California Cosmetology Written ExamNail CareHard
During a pedicure, a technician accidentally nicks a client's skin with a callus tool and it begins to bleed. According to California infection control regulations, what must the technician do first?
- AContinue the service and apply a bandage at the end
- BRinse the tool in the foot spa water before continuing
- CApply the client's own polish over the area to seal the wound
- DImmediately stop the service, apply gloves if not already worn, and stop the bleeding with a clean disposable material
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: D. Immediately stop the service, apply gloves if not already worn, and stop the bleeding with a clean disposable material
California blood exposure protocol requires immediately stopping the service, wearing gloves, and controlling the bleeding with a single-use absorbent material; all exposed implements must then be cleaned and disinfected (or the single-use item disposed of) before service can resume.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Continuing service risks bloodborne pathogen exposure and violates infection control rules.
- B. Rinsing a bloody tool in shared foot spa water contaminates the water for other future services and does not disinfect it.
- C. Nail polish is not a wound treatment and does not address infection control requirements.
Blood Exposure Procedure
California regulations require licensees to immediately stop service upon blood exposure, wear gloves, control bleeding with a single-use item, and properly dispose of contaminated materials and disinfect tools before resuming.
- Single-use items touched by blood must be discarded in a covered, lined trash container
- Non-disposable tools must be cleaned and disinfected with an EPA-registered disinfectant
- Service can only resume after the area is bandaged and contamination addressed
Memory trick: Stop, glove, stop the flow — that's the way to go