Practice Safety, Infection Control, and Regulatory Compliance
Infection control
Use standard precautions for every patient: hand hygiene, gloves when contact with blood or body fluids is likely, and eye or face protection when splashes are possible. Clean and disinfect tables, mats, belts, and modalities between patients. Follow the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard, 29 C.F.R. 1910.1030, for exposure control, hepatitis B vaccination, and post-exposure evaluation.
Equipment and modality safety
Inspect electrical equipment and cords; follow manufacturer instructions for ultrasound, electrical stimulation, thermal agents, and laser devices. Check skin integrity and sensation before thermal or electrical modalities. Use fall precautions and guard patients during gait and transfer training.
Regulatory compliance
Follow the Act, Board rules, facility policies, and billing laws. Supervision and documentation requirements are compliance obligations, not optional conveniences. Report incidents, exposures, and equipment failures through the proper channels.
Worked example
Blood spills on a treatment table. Staff clears the area, dons gloves, removes visible material with absorbent towels, cleans with detergent, and disinfects with an EPA-registered hospital disinfectant according to contact time. Contaminated waste goes in the proper container, and the exposure is documented. Using a quick alcohol wipe alone would not meet the required disinfection step.
Traps that cost marks
Using the wrong disinfectant or skipping contact time; failing to document an incident; and treating infection control as a housekeeping issue rather than a licensee duty.