22 Feb Personal Hygiene

Personal Hygiene

Good personal hygiene is an important part of workplace health and safety. Proper hygiene helps prevent the spread of germs and illness, reduces exposure to hazardous substances, and helps prevent skin irritation, dermatitis, allergic reactions, and cross-contamination.

Employees should understand the hygiene practices required for their work and take appropriate precautions whenever they may be exposed to chemicals, dust, biological materials, oils, contaminants, or other potentially harmful substances.

Protect Your Skin

One of the best ways to prevent exposure is to keep contaminants from contacting the skin. Wear the personal protective equipment (PPE) required for the task, which may include:

• Protective gloves.
• Coveralls or protective clothing.
• Safety footwear or chemical-resistant boots.
• Aprons, sleeves, or other protective garments.
• Eye and face protection when splashes or contamination are possible.

Inspect PPE before use. Replace gloves, clothing, or other protective equipment that is damaged, excessively contaminated, worn, torn, or otherwise unable to provide adequate protection.

Contaminated PPE should be properly cleaned, decontaminated, or disposed of according to company procedures. Do not take contaminated clothing or equipment into clean areas unless it has been properly decontaminated.

Wash Your Hands

Proper handwashing is one of the simplest and most effective hygiene practices. Employees should wash their hands:

• Before eating, drinking, or handling food.
• After using the restroom.
• After handling chemicals, waste, contaminated materials, or dirty equipment.
• After removing protective gloves.
• After coughing, sneezing, or blowing their nose.
• Before touching the eyes, nose, or mouth when hands may be contaminated.
• At the end of the work shift when exposure to contaminants has occurred.

Avoid eating, drinking, smoking, applying cosmetics, or handling contact lenses in areas where hazardous substances could contaminate the hands or surrounding surfaces.

Proper Handwashing

When soap and water are available:

1. Wet your hands with clean running water.
2. Apply soap.
3. Lather and scrub all surfaces of the hands, including between the fingers and around the fingernails.
4. Scrub for at least 20 seconds.
5. Rinse thoroughly under clean running water.
6. Dry your hands using a clean or disposable towel or an appropriate hand-drying method.

Hand sanitizer can be useful when soap and water are not readily available, but it is not appropriate for every workplace exposure. Sanitizers may not adequately remove certain chemicals, heavy metals, pesticides, dirt, grease, or other hazardous contaminants. Follow the hygiene requirements established for the material and task.

Prevent Cross-Contamination

Contaminants carried on the hands, clothing, footwear, tools, or PPE can be transferred to vehicles, break areas, offices, homes, and family members.

To prevent cross-contamination:

• Keep food and beverages away from contaminated work areas.
• Wash before entering eating or break areas when necessary.
• Store clean clothing separately from contaminated work clothing.
• Do not use compressed air to clean contaminants from your skin or clothing.
• Change contaminated clothing promptly.
• Use designated changing, washing, or shower facilities when required.
• Do not take contaminated PPE or work clothing home when workplace procedures require controlled laundering or disposal.
• Keep personal items such as phones away from contaminated work surfaces whenever practical.

Personal Cleanliness

Depending on the work performed, employees may need to wash exposed areas or shower at the end of the shift. Cuts, abrasions, and other breaks in the skin should be properly cleaned and protected because damaged skin may provide an easier route for contaminants to enter the body.

Good hygiene also includes maintaining clean work clothing and keeping personal protective equipment sanitary and in serviceable condition.

Report Problems

Report persistent skin irritation, rashes, burning, itching, unusual dryness, or other symptoms that may be associated with workplace exposure. Also report inadequate washing facilities, contaminated PPE, or other conditions that interfere with proper workplace hygiene.

Early reporting allows the exposure and work practices to be evaluated before the problem becomes more serious.

Remember

Personal hygiene is more than personal cleanliness—it is an important exposure-control practice. Protect your skin, keep contaminants out of your mouth and eyes, wash thoroughly, and prevent hazardous substances from leaving the work area with you.