Safety & Sanitation Standards Flashcards

Which EPA-registered disinfectant level is required for electrology probes and forceps that contact mucous membranes?

Answer: High-level disinfection

Items contacting mucous membranes are semi-critical and require high-level disinfection at minimum.

What is the correct procedure when a practitioner sustains a needlestick injury during a treatment?

Answer: Immediately wash with soap and water, report the incident, and seek medical evaluation

OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens Standard requires immediate washing, incident reporting, and medical follow-up after a needlestick.

In electrology, single-use sterile probes are preferred over reusable probes primarily because they:

Answer: Eliminate the risk of cross-contamination between clients

Single-use probes are discarded after each client, eliminating any risk of inadequate sterilization and cross-contamination.

Which government agency publishes the Bloodborne Pathogens Standard (29 CFR 1910.1030) that electrologists must follow?

Answer: OSHA

OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) enforces the Bloodborne Pathogens Standard in the workplace.

How long must an autoclave sterilization cycle typically reach to achieve sterilization of wrapped instruments at 121°C (250°F)?

Answer: 15–30 minutes

Gravity displacement autoclaves at 121°C require a minimum of 15–30 minutes depending on load and wrapping.

A client arrives with an active cold sore (HSV-1) on their upper lip. The electrologist should:

Answer: Postpone treatment of the affected area until the lesion has fully healed

Treating over an active herpes lesion risks spreading the virus and causing additional lesions; treatment must be deferred until healing is complete.

Which type of waste container is legally required for disposing of used electrology needles and probes?

Answer: Puncture-resistant sharps container

OSHA requires sharps to be discarded immediately after use in a puncture-resistant, leak-proof, labeled sharps container.