Head Covering

[davidds91]

I have worked in or with Central Service since 1999, and in the entire time I have worked there, it has been a hard and fast policy that anyone entering any of the areas of Central Service such as Decon, Prep, OR/Case Cart, and Sterile Storage was required to put on some type of head covering. Now, after all this time, our hopsital is no longer requiring this. I feel this is a step backwards in cleanliness for Central Service and I can't understand why. I have comminicated my concernes to management but management is not very clear as to the reason for the change except to say it is not specifically worded that way in our regulations so it will no longer be required. My question for the group is, what are some other hospitals policies on the requirements to wear head covering in Central Service? :confused:

[David Freeman]

One could make a reasoned argument against the need for head covering in many areas of Central Supply including administration areas, break rooms, store rooms and supply distribution. The main purpose for head covering in decontam is to protect the workers from splash. Everyone has probably had the experience of finding a stray hair in a plate of food presented in a restaurant or at home. But the disgust factor and risk magnifies to find a hair in an instrument tray on the surgical field. So, since it is imperative to wear head coverings in some areas of CS, and it becomes problematic to keep putting covers on and taking them off in the course of a busy day, it makes sense to me to require the wearing of head coverings everywhere.

[cpdguy]

I would first go to your VA Manula 7176. Their is a lot of information in the various sections that support that staff should wear the proper attire in the various work areas,like prep and pack,decotamation,... I find it hard to believe that this has changed. Also AAMI ST 79 supports that proper work attire should be worm by staff at all times. Look at section 4.5,also 3.3.7.2 and 3.3.7.

I hope all of this helps.

Good Luck

[wperez]

I can't imagine that your infection Control Practitioner would support this change. At my facility we are required to wear a head covering and it remains on when we leave the department.

[sunshine]

I agree with the other's David. I think the Infection Control suggestion is a great idea. Heck, we don't even let hair hang from the bonnets in our processing areas. Keep posted on this if you can.

Happy Holidays All

[CSS TECH]

I can't imagine that your infection Control Practitioner would support this change. At my facility we are required to wear a head covering and it remains on when we leave the department.
Head covers have to be worn in the 3 functional areas of SPD, but to keep head covers on when people leave the department looks a bit silly to me. What about shoe covers? They have to be worn outside SPD also?:confused:

[wperez]

It is not about looking silly! It is well documented by AORN that frequent removing of head coverings allows for hair to fall on your surgical scrubs. We do not wear shoe covers in SPD except in decontam. They are removed as all well as your PPE.

[CSS TECH]

It is not about looking silly! It is well documented by AORN that frequent removing of head coverings allows for hair to fall on your surgical scrubs. We do not wear shoe covers in SPD except in decontam. They are removed as all well as your PPE.
"Frequent" is a relative term! Are you talking about 10 times? 100 times?:D I thought you would not reply. You changed your mind?

[Harvey Johnson]

It only takes one time futzing (technical term) with the bonnet for hair to fall out!
We require hair covering at all times within all the environs of SPD.
Shoe coverings are worn at all times if tech wears outside shoes into the dept, if wearing dedicated shoes only in SPD, covers are required in decontam and when leaving the department on rounds, breaks etc.
Sometimes common sense trumps "lack of specifially worded regulations".....but then again we are talking about our infallable VA system.....;)
Happy Holidays to All!!

[CSS TECH]

It only takes one time futzing (technical term) with the bonnet for hair to fall out!
We require hair covering at all times within all the environs of SPD.
Shoe coverings are worn at all times if tech wears outside shoes into the dept, if wearing dedicated shoes only in SPD, covers are required in decontam and when leaving the department on rounds, breaks etc.
Sometimes common sense trumps "lack of specifially worded regulations".....but then again we are talking about our infallable VA system.....;)
Happy Holidays to All!!
Spd Soup, your post is suggesting that the bonnet is used to contain falling hair. Is it the only purpose of wearing a hat? If yes, why then will it be necessary for completely bald people to still wear hats in SPD?

[Harvey Johnson]

Continuity!
Seriously, you are asking a folically impared individual that question.....I think head covers should be worn irregardless, otherwise you are placed in a position of "splitting hairs" over who is bald and who has sufficient stubble for a cover! (not to mention the always popular fallout of flaking skin cells)

[CSS TECH]

Continuity!
Seriously, you are asking a folically impared individual that question.....I think head covers should be worn irregardless, otherwise you are placed in a position of "splitting hairs" over who is bald and who has sufficient stubble for a cover! (not to mention the always popular fallout of flaking skin cells)
:) You are so funny Spd! I agree with you completely. Hats are to be worn even if somebody is bald completely. Flaking skin cells! But I am wondering if flaking skin cells can only come from the head! What about the face, the arms and all ther areas of the body not covered?

[Harvey Johnson]

I agree CSS, AAMI states only head and facial hair (ST 79 4.5.1) should be completely covered.
I guess we will have to do as best we can keeping potential contamination to a minimum.
Unless we treat our department's like the microchip manufacturers and enclose everyone head to toe with respirators, no policy or procedure is 100% effective.
AAMI covers the subject hygene and aquiring and transmitting disease in the health and personal hygene section.
We have a tech whose arm and chest hair is denser than his head hair, we do encourage him to wear a cover gown in the clean areas or threaten to wrap him in coban!:o

[wperez]

Even bald people shed skin cells.

[CSS TECH]

Even bald people shed skin cells.

"You are so funny Spd! I agree with you completely. Hats are to be worn even if somebody is bald completely. Flaking skin cells! But I am wondering if flaking skin cells can only come from the head! What about the face, the arms and all the areas of the body not covered?"

Every living creature , in a sense, sheds skin cells! We all know that, and that was not the concern. The concern was the face, the arms and other areas of the body not covered! Understand?

Spd, I like the idea of wrapping the technician in Coban!

[davidds91]

Stephen,
VA Directive 7176 is not clear on this issue. It only states that while in the case cart, Decon, and Prep areas personnel are to wear head covering. As far as "sterile storage" goes, it does not clearly state that head covering is required. However, of the three VA hospitals I have worked at, we have always been required to wear them - until now. I still believe head covering should be worn in all areas of SPD with the exception of the administration areas.