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Infection Prevention and Control Plan Guidelines for nail technicians, eyelash technicians, estheticians, hairdressers, cosmetologists, and barbers

 

Duties

 

It is your responsibility as a licensee and/or salon owner to maintain sanitary conditions where services are provided for the protection of your clients and you.
 
Hand Washing

 

Wash your hands with soap and water, then dry them with a single-service paper or cloth towel or an air dryer before providing any service. You can use an alcohol-based hand rub (with a minimum of 60 percent alcohol) instead of hand washing only when your hands are free of lotions, ointments, product, or visible soil. Gloves and hand wipes cannot substitute hand washing.

 

Cleaning
 
You must clean any item or surface before it is disinfected. This means you must:

Remove any visible debris and disposable parts.Wash the item or surface with soap and water or a cleaning agent.After washing, rinse the item thoroughly and dry it completely before disinfecting it. Surfaces may be wiped with a cleaning agent before being disinfected.If a cleaning agent or product is not in the original container, you must label it with the name of the product and the use instructions. Otherwise, if the original container is still available, you do not need to re-label the new container with use instructions.

Disinfecting

All items must be cleaned before they are disinfected.

• You must use a disinfectant that is registered with the EPA for use in a hospital setting and is labeled as bactericidal, virucidal, and fungicidal. Alcohol alone is not an acceptable disinfecting agent.
• You must use disinfectant according to the manufacturers’ instructions, which includes contact time, safety precautions, dilution requirements (if any), and proper disposal.
• All disinfectant solutions must be legibly labeled with the disinfectant name and any dilution requirements. The disinfectant solutions must be made daily and disposed of at the end of the day or immediately if visible debris is present. If concentrated disinfectants must be diluted with water, measuring devices must be readily available and used to ensure an effective solution is made.
• To disinfect a tool or implement, you must fully submerge all surfaces of the tool or implement, including handles, into the disinfectant in a covered container for the full contact time listed in the manufacturer’s directions. After disinfecting, the items must be rinsed and dried.
• Each salon must have disinfectant containers with covers. The containers must be large enough to totally submerge the implements and tools in disinfectant. The number of covered containers and size of containers must be sufficient to hold all the implements and tools that need to be disinfected.
• You must wear gloves or use tongs to avoid direct skin contact with the disinfectant and observe all safety precautions in the manufacturer's directions.

Blood and Body Fluid Exposure
 
You must stop a service if an unexpected cut, abrasion, or other injury occurs during a service and results in exposure to blood or other body fluids, or when other body fluids appear as a result of a service. Then, follow steps A to G:

A.  Put on gloves.
B.  If possible, rinse the wound with running water.
C.  Clean the wound with an antiseptic solution and cover with a sterile bandage.
D.  If the wound is on your hand, wear a glove or finger cover over the wound. If the wound is on the client, wear gloves on both hands
      to complete the service.
E.  Place any blood-stained tissue, cotton, or other blood or body fluid contaminated material in a plastic bag, then seal and discard the bag.
F.  Before resuming the service, remove any equipment, tools, and implements that came into contact with blood or other body fluids.
G. Clean and disinfect any contaminated surfaces, then wash your hands with soap and water.

Contaminated tools, implements, and equipment must be cleaned and disinfected as described above

Storing Items (Subpart 6)

• All clean and disinfected utensils/tools and material when not in use shall be stored in a clean, dry, debris-free environment which includes but not limited to drawers, cases, tool belt, rolling trays.  They must be stored separate from soiled utensils/tools.  Ultraviolet (UV) electric sanitizers are permissible for use as a dry storage container, not as a form of sanitizing.
• Disinfected items must not come into contact with contaminated or non-disinfected items. This includes the items you prepare to use right before a service; they must not come into contact with surfaces that have not been disinfected

Safety and Infection Control Practices

Regarding tools:

You must only use cleaned, disinfected, and properly stored tools and implements on clients.

