Haircuts and shaves are grooming techniques that include cutting hair with scissors, razors and/or hair clippers.
What is the risk?
- Bloodborne infections can occur if the skin is accidentally nipped by scissors, hair clippers, combs, brushes or the crochet hooks used to lighten hair. The break in the skin poses the risk.
- Any blood-contaminated hair instrument, no matter how small the contamination, could transmit bloodborne infections
How can it be done safely?
Equipment must be adequately cleaned, disinfected and sterilized:
- Equipment that comes in contact with the client but does not penetrate intact skin-for instance, head rests and combs-or that doesn't normally touch the client, such as chairs, must be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected after each client
- Instruments that accidentally break the skin during a haircut or shave must be cleaned thoroughly and disinfected at a high level. It's highly recommended that these items be autoclaved to achieve sterilization after contacting blood
- All items must be disinfected with a Canadian Standards Association-approved disinfectant following the manufacturer's cleaning instructions
Note: Barbicide is only a low-level disinfectant. It will kill only some bacteria, viruses and fungi. But it is not appropriate for disinfecting blood-contaminated equipment. Barbicide must be changed daily to be effective even as a low-level disinfectant.
Information based on Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care Personal Services
Settings Protocols, January 1998
