Bloodborne Standard
29 CFR 1910.1030
Methods of Compliance: Employer and Employee Responsibilities
Personal Protective Equipment: Gloves
Gloves must be worn when contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials, mucus membranes or non-intact skin is anticipated. Included in the requirement for glove use includes vascular access procedures, handling and touching contaminated items or surfaces.
Single use gloves, also referred to as disposable, including surgical or examination, should be replaced as soon as practical when contaminated or as soon as possible if torn, punctured or when their ability to function as a barrier is comprised. They should not be washed or decontaminated for re-use.
An exception exists to routine gloving in volunteer blood centers for employees that perform phlebotomies. If the employer determines it is unnecessary to use gloves, then the employer must: periodically reevaluate the policy, make gloves available to all employees who wish to use them for phlebotomy and not discourage glove use. The employer must require use of gloves for the following: when the employee has cuts, scratches, or other breaks in his or her skin, when the employee judges that hand contamination may occur, and when the employee is receiving phlebotomy training.
Utility gloves may be decontaminated for re-use if the glove's integrity is not compromised. They must be discarded if cracked, peeling, torn, punctured or exhibit other deterioration or when the ability to function as a barrier has been compromised.
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.)