Bloodborne Standard
29 CFR 1910.1030
Methods of Compliance: Employer Responsibilities
Hand Washing Facilities and Requirements
The standard requires readily accessible hand washing facilities for employee use. Hand washing must occur immediately after removing gloves or any other personal protective equipment that has become contaminated. The standard requires employers must make sure employees wash hands, other skin areas, or other mucus membranes with water immediately or as soon as possible following contact with body areas or other potentially infectious materials. Proper hand washing must be done with soap and running warm water. The purpose of proper hand washing immediately is to cleanse the skin of contaminated material.
If this is not feasible in certain areas, than waterless hand sanitizing stations are acceptable. According to the standard, in conjunction with these antiseptic hand cleaner stations should be clean cloth/paper towels or antiseptic towelettes. When this method is utilized, hands must be with washed with soap and running water as soon as possible.
If you have any questions at any time regarding the information presented in this tutorial, please contact David Sullivan at 910-916-0688.
(North Carolina Department of Labor (2010). A guide to bloodborne pathogens in the workplace.)