PMU Sanitation & Safety 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is considered the minimum standard for performing a PMU procedure?
- Face shield only
- Gloves only
- Gloves, mask, and eye protection (Correct answer)
- Gloves and lab coat
Correct answer: Gloves, mask, and eye protection
Gloves protect against blood contact, a mask guards against aerosols and spatter, and eye protection shields mucous membranes from splatter.
Question 2: A wound classification system rates surgical wounds by contamination level. For PMU, the procedure site is typically classified as:
- Class IV – dirty/infected
- Class I – clean (Correct answer)
- Class II – clean-contaminated
- Class III – contaminated
Correct answer: Class I – clean
PMU performed on intact, uninfected skin with sterile equipment on a healthy client is generally considered a Class I (clean) wound.
Question 3: How should a PMU artist handle a pigment bottle that has been brought near the client's face during a procedure?
- Return it directly to the main supply shelf
- Discard the entire bottle
- Set it aside as potentially contaminated and do not return it to clean stock (Correct answer)
- Wipe the cap with an alcohol swab and reuse
Correct answer: Set it aside as potentially contaminated and do not return it to clean stock
Any product taken into the treatment area is considered potentially contaminated and should not be returned to clean storage to prevent cross-contamination.
Question 4: What is the purpose of an exposure control plan (ECP) in a PMU studio?
- To track pigment inventory and expiration dates
- To document procedures that minimize employee exposure to bloodborne pathogens (Correct answer)
- To outline marketing strategies for the studio
- To describe the sterilization equipment maintenance schedule only
Correct answer: To document procedures that minimize employee exposure to bloodborne pathogens
An ECP is an OSHA-required written document identifying tasks with exposure risk and detailing methods to protect employees from bloodborne pathogens.
Question 5: Which hepatitis virus is most commonly transmitted via needlestick injuries in a cosmetic tattooing setting?
- Hepatitis A
- Hepatitis B (Correct answer)
- Hepatitis C
- Hepatitis D
Correct answer: Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is far more infectious than HCV via needlestick and survives on surfaces for up to 7 days, making it the primary needlestick concern.
Question 6: When double-gloving during a PMU procedure is recommended?
- Always, as standard practice
- When a client has disclosed a known bloodborne pathogen infection (Correct answer)
- Only during eyeliner procedures
- It is never recommended as it reduces tactile sensitivity
Correct answer: When a client has disclosed a known bloodborne pathogen infection
Double-gloving provides an extra barrier layer when working with clients known to carry bloodborne pathogens such as HIV or hepatitis.
Question 7: What should a PMU artist do immediately after an accidental needlestick injury?
- Apply a topical antibiotic and continue the procedure
- Wash thoroughly with soap and water, remove gloves, and report the incident following the studio's ECP (Correct answer)
- Apply pressure and cover with a bandage without washing
- Soak the finger in hydrogen peroxide for 5 minutes
Correct answer: Wash thoroughly with soap and water, remove gloves, and report the incident following the studio's ECP
Immediate washing with soap and water reduces infection risk; the incident must then be documented and managed per the exposure control plan.
PMU Sanitation & Safety 3
Which Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is considered the minimum standard for performing a PMU procedure?