Dealing With Blood and Body Fluids

Whenever possible, people should clear up their own blood or body fluids. Where this is impracticable other staff dealing with blood/body fluids should follow the procedure outlined below.

Spillages of blood and body fluids which may contain blood

• Disposable gloves should always be worn and disposable aprons should be used where appropriate.

• The spillage should be mopped up using paper towels, other disposable material, or a proprietary spill kit can be used.

• Once soiling has been removed the area should then be disinfected using a freshly prepared dilute hypochlorite solution (e.g. bleach or Milton). This should be one part hypochlorite solution to ten parts water. Alternatively sodium dychloro-cyanurate granules or tablets can be used and reconstituted with water at the time of use.

• Clean the area with general purpose detergent, rinse and dry.

• Disposable gloves must be washed before removal with a fresh hypochlorite solution, then disposed of with any other waste generated by the incident.

• Wash hands thoroughly afterwards.

Spillages of other body fluids

• Household gloves should be worn and a disposable apron where necessary.

• Small spillages or splashes on floors and hard surfaces should be cleaned with general purpose detergent.

• Larger spillages should be mopped up using paper towels, other disposable material or a proprietary spill kit can be used.

• Clean the area with general purpose detergent, rinse and dry.

For all spillages

Ensure cuts and grazes of the person cleaning are covered with a waterproof dressing.

Disposable items unless very small or capable of being flushed away, should be sealed in a plastic bag, and disposed of. Disposable items used in spillages where clinical waste is unavailable can be placed in domestic waste as long as it is within a bin liner that has been tied up. For blood spillages it should be double bagged and placed in an outside bin.

In places where such spillages occur regularly then a spill kit should be available.

When clearing up urine spills care must be taken as the use of hypochlorite solution can result in chlorine gas being produced which is harmful if inhaled. Chlorine fumes are also released when using dichloroisocyanurate granules or tablets. Ventilate the area well in both cases.

In outside areas e.g. playgrounds wash/hose down with a large amount of water.