California Cosmetology Written ExamSafety and Infection ControlMedium
A pedicure technician wipes her metal cuticle nippers with a disinfectant-soaked cotton pad between clients instead of soaking them. According to California Title 16 requirements, what is wrong with this practice?
- AMulti-use implements must be fully immersed in an EPA-registered disinfectant for the required contact time
- BWiping is acceptable only if performed twice in a row
- CWiping uses too much disinfectant solution and wastes product
- DDisinfectant should only be applied to the client's skin, not the implement
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. Multi-use implements must be fully immersed in an EPA-registered disinfectant for the required contact time
California regulations require nonporous, non-electrical multi-use implements to be completely immersed in an EPA-registered hospital disinfectant for the full manufacturer-specified contact time. Merely wiping the surface does not achieve adequate disinfection because it fails to reach all surfaces of the tool.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. Repeating a wipe does not equal proper immersion disinfection.
- C. Product waste is not the regulatory issue here.
- D. This confuses disinfecting implements with client skin antisepsis.
Wet Sanitation (Immersion Disinfection)
California law requires that multi-use, nonporous implements be completely immersed in an EPA-registered disinfectant solution for the full contact time listed on the label.
- Full immersion is mandatory, not spraying/wiping
- Contact time must match EPA label
- Applies to non-electrical multi-use tools like shears, nippers, combs
Memory trick: Dunk it, don't just dab it