Section 18.23.335. Practitioner hygiene.

	(a)  A practitioner shall maintain a high degree of personal cleanliness and conform to good hygienic practices, including  
		(1) wearing clean outer clothing when performing a procedure; and  
		(2) keeping fingernails clean and trimmed.  
	(b)  Before applying antiseptics and again before performing a procedure, a practitioner shall thoroughly cleanse that practitioner's hands as often as necessary to remove contaminants and in compliance with all of the following steps:  
		(1) first, thoroughly scrub hands and fingernails with soap;  
		(2) second, rinse hands under hot running water for a minimum of 20 seconds;  
		(3) third, dry hands with disposable paper towels.  
	(c)  While performing a procedure, a practitioner shall wear disposable gloves. Gloves may not be reused. The use of gloves does not preclude or substitute for the hand washing procedures as described in this section.  
	(d)  A practitioner shall immediately take off that practitioner's gloves, discard the contaminated gloves, and wash that practitioner's hands before a fresh pair of gloves are used  
		(1) if the original gloves are contaminated by contact with any unclean surface or object or when the gloves contact an individual other than the practitioner or client;  
		(2) if the glove is pierced or torn; or  
		(3) between clients.  
	(e)  The owner or operator of a shop described in 18 AAC 23.300 shall establish written policies and procedures available for department review for the management of employees, practitioners, or clients who have latex allergies.  
	(f)  A practitioner or shop employee with a boil, an infected wound, an open sore, or a weeping dermatological lesion may not work in any area of a shop in any capacity in which a likelihood exists that that person could contaminate equipment, supplies, or working surfaces.  
	(g)  A practitioner or shop employee shall observe and follow the standards for public service workers regarding personal protective equipment and disposal of medical waste, tools and equipment as set out in Recommendations for Preventing Transmission of Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Hepatitis B Virus to Patients During Exposure-Prone Invasive Procedures, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), adopted by reference in 18 AAC 23.305.  

Authorities

08.13.030;08.13.120;08.13.150;08.13.210;44.46.020

Notes

Reference

18 AAC 23.325

Authority

AS 08.13.030 AS 08.13.120 AS 08.13.150 AS 08.13.210 AS 44.46.020 Editor's note: Under Department of Labor and Workforce Development regulations set out in 8 AAC 61.1010, the requirements of 29 C.F.R. 1910.1030, addressing occupational exposure to blood borne pathogens, are occupational safety and health standards in this state. Owners and operators should contact the Department of Labor and Workforce Development for assistance in complying with those requirements.

History

Eff. 12/1/2002, Register 164

References

8.61.1010