Sanitation, Disinfection, and Safety Practices
Domain 2: Sanitation, Disinfection, and Safety Practices
This domain tests infection control and workplace safety: the difference between cleaning, sanitizing, disinfecting, and sterilizing; correct use of EPA-registered disinfectants; blood and body-fluid procedures; and chemical and electrical safety.
Core rules
- Clean first: remove visible debris with soap or detergent and water before any disinfectant.
- Disinfect implements that touch skin or hair with an EPA-registered hospital disinfectant labeled for the required contact time; immerse or wet surfaces fully.
- Use a tuberculocidal hospital disinfectant for blood or body-fluid contamination, following label directions and PPE.
- Porous or single-use items such as razors, blades, neck strips, and cotton are discarded, not reused.
- Wash hands before and after each client; wear gloves for blood, broken skin, or chemical services.
- Keep SDS sheets accessible; label secondary containers; store chemicals away from food and client areas.
- Electrical safety: no damaged cords, keep water away from outlets, use GFCI protection where required.
Worked example
A clipper blade nicks a client and blood appears. Stop, put on gloves, and remove the blade. Clean visible blood with detergent and water, then disinfect with an EPA-registered hospital tuberculocidal disinfectant for the full label contact time. Discard the disposable blade if used; clean and disinfect the clipper body. Document per shop policy. Reasoning: bloodborne pathogens require a tuberculocidal hospital disinfectant, not a simple sanitizer.
Traps
- Relying on a jar of blue sanitizer alone for blood.
- Skipping the cleaning step; organic matter blocks disinfectant.
- Shortening contact time.
- Reusing razor blades or neck strips.