CORONAVIRUS: HAND HYGIENE AND PPE
30/01/2020
WHAT HAS THIS GOT TO DO WITH PPE?
-
Hand hygiene
-
Proper donning (putting on) and doffing (removing) of PPE
HAND HYGIENE
DONNING AND DOFFING OF PPE
DONNING BASICS
-
Put on PPE before contact with a patient or a harmful substance.
-
You should put on PPE in the following order:
-
Coverall or gown
-
Footwear
-
RPE
-
Goggles or face shield
-
Gloves
-
-
Keep hands away from the face.
-
Limit the number of surfaces touched.
-
Change PPE immediately if torn, damaged or heavily contaminated.
DOFFING BASICS
-
Carefully remove PPE in the following order:
-
Wash/disinfect footwear
-
Hood of coverall
-
Gloves
-
Coverall or gown
-
Footwear
-
Wash/decontaminate hands
-
Goggle or face shield
-
RPE
-
-
The location for removing PPE will depend on the type of PPE worn and the workplace. For instance, if you work in a healthcare environment where full PPE is worn, you may need to remove it in an anteroom.
-
The goal of removing PPE is to prevent contamination of yourself or the environment. Because of this, the following areas of PPE are considered contaminated whether there's visible soil or not:
-
The outside front and sleeves of a coverall or gown.
-
The outside front of RPE and goggle or face shields.
-
The outside of gloves.
-
-
You should discard all PPE in the receptacles provided.
-
Perform hand hygiene straight away.
STAY SAFE WHATEVER THE HAZARD
Hand hygiene and PPE are just two techniques which can be used in the management of infectious environments or harmful substances. You should always consult proper authorities before exposing yourself to viruses or hazardous material as they will provide appropriate guidance tailored to the conditions and activities you might engage in.
HOW CAN SWIFT360 HELP?
We supply disposable coveralls, RPE, safety eyewear, footwear and gloves. So if you're heading into a potentially hazardous work environment, get in touch to discuss your PPE requirements in further detail (sales@swift360.co.uk or 01420 592 500).
You can also check out our PPE offering online or download our catalogue.
USEFUL LINKS AND ARTICLES
Swift360 - Eye Protection Guide
Swift360 - Ultimate PPE Guide
Project HOPE - Coronavirus Outbreak, What You Need To Know
Infection Control Today - "Proper Donning and Doffing Techniques Crucial Amid Wuhan Coronavirus Outbreak", January 29th 2020
Infection Control Today - "Donning and Removing PPE for Infection Prevention", July 23rd 2009.
Aol - "Does hand sanitiser protect you from Coronavirus?", January 29th 2020