Section R. 325.70008 - Protective work clothing and equipmentRule 8. An employer shall provide protective work clothing and equipment used in the following:
(a) When there is occupational exposure, an employer shall provide, at no cost to the employee, and assure that an employee uses, appropriate personal protective clothing and equipment, such as any of the following: (iii) Fluid-proof aprons.(v) Head and foot coverings.(vi) Faceshields or mask and eye protection.(viii) Resuscitation bags.(x) Other ventilation devices. Personal protective equipment is appropriate only if it does not permit blood or other potentially infectious material to pass through to or reach the employees work clothes, street clothes, undergarments, skin, eyes, mouth, or other mucous membranes under normal conditions of use and for the duration of time that the protective equipment is used.(b) An employer shall ensure that an employee uses appropriate personal protective equipment unless the employer shows that the employee temporarily and briefly declined to use PPE when, under rare and extraordinary circumstances, it was the employees professional judgment that in the specific instance the use of PPE would have prevented the delivery of health care or public safety services or would have posed an increased hazard to the safety of the worker or coworker. When the employee makes this judgment, the circumstances shall be investigated and documented to determine if changes can be made to prevent future occurrences.(c) An employer shall assure that appropriate protective equipment and clothing in the appropriate sizes are readily accessible at the worksite or issued to employees at no cost to the employees. Hypoallergenic gloves, glove liners, powderless gloves, or other similar alternatives shall be readily accessible to employees who are allergic to the gloves normally provided. See appendix A for more information.(d) An employer shall provide for the cleaning, laundering, or disposing of protective clothing and equipment required by this rule.(e) An employer shall repair or replace required protective clothing and equipment as needed to maintain their effectiveness.(f) An employee shall wear gloves if there is a reasonable anticipation of direct skin contact with blood, other potentially infectious material, mucous membranes, or nonintact skin of patients; when performing vascular access procedures, except as specified in subdivision (g) of this subrule; and when handling items or surfaces that are soiled with blood or other potentially infectious material. Disposable (single-use) gloves, such as surgical or examination gloves, shall be replaced as soon as practical if contaminated or as soon as feasible if torn, punctured, or ineffective as barriers. Disposable gloves shall not be washed or decontaminated for reuse. Utility gloves shall be discarded if any are cracked, peeling, discolored, torn, or punctured or exhibit other signs of deterioration, but may be decontaminated for reuse if the integrity of the glove is maintained.(g) If an employer of a volunteer blood donation center judges that routine gloving for all phlebotomies is not necessary, the employer shall do all of the following: (i) Periodically reevaluate this policy.(ii) Make appropriate gloves available to all employees who wish to use them for phlebotomy.(iii) Not discourage the use of gloves for phlebotomy.(iv) Require that gloves be used for phlebotomy in the following circumstances: (A) When the employee has cuts, scratches, or other breaks in the skin on his or her hands or wrists.(B) When the employee judges that hand contamination with blood may occur, for example, when performing phlebotomy on an uncooperative patient.(C) When the employee is receiving training in phlebotomy.(h) Employees shall wear masks and eye protection or chin-length face shields as appropriate if splashes, sprays, spatters, droplets, or aerosols of blood or other potentially infectious material may be generated and if there is a likelihood for eye, nose, or mouth contamination.(i) Employees shall wear gowns, lab coats, aprons, clinic jackets, or similar outer garments where appropriate if there is a reasonably anticipated exposure. Such clothing shall protect all areas of exposed skin that have a significant likelihood for contamination. The type of characteristics will depend upon the task and degree of exposure anticipated.(j) Employees shall wear surgical caps or hoods and shoe covers or boots where appropriate if there is a reasonable anticipation of gross contamination, for example, in autopsies and orthopedic surgery.Mich. Admin. Code R. 325.70008
1993 AACS; 1996 AACS; 2014 AACS