regulated medical waste.

     * 1:10 dilution of a 5.25% solution of sodium hypochlorite

 

CHEMICAL RESISTANT ARM PROTECTORS
Splash protection for use when working with chemicals or substances, which are or could be harmful if splashed on skin or clothing. (Highly impervious to moisture vapors and liquids.)
Each area or department will list in the space provided the task, location, and disposal for their areas.

TASK

LOCATION OF
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

CLEANING AND/OR DISPOSAL
Handling or manipulating highly caustic or acid chemicals In Histology next to fume hood

General cleaning of arm protectors is by wiping with clean damp cloth. 

Potential contamination with biohazard substance requires cleaning with 10% bleach* or other approved cleaner for biohazard contamination. When no longer in use, decontaminate with approved biohazard cleaning solution and dispose of in non-regulated medical waste.

     * 1:10 dilution of a 5.25% solution of sodium hypochlorite

 

Employees must refrain from eating, drinking, smoking, applying cosmetics or lip balm, handling or manipulating contact lenses or administering medication in areas where there is potential for exposure to blood, body fluids or other potentially infectious materials.
 
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