Salon Safety, Sanitation, and Infection Control
Salon Safety, Sanitation, and Infection Control
This domain tests how to prevent transmission of pathogens and manage workplace hazards. The exam distinguishes cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization, and asks for the correct contact time and product category.
Levels of control
Cleaning removes visible debris but does not kill pathogens. Disinfection destroys most pathogenic organisms on nonporous surfaces but not spores. Sterilization destroys all microorganisms, including spores, and is used for surgical instruments, not typical salon tools. Use an EPA-registered hospital-grade disinfectant with a label claim for the organisms of concern. Follow the label contact time; more is not a substitute for the correct product.
Practical rules
Wash hands before and after each client. Wear gloves for blood exposure. Disinfect clippers, shears, combs, and reusable files; porous items that cannot be disinfected should be discarded. Blood spills require gloves, absorbent material, and an EPA-registered disinfectant; follow OSHA bloodborne pathogen rules. Keep chemicals closed, labeled, and ventilated; know SDS locations. Do not store food near chemicals. Electrical cords should be inspected.
Worked example
A clipper blade nicks the client and draws blood. Stop, glove, clean the visible blood, then disinfect the blade with an EPA-registered hospital-grade tuberculocidal disinfectant for the label time. Reasoning: bloodborne pathogens require a product effective against hepatitis B and HIV.
Traps
Believing UV cabinets sterilize; using a disinfectant without reading contact time; reusing porous files; skipping handwashing. Do not use sanitize as a synonym for disinfect.