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755 Bloodborne Pathogens Program Management
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Wash Your Hands

Hand washing after an exposure can reduce your risk of infection.

washing hands
Hand washing after an exposure can reduce your risk of infection.

Your employer must provide readily accessible hand-washing facilities or antiseptic hand cleanser or wipes if hand-washing facilities are not available. Do the following to reduce your risk of infection resulting from an exposure.

  • Perform hand washing immediately after any exposure, even if you were wearing gloves.
  • Vigorous scrubbing with soap or alcohol-based foam or gel and warm water is considered the most effective technique.

Prohibited Practices

Practices that are completely prohibited in the workplace include: bending, recapping, and removing contaminated needles, shearing or breaking needles, and mouth pipetting or suctioning of potentially infectious material.

These practices significantly increase the risk of exposure. As a result, they should never be performed by employees.

Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.

6-4. Bending, recapping, and removing contaminated needles are considered _____.