The document provides guidelines for properly cleaning up blood spills, including using appropriate personal protective equipment like gloves, masks, and aprons. It recommends using an EPA-registered hospital disinfectant, HIV-effective disinfectant, or 1:10 bleach solution to disinfect surfaces after removing any visible blood or soil with disposable towels. All clean-up materials should be sealed in a biohazard waste bag and disposed of properly according to local regulations. Special cleaning may be required for blood spilled on carpets or upholstery.

1. Blood Spill Clea n-
up
Judy Robertson

2. Proper Cleaning Procedures
ALWAYS wear gloves and other PPE (as
needed):
– Mask and/or Face shield
– Disposable apron or other body covering
– Shoe covers

3. Surface Disinfectants
There are three kinds of disinfectants
that should be used to clean up spills of
blood:
– EPA registered “hospital disinfectant”chemical
germicides (tuberculocidal claim)
– EPA registered as effective against HIV
– A fresh solution of 1:10 household bleach.

4. Cleaning Procedures steps
 Use only disposable towels, gloves, and materials
to clean up blood because of the difficulties
laundering and disinfecting reusable items.
 If a spill involved broken glassware, NEVER pick
up the glass directly with your hands. Always use
mechanical means such as tongs or brush and a
dustpan.

5.  Isolate the area. Do not allow unauthorized
persons to enter until the spill has been cleaned up.
 All surfaces to be cleaned must first be cleaned of
all visible soil and blood before a disinfectant is
applied.
 Carefully remove visible blood with disposable
towels by putting them over the spill to absorb it
(soak with disinfectant to for a while if needed).

6.  Ifthe blood spill has dried, soak the area, or
scrub the area with disposable towels and
disinfectant as needed.
 Place the towels in a plastic waste disposal
bag that is either:
– Red, or
– Marked with the biohazard symbol.

7.  Aftercleaning up visible blood and soil, the
area should be decontaminated a second
time with an appropriate disinfectant used
according to the manufacturer’s directions.
 The area can have a final rinse after
disinfection, if needed.

8.  All clean up materials, including PPE, should be
placed in the disposal bag and double-bagged.
 Remove gloves inside out and also place them
in the disposal bag.
 For disposal, contact your supervisor.

9.  Blood on carpet or upholstery needs
special attention.
 It is possible to clean carpet or upholstery
when small spills of blood occur, but a
professional cleaning service may be
needed.
 Contact your supervisor for details and
assistance.

10. The end