Laboratory Personal Protective Equipment
New Hanover Regional Medical Center 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.
NHRMC
The following personal protective equipment shall be worn as indicated:
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GLOVES
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| 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.
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TASK
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LOCATION OF
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
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DISPOSAL CONTAINER
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| 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 |
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LAB COAT
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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.
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TASK
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LOCATION OF
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
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DISPOSAL CONTAINER
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Venipuncture specimen collection and Arterial blood collection.
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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 |
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SURGICAL GOWN
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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.
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TASK
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LOCATION OF
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
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DISPOSAL CONTAINER
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| Transporting blood and/or blood products to and from the Operating Room |
Blood Bank |
Contaminated linen hamper |
| Autopsies |
Autopsy storage area |
Contaminated linen hamper |
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SHOE COVERS - DISPOSABLE
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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.
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TASK
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LOCATION OF
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
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DISPOSAL CONTAINER
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| 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. |
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FACE PROTECTION DEVICES
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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.
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TASK
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LOCATION OF
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
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DISPOSAL CONTAINER
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| 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 |
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DISPOSABLE APRONS
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| 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.
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CONTAMINATED WORK SURFACE
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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:
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AREA
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SCHEDULE
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RESPONSIBLE
PARTY
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DECONTAMINATION MATERIAL/SOLUTION
TO BE USED
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| 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
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CHEMICAL RESISTANT GLOVES
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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.
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TASK
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LOCATION OF
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
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CLEANING AND/OR DISPOSAL
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| 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.
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| 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.
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* 1:10 dilution of a 5.25% solution of sodium hypochlorite
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CHEMICAL RESISTANT APRONS
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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.
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TASK
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LOCATION OF
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
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CLEANING AND/OR DISPOSAL
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| 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.
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| 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.
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* 1:10 dilution of a 5.25% solution of sodium hypochlorite
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CHEMICAL RESISTANT GLOVES / TEMPERATURE RESISTANT GLOVES
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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.
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TASK
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LOCATION OF
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
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CLEANING AND/OR DISPOSAL
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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* 1:10 dilution of a 5.25% solution of sodium hypochlorite
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CHEMICAL RESISTANT ARM PROTECTORS
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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.
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TASK
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LOCATION OF
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
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CLEANING AND/OR DISPOSAL
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| 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.
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* 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.