Your salon must have a supply of disinfected tools, disinfected implements, and single-use supplies available for use by practitioners. The supply must be sufficient, based on service volume, to ensure each client is serviced with properly cleaned and disinfected tools and implements each day

Tools or implements dropped on the floor or otherwise contaminated during a service must be removed from the workstation, cleaned and disinfected, or placed in a covered container labeled "used" until cleaned and disinfected

Regarding products:

• All fluids, semifluids, creams, waxes, and powders must be kept in clean, covered containers with a solid cover and must be dispensed in a manner which prevents contamination of the unused supply.
• You cannot use fingers to remove product from containers. Instead, you must use disposable or disinfected spatulas or applicators. Spatulas, applicators, or scoops must not be stored in the container
• If a product is removed from a container, it must not be put back into the container. Instead, if it is unused, it must be discarded or disposed of.
• The surfaces of containers must be cleaned and disinfected with a disinfectant wipe at the end of the day.
• All products must be legibly labeled, including those not in their original container.
• Pencil cosmetics must be sharpened before each use with a disinfected pencil sharpener. When a pencil-type cosmetic is in a mechanical applicator or is of a diameter too small to be sharpened, the exposed tip of the product must be removed with a disinfected scissors or knife, and the tip of the applicator wiped with alcohol before use on another client.
• You must comply with all manufacturer's directions for product use. When product directions require a patch test, you must (1) offer a patch test, and (2) provide information to the client regarding the risk of potential adverse reactions to the product

Regarding clients, animals, food and beverages:

• You should not perform services on clients with open wounds or sores in the area of the body to be serviced.
• Animals should not be allowed in salons. This prohibition does not apply to service animals as defined by the Connecticut General Statutes, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and related regulations.
• Live fish, leeches, snails, and other living creatures should not be used in any cosmetic service.
• Uncovered food or beverages are not allowed in the presence of uncovered disinfectant solutions, or when disinfectant solutions are made or disposed of, or when disinfectant sprays are used.
• You must not eat or smoke, including electronic cigarettes, while performing any services. You may drink non-alcoholic beverages while providing service, but your beverage must be covered with a lid.

Laundered Items (Subpart 8)

• Each towel, robe, and linen used to cover or protect customers must be used only once and then be:

1. Laundered with detergent and hot water in a washing machine
2. Dried on the hottest setting in a clothes dryer
3. Immediately stored in a clean, covered container

• Plastic or nylon capes and aprons may be washed in a machine and dried on any setting in a dryer or may be disinfected with a spray disinfectant.
• You must store used or soiled towels, linens, and capes in closed containers labeled "used."
• Towels and other laundered items must be properly cleaned and stored.  A commercial linen service shall be used if not done on the premises.

Shears and Razors

Shears and razors are not required to be washed, but must be wiped to remove hair, product residue, and skin debris, and then disinfected with an EPA-registered, hospital-level disinfectant spray or wipe after each use. The surfaces must remain wet with the spray or wipe disinfectant for the contact time listed on the disinfectant label.

Electrical and Electronic Tools (Subpart 11)

Electric clippers, nail drills, flat irons, blow dryers, glass or metal electrodes, high frequency wands, esthetic machines, steamers, diffusers, or other electric or electronic tools must be cleaned and disinfected after each use, including the body, handle, and attached cord.

To clean and disinfect electrical and electronic tools, after each use:

1. Remove all removable parts (plastic guards, nonmetal removable parts, metal guards, clipper blades, drill bits, etc.).
2. Wipe or brush all product residue, hair, skin debris, nail dust, and other visible debris from the surface of the tool.
3. Disinfect the item’s surfaces (including body, handle, and cord) and removable parts with an EPA-registered, hospital-level disinfectant spray or wipe. Clipper blades that are not detachable must have the hair removed using a disinfected brush or a blade wash, and the clipper blade must be disinfected with a hospital-level disinfectant spray. The surfaces must remain wet with the spray or wipe disinfectant for the contact time listed on the disinfectant label. As always, you must follow the manufacturer’s directions.

Disinfected electrical and electronic tools must be stored when not in use. Acceptable storage includes a clean and disinfected surface, stand or hook, or closed container, cupboard, or drawer.

Pedicure basins (foot spas, foot basins and spa liners) must be cleaned and disinfected after each client using this sequence regardless of liners used or not:

• All water shall be drained and all debris shall be removed from spa basin.
• Next the pedicure tub must be cleaned with soap or detergent and water, any removable part must be take off for further cleaning.  (this includes: jet covers and screens).
• The spa basin must be disinfected with an EPA registered disinfectant with bactericidal, fungicidal, and virucidal activity used according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Generally 10 minutes of contact time is required, whirlpool jets with recirculation waters must be filled and turned on to adequately disinfect. Please select this link for a photo.
• The spa basin must be wiped dry with a clean towel or allowed to sufficiently air dry.

