Infection Control and Salon Safety
What the exam tests
Infection Control and Salon Safety tests standard precautions, cleaning, disinfection, sterilization, implement handling, hand hygiene, blood exposure, and salon sanitation. Pennsylvania rules require hospital-grade disinfection for reusable implements.
The three levels
Cleaning removes visible debris with soap and water. Disinfection destroys most pathogens on surfaces using an EPA-registered hospital disinfectant; follow the label contact time, often 10 minutes. Sterilization destroys all microbial life, including spores, usually by autoclave. Porous items that cannot be disinfected-files, buffers, wooden sticks, cotton-are single-use and must be discarded.
Worked example
You drop a metal nipper on the floor. It is not enough to wipe it with alcohol. Clean it with soap and water, dry it, then immerse it in an EPA-registered hospital disinfectant for the full contact time. An orangewood stick that falls is discarded.
Blood exposure
Stop the service, put on gloves, clean the area, disinfect with a tuberculocidal hospital disinfectant, dispose of contaminated materials in a sealed bag, wash hands, and report the exposure per salon policy. Never use a UV cabinet or a “sanitizer” as a substitute for disinfection.
Traps
Sanitizing is not disinfecting. Alcohol wipes are not a hospital disinfectant. Disinfect before each client, not just at day’s end. Pedicure tubs and whirlpool jets must be cleaned and disinfected. Keep clean and dirty implements separated.