Safety, Sanitation and Infection Control
Safety, Sanitation and Infection Control
This domain tests whether you can prevent pathogen transmission in a salon and respond correctly to exposure incidents. Expect questions on cleaning, disinfection, sterilization, hand hygiene, PPE, and OSHA/EPA requirements.
Core rules
- Cleaning removes visible debris; disinfection destroys most pathogens on nonporous surfaces; sterilization kills all microorganisms including spores. UV cabinets are not a substitute for sterilization.
- Use an EPA-registered hospital-grade disinfectant at the label contact time. For blood spills, a common bleach dilution is 1:10, but follow local rules and the SDS.
- Nonporous implements that touch skin must be cleaned then disinfected; porous items that cannot be disinfected are single-use.
- Wash hands before and after gloves; gloves do not replace handwashing. Wear gloves for blood, body fluids, and broken skin.
- Keep SDS for every chemical accessible. Never store chemicals in unlabeled containers.
Worked example
A client has a small bleeding nick after extractions. Stop, glove, clean the area, apply pressure, and disinfect the station. Place contaminated disposable items in a lined waste container. Clean and disinfect reusable implements with the EPA-registered product for the full contact time. Document the incident and check whether the client needs referral. Reasoning: blood triggers Bloodborne Pathogens precautions, and contact time is required for efficacy.
Traps
- 'Sanitizer' and 'disinfectant' are not interchangeable.
- Wiping a surface and immediately reusing it skips contact time.
- Double-dipping implements or returning used tools to a clean tray spreads contamination.
- UV light cabinets do not reliably sterilize porous or heavily soiled items.