WAC 296-823-15010   Make sure gloves are worn.  

     You must:

     • Make sure gloves appropriate to the situation are worn when:

     – It can be reasonably anticipated that the employee may have hand contact with blood, other potentially infectious materials (OPIM), mucous membranes, or skin that is not intact

     – Handling or touching contaminated items or surfaces

     – Performing vascular access procedures, for example, drawing blood or inserting an IV.

     You must:

     • Do the following when you are an employer in a volunteer blood donation center and you make the judgment that employees do not require routine use of gloves when performing phlebotomies:

     – Periodically reevaluate your decision not to require gloves

     – Make gloves available to all employees who wish to use them for phlebotomy (blood drawing)

     – Do not discourage the use of gloves for phlebotomy

     – Require that gloves be used for phlebotomy in ANY of the following circumstances:

     ▪ When the employee has a cut, scratch, or other break in the skin of his or her hand or wrist

     ▪ When the employee judges that hand contamination with blood may occur; for example, when performing phlebotomy on an uncooperative individual

     ▪ When the employee is receiving training in phlebotomy.

     You must:

     • Make sure employees who are allergic to the gloves that are normally provided have ready access to at least one of the following:

     – Nonlatex gloves

     – Glove liners

     – Powderless gloves

     – Other similar alternatives.

     • Replace disposable (single use) gloves such as surgical or examination gloves:

     – As soon as practical when contaminated

     – As soon as practical if they are torn or punctured

     – When their ability to function as a barrier is compromised.

     • Make sure disposable (single use) gloves are used only once

     • Discard utility gloves if they are cracked, peeling, torn, punctured, or show other signs of deterioration or when their ability to function as a barrier is compromised.

     – You may decontaminate utility gloves for reuse if they can continue to function as a barrier.



[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, and 49.17.060. 04-12-070, § 296-823-15010, filed 6/1/04, effective 9/1/04; 03-09-110, § 296-823-15010, filed 4/22/03, effective 8/1/03.]