2016-06-30-AMGH Employee Handbook

Personal Protective Equipment – PPE
Routine Practices include recommendations to use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
whenever a healthcare worker might be exposed to potentially contaminated fluids, surfaces, or
items in the health care environment.
Routine Practices
Routine Practices include the concept that healthcare workers should use a mask and eye
protection during procedures and care activities that might generate splashes or sprays of blood,
body fluids, secretions and excretions. This PPE should also be worn when within two meters of a
coughing/sneezing patient. Another example of an appropriate use of mask and eye protection is
that of a staff member wearing a gown, mask, eye protection, and gloves when cleaning equipment
that is contaminated and may cause splashes or spraying of fluids. The physical scrubbing of
contaminated equipment can generate splashes of potentially infectious agents so the employee
needs to protect their mucous membranes from the potential spray of contaminated fluid.
Routine Practices state that a staff member should also wear a gown when it is anticipated that a
procedure or care activity is likely to generate splashes or sprays of blood, body fluids, secretions
and excretions. In addition to the regular isolation gowns there are also fluid resistant gowns that
can be found in the yellow isolation carts, they can also be ordered from Stores if they are not
found in the clean utility room. Gloves should be worn whenever there is a risk that hands may
come into contact with blood, body fluids, secretions, excretions, mucous membranes, non-intact
skin, or contaminated surfaces or objects. Hands must be cleaned before and after donning the
gloves.
PPE can be found in the clean utility rooms and in the yellow isolation carts.
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