Bloodborne pathogens: Proper glove use and disposal
Did you know that your workers can be exposed to bloodborne pathogens and other hazards from the very PPE designed to protect them? If the proper glove is not selected, and workers don’t properly remove and dispose of gloves, they can be equally exposed to the hazard. Fortunately for the safety of workforces across the globe, COVID-19 spread almost as much light on this topic as it spread variants. And in reaction, the Center for Disease Control recommends hand protection be worn when exposed, changed as necessary, and disposed of properly. As front-line supervisors, you were aware that workers must be protected from bloodborne pathogens well before COVID, but are you ensuring proper glove donning and doffing are included in your hand protection protocol? The past two years of this pandemic has been a reminder that OSHA requires workers to wear gloves when it can be reasonably anticipated that they may have hand contact with blood, other potentially infectious materials (OPIMs) and when handling or touching contaminated items or surfaces (29 CFR 1910.1030(d)(3)(ix)). Workers are not protected if the gloves they are using are a source of contamination too.
OPIMs can include saliva, brain or spinal fluid, amniotic fluid, semen, vaginal secretions, unfixed tissue or organs, cultures, or any body fluid that is visibly contaminated with blood. And as with COVID-19, potentially infectious materials can include viruses. Direct contact with these intruders occurs from person-to-person contact, so gloves are essential for protecting both an injured employee and workers tending to them. Nitrile or latex gloves are the best means for preventing contamination of worker’s hands, while maintaining manual dexterity needed for proper care. Employers must provide necessary PPE for their workers and should consider providing gloves in various sizes, as well as nitrile gloves where workers may be allergic to latex. The catch is ensuring workers are still protecting themselves when taking off and disposing of used gloves. OSHA recognizes this challenge and requires employers to provide employees an explanation of the use and limitations of PPE which including the removal, handling, and disposal of gloves. Unfortunately, we often forget about exposure to contaminants from the gloves themselves.
Proper removal of gloves prevents cross contamination, and it’s easy for your workers to do with some practice. Instruct employees that the outsides of the gloves are likely contaminated, which is why they wore them in the first place? Have them use these steps to remove them safely:
- Grasp the outside of the glove with the opposite gloved hand and peel it off.
- Hold the removed glove in the remaining gloved hand.
- Slide your fingers of the ungloved hand under the remaining glove at the wrist and peel it off.
- Dispose of gloves in an approved hazardous waste container.
- Thoroughly wash hands with soap and water.
Hand hygiene
Hand hygiene, consisting of washing with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds, has been cited as the single most important practice to reduce the transmission of infectious agents. In the absence of soap and water, approved alcohol-based products hand sanitizers that contains at least 60 percent alcohol are acceptable, followed with washing as soon as soap and water are available. Hand hygiene following glove removal further ensures that the hands will not carry potentially infectious material that might have penetrated through unrecognized tears or that could contaminate the hands during glove removal.
Key to remember
- Ensure workers are trained on when to use gloves and how to remove and properly dispose of contaminated gloves.
- Hand washing following the removing of gloves is essential for combating contamination.
You are now well on your way to giving your workers a hand with glove safety!