Safety, Sanitation, and Infection Control
The core distinction
The exam constantly tests cleaning vs. disinfection vs. sterilization. Cleaning removes visible debris; disinfection kills most pathogens on nonporous surfaces using an EPA-registered hospital-grade disinfectant; sterilization destroys all microbial life (autoclave). Know which items require which: porous items that cannot be disinfected are single-use and discarded; implements contacting skin or blood require disinfection; sharp implements require careful handling and disposal in a sharps container.
Bloodborne pathogens
Understand standard precautions - treat all blood and body fluids as infectious. Know exposure incident steps: stop service, wash the exposed area with soap and water, report, document, seek medical evaluation. Know personal protective equipment (gloves, eye protection), handwashing technique, and that gloves do not replace handwashing.
Chemicals and environment
Know SDS access, dilution per manufacturer label, labeled secondary containers, ventilation, and never mixing chemicals. Understand quats, phenols, and bleach as disinfectant families and the importance of contact time.
Traps
- Wiping a razor with a towel and calling it sanitized.
- Reusing a neck strip or towel between clients.
- Assuming disinfectant works instantly - contact time matters.
- Believing gloves allow skipping handwashing.
Rule of thumb
If it touches skin, blood, or a client's scalp, it is either disinfected per label contact time, single-use, or in the sharps container. Nothing else is acceptable.
Worked example: After a shave, the razor is cleaned of debris, disinfected per label contact time, and stored; the blade goes into the sharps container; the towel and neck strip go to the laundry or trash; the station is disinfected before the next client.