SANITATION AND STERILIZATION Written by Dallas Duncan HS_CSII_2 2011
OSHA REGULATIONS OSHA is the Occupational Safety and Health Administration Regulates and enforces safety and health standards in the work environment, such as exposure to chemicals and product labeling OSHA standards are important to cosmetology because salons mix, store and dispose of a variety of chemicals Cosmetologists must also be aware of what is contained in all salon chemicals in case of client allergies
OSHA’S UNIVERSAL PRECAUTIONS Set of guidelines and controls that require the employer and employees to assume all bodily fluids are contaminated with some kind of bloodborne pathogen, such as HIV Precautions Washing hands, wearing gloves and other personal safety equipment, disposal of sharp and contaminated objects Most clients who have these diseases do not show any symptoms, so it is important to follow these universal precautions to protect yourself and other clients
DECONTAMINATION Decontamination is the process of removing pathogens and other substances from tools using physical or chemical means Contaminants include hair, makeup, and nail dust left on implements Three main levels Sterilization Sanitation Disinfection
STERILIZATION Sterilization completely destroys both beneficial and pathogenic organisms on a surface, including bacterial spores Methods include using extreme heat, such as in an autoclave Can purchase pre-sterilized disposable tools It is impossible to sterilize the skin or nail, because only surfaces without holes (such as metal) can be sterilized
SANITATION Reduces the amount of pathogens on a surface Clean tools and surfaces with soaps or detergents, remove hair from brushes and wash with soap Proper sanitation discourages mold and mildew growth Wash hands with warm water and liquid soap for 20 seconds, and do not dry hands with a cloth towel
DISINFECTION Disinfection controls microorganisms on salon tools by using chemical disinfectants Does not kill bacterial spores Disinfectants must be approved by the state and the Environmental Protection Agency Salons need to have access to the Material Safety Data Sheet for each disinfectant Contains information on use, safety precautions, and storage requirements
TYPES OF DISINFECTANTS Quaternary Ammonium Compounds Non-toxic, fast-acting, odorless Leaving tools in quat solution too long can damage them Good for cleaning tables and counters Phenols These are poisonous but are safe if used properly in a 5 percent solution to clean metal tools Can cause skin irritation or burns Not good for use on plastic and rubber tools Alcohols and bleaches Not legal to use as a disinfectant in most states because they are not registered under the EPA Can actually damage salon tools
DISINFECTING TOOLS Remove hair and other loose matter by cleaning with soap and water Rinse completely and pat dry Put on safety equipment and mix the disinfectant according to the directions Completely immerse tools for the required time Remove tools and be careful not to contaminate the disinfectant Rinse completely and pat dry Place the clean implements in a closed, dry, disinfected container
DISINFECTING OTHER EQUIPMENT Capes and Linens Use these only once and then wash with bleach Electrical Equipment Wipe or spray with a hospital-grade disinfectant that was designed to clean electrical equipment Foot Spas — follow manufacturer’s guidelines Drain, disinfect, rinse and wipe dry after each customer Clean all debris, flush, rinse, drain, and dry each day Clean overnight with bleach every two weeks Surfaces Use a hospital-grade disinfectant before and after each client Leave disinfectant on for the full amount of time needed
BLOOD SPILLS Put on gloves and clean the injured area Apply antiseptic and cover the wound with a bandage Throw away all contaminated objects in either a bag or container specifically for biohazards Remove gloves and wash hands before returning to the worktable Disinfect any tools and surfaces that came into contact with any body fluids with a hospital-grade disinfectant