This document provides guidelines for universal precautions and cleanup procedures when handling potentially infectious materials. It outlines personal protective equipment and cleanup methods for four situations: 1) needles and sharps, 2) materials soaked with blood or body fluids, 3) human fecal material or vomit, and 4) vermin-infested clothing and blankets. Proper handling and disposal of contaminated items as well as handwashing are emphasized.

1. IIPP Quarterly Training
Universal Precautions & Cleanup Procedures
Universal Precautions
Practicing Universal Precautions at the workplace means that all human
blood and body fluids are to be considered potentially infectious. Although
not all blood and body fluids are infectious, Universal Precautions allows
workers to be safe rather than sorry.
The safe handling of these substances requires a good understanding of
your cleanup options are for each situation. It also requires knowledge of
what Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is available on-site. For your
facilities the most important PPE continues to be disposable Nitrile gloves
and when necessary, eye protection (goggles or face shields) Find out
what PPE and cleaning options are available at your site.
Employees may encounter potentially infectious materials
while performing their jobs. Exposure can occur in four ways:
1) Needles & Syringes
2) Materials Soaked With Blood Or Other Body Fluids
3) Human Fecal Material / Vomit
4) Vermin (Lice) Infested Clothing & Blankets
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2. 2nd
Bloodborne Pathogens, Body Fluids, Vermin: Universal Precautions & Cleanup Procedures
1. Needles & Syringes (Sharps)
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Disposable Nitrile Gloves
Never Use Your Fingers To Pick Up A Sharp!
Cleanup:
After any procedure that involves a sharp dispose of it in a sharps
container. Do not recap, bend, wrap, or alter the sharp prior to
disposal. Keep sharps containers close to where procedures are
being conducted to avoid unnecessary travel. If sharps containers
are full, replace and dispose of the container using appropriate
procedures for your Clinic.
If collecting dropped sharps Use a Pick Up Device (Grappler or
tongs) and deposit in a sharps container. Porter’s may consider
keeping one on their cart for easy access. Each facility area has sharps
containers on site. If you do not know where they are…ask!
Decontamination: Non Disposable or Dedicated Medical Sharps
Clean reusable equipment and affected surfaces with detergent
followed by a germicide or mild bleach solution. Wear personal
protective equipment (gloves, face shields) and use tongs to handle
these items.
Recommended Hand washing Method:
Wet hands with running water
Apply soap over entire surface of hands
Vigorously rub all hand surfaces for at least 10 to 15 seconds
Rinse hands thoroughly with hot water
Dry hands completely
Unusual Situations:
If large quantities of sharps are found, or an unusual situation
presents itself, contact supervisor and call the Department of Public
Health’s Medical Waste Program: (415) 252-3800.
If you have a Needlestick Call Needlestick Hotline at (415) 469-4411
This Hotline is on 24/7.
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3. Bloodborne Pathogens, Body Fluids, Vermin: Universal Precautions & Cleanup Procedures
2. Materials Soaked With Blood or Other Body Fluids
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE):
Put on disposable gloves. Double gloving is the recommended
practice. Wear Nitrile gloves and put on additional long cuff Nitrile
gloves for added protection from splashing during handling of
materials. If large quantities of blood or blood soaked materials are
present, wear additional PPE (disposable tyvek, goggles, face shield,
and protective overshoes) as needed.
Cleanup:
If the material is not dried, apply a hardener to the materials. This will
reduce the risk of splashes during cleanup. Use a Grappler or tongs
to pick up materials.
Disposal:
Put materials and disposable PPE in red plastic biohazard bags.
Unusual Situations: If an unusual situation or a large quantity of
material is present, contact your supervisor before proceeding.
Decontamination: Clean reusable equipment and affected surfaces
with detergent followed by a germicide or mild bleach solution.
Follow dilution instructions to avoid possible problems.
Recommended Hand washing Method:
Wet hands with running water
Apply soap over entire surface of hands
Vigorously rub all hand surfaces for at least 10 to 15 seconds
Rinse hands thoroughly with hot water
Dry hands completely
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4. Bloodborne Pathogens, Body Fluids, Vermin: Universal Precautions & Cleanup Procedures
3. Human Fecal Material / Vomit
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE):
Wear disposable gloves with additional long cuff Nitrile over gloves.
If the situation is severe, or if there is a large quantity of fecal
material on the floor, rubber over boots can be worn over shoes.
Cleanup:
Mix 2 to 4 ounces of Soil_Solv All Purpose Cleaner and one ounce of
Big “E” Lemon Odor Handler for each gallon of water. Apply cleaning
solution with a 3M “Doodle Bug” Applicator attached to a mop
handle. Using an even motion, apply solution to the affected area.
If the “Doodle Bug” does not provide results, a Rubbermaid Hand
Scraper can be used for close work. For tougher jobs, a deck brush
attached to a mop handle can be applied to the affected surface.
Heavy-duty paper towels can be used for final cleanup of any
residual fecal material.
Disposal:
Solid fecal materials, paper towels used during clean up, and
disposable PPE can be contained in plastic bags and disposed of in
regular trash.
Decontamination:
Clean all reusable equipment with detergent followed by a germicide
or mild bleach solution.
Recommended Hand washing Method:
Wet hands with running water
Apply soap over entire surface of hands
Vigorously rub all hand surfaces for at least 10 to 15 seconds
Rinse hands thoroughly with hot water
Dry hands completely
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5. Bloodborne Pathogens, Body Fluids, Vermin: Universal Precautions & Cleanup Procedures
4. Vermin (Lice) Infected Clothing & Blankets
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Nitrile Gloves
Cleanup: Use Grappler to pick up all contaminated items.
Disposal: Place into large plastic bags to be disposed of as normal
garbage.
Decontamination: Clean all reusable equipment with detergent
followed by a germicide or mild bleach solution.
Remove PPE: Carefully remove PPE – gloves last. Place into garbage bag.
Seal the bag and dispose of as normal garbage.
Recommended Handwashing Method:
Wet hands with running water
Apply soap over entire surface of hands
Vigorously rub all hand surfaces for at least 10 to 15 seconds
Rinse hands thoroughly with hot water
Dry hands completely
Shower: If shower facilities are available, shower before leaving
work.
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