Single-use Items
 
The following items are all considered single-use items, may be used one time only, and must be immediately disposed of in a trash can after each service:

• Foam toe separators
• Foam buffer blocks
• Pedicure tub liners
• Pumice bars or stones
• Chamois, paper, or foam flip-flops or slippers
• Nail files, unless made of metal, class, or crystal
• Ceramic nail files, unless completely sealed by a glaze
• Sanding bands or sleeves
• Paper sandpaper drill bits
• Wooden applicators
• Cotton balls, cotton pads, or swabs
• Gauze pads
• Sponges
• Neck strips
• Wax strips
• Other items made with paper, wood, foam, or other porous materials

Requirements for single-use items:

• You must store all new, single-use items in clean covered containers with solid sides and lids containing only new or disinfected items. You may store new items in the original sealed packaging out in the open, such as in a reception area.
• For the purpose of scoring the edges of sharp single-use files, you may use one file repeatedly to file down the edge of a supply of new files, provided that you wear gloves while preparing the new files and that the score file is kept in the dispensary in a disinfected container labeled "score file." Each salon may have only one score file.

Wax and Paraffin Services

During a wax service:

• You must use disposable spatulas, wooden sticks, and applicators only once, then discard the implement without using the other end. No double-dipping! The only exception to this is if you’re using single-service wax and discard the wax immediately after the service.
• You must dispense paraffin wax in a manner that prevents contamination of the unused supply, such as in a bag or other container for the client to use as single-service.

After a wax service:

• Any surface touched by a used wax stick must be cleaned and disinfected immediately after the service.
• Wax pots and paraffin warmers must be kept covered and the exterior cleaned at least daily.
• If the wax or paraffin contains debris or has been contaminated by contact with skin, unclean applicators, or double-dipping, the wax pot or paraffin warmer must be emptied and disinfected and the wax must be discarded.

Fixtures required to be cleaned and disinfected daily, using EPA-registered, hospital-level disinfectant wipes or sprays with the surface wet for the contact time in the manufacturer’s directions:

• Stylist chairs at hair stations
• Chairs at shampoo stations
• Manicure chairs
• Pedicure throne
• Sinks and shampoo bowls, including faucet handles, spray handles, inside of bowls, outside surfaces. Hair must be removed from shampoo bowls immediately after each shampoo service.
• Rolling carts
• Work trays
• Other containers used to hold tools and implements during a hair, skin, waxing, nail, pedicure, or other service
• Towel warmers. Additionally:

1. Towels must be washed with detergent and bleach, then dried using a hot dryer setting;
2. Practitioners preparing towels for the warmers must wash their hands or wear gloves; and
3. Wet towels used in services must be prepared fresh each day. At the end of the day, unused steamed towels must be removed and laundered.

Fixtures required to be protected from skin contact by a clean cloth, paper towel, or sheet AND to be cleaned and disinfected daily, using EPA-registered, hospital-level disinfectant wipes or sprays with the with the surface wet for the contact time in the manufacturer’s directions:

Work surfaces where services are performed

• Shampoo bowls
• Nail tables
• Facial chairs or beds
• Waxing chairs or beds
     

IMPORTANT: If a client’s skin comes into contact with a surface, you must clean and disinfect the surface immediately after the service.

 

Immediately after a service, hair and debris must be removed from the floor.

 

Prohibited equipment:

• Skin cutting equipment, including razor-type callus shavers, credo blades, rasps or graters and other implements that are used to remove corns or calluses by cutting below the skin surface
• Roll-on wax
  • Single-use roll-on wax cartridges are acceptable but must be disposed of immediately after service. Roll-on wax cartridges warming in a wax heater must have an intact seal. The heating unit must be cleaned and disinfected after each use.
• UV sterilizers or light boxes
  • These are not acceptable infection control devices and must not be present in a salon.(On page 2 we say that UV sterilizers are permissible as a dry storage container)
• This does not apply to UV dryers or ultraviolet lamps used to dry or cure nail products.
• Electric or battery-operated files or drills not specifically manufactured for use on humans