CHS Sanitation & Infection Control 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the purpose of OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogen Standard in salon environments?
- To regulate product pricing
- To protect workers from exposure to infectious materials (Correct answer)
- To license cosmetologists
- To set minimum wage requirements
Correct answer: To protect workers from exposure to infectious materials
OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogen Standard establishes protocols to protect salon workers from occupational exposure to blood and other potentially infectious materials.
Question 2: A cosmetologist accidentally nicks a client's ear. What is the first step?
- Apply a chemical disinfectant directly to the wound
- Put on gloves, stop the bleeding, and follow exposure control procedures (Correct answer)
- Continue the service and monitor the client
- Apply hydrogen peroxide without gloves
Correct answer: Put on gloves, stop the bleeding, and follow exposure control procedures
When an accidental nick occurs, the stylist must don gloves immediately, stop the bleeding, and follow the salon's exposure control plan for bloodborne pathogen incidents.
Question 3: Which concentration of isopropyl alcohol is most effective as a disinfectant?
- 30%
- 50%
- 70% (Correct answer)
- 100%
Correct answer: 70%
A 70% concentration of isopropyl alcohol is most effective because the water content slows evaporation and improves cell membrane penetration of pathogens.
Question 4: What type of infection can be transmitted by improperly cleaned headrests and salon chairs?
- Strep throat
- Impetigo
- Ringworm or pediculosis (Correct answer)
- Conjunctivitis
Correct answer: Ringworm or pediculosis
Ringworm (a fungal infection) and pediculosis (head lice) can be transmitted through contaminated headrests and salon chair surfaces.
Question 5: In the chain of infection, what term describes the person who carries a pathogen without showing symptoms?
- Reservoir host
- Asymptomatic carrier (Correct answer)
- Vector
- Susceptible host
Correct answer: Asymptomatic carrier
An asymptomatic carrier harbors and can transmit pathogens without displaying any signs or symptoms of the disease themselves.
Question 6: Which federal agency registers and approves disinfectants used in salons?
- FDA
- CDC
- EPA (Correct answer)
- OSHA
Correct answer: EPA
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) registers disinfectants and verifies their efficacy claims before they can be sold for use in professional settings.
Question 7: What is the correct procedure for handling a broken glass implement in the salon?
- Pick it up with bare hands and dispose immediately
- Use a broom and dustpan or tongs, never bare hands (Correct answer)
- Cover with a towel and leave for later
- Disinfect the broken pieces and reuse them
Correct answer: Use a broom and dustpan or tongs, never bare hands
Broken glass should always be picked up using a broom, dustpan, or tongs to prevent cuts and potential bloodborne pathogen exposure — never with bare hands.
CHS Sanitation & Infection Control 3
What is the purpose of OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogen Standard in salon environments?