(1) You must make sure gloves appropriate to the situation are worn when:

(a) 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;

(b) Handling or touching contaminated items or surfaces;

(2) 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:

(a) Periodically reevaluate your decision not to require gloves;

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

(d) Require that gloves be used for phlebotomy in any of the following circumstances:

(i) When the employee has a cut, scratch, or other break in the skin of his or her hand or wrist;

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

(iii) When the employee is receiving training in phlebotomy.

(3) 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:

(a) Nonlatex gloves;

(b) Glove liners;

(d) Other similar alternatives.

(4) You must replace disposable (single use) gloves such as surgical or examination gloves:

(a) As soon as practical when contaminated;

(b) As soon as practical if they are torn or punctured;

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

(6) 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.

PDFWAC 296-823-15010

Make sure gloves are worn.