Code of Colorado Regulations
700 - Department of Regulatory Agencies
731 - Division of Professions and Occupations - Office of Barber and Cosmetology Licensure
4 CCR 731-1 - BARBER AND COSMETOLOGY LICENSURE RULES AND REGULATIONS
Section 4 CCR 731-1.7 - REQUIREMENTS FOR INFECTION CONTROL AND PREVENTION

Universal Citation: 4 CO Code Regs 731-1 ยง 7

Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 17, September 10, 2024

Pursuant to section 12-105-106(1)(c), C.R.S., this Rule clarifies the requirements for infection control and prevention practices that are necessary to protect the public's health, safety, and welfare.

A. DEFINITIONS

1. Cleaning: the removal of all visible/surface debris, from all surfaces by washing with soap (or detergent) and water, detergent, or chemical cleaner that prepares the items for safe handling and/or further decontamination. This process prepares non-porous items for disinfection and reduces the number and slows the growth of pathogens on both porous and non-porous surfaces. Cleaning does not make multi-use items safe for use.

2. Contaminated: state of having actual or potential contact with microorganisms. As used in healthcare, the term generally refers to the presence of microorganisms that could produce disease or infection.

3. Detergent: cleaning agent that makes no antimicrobial claims on the label. They comprise a hydrophilic component and a lipophilic component and can be divided into four types: anionic, cationic, amphoteric, and nonionic detergents.

4. Disinfectant: usually a chemical or physical agent that destroys disease-causing pathogens or other harmful microorganisms but might not kill bacterial spores. It refers to substances applied to inanimate objects. EPA groups disinfectants by product label claims of "limited," "general," or "hospital" disinfection. For purposes of these rules, this refers to an EPA registered bactericidal, viricidal and fungicidal disinfectant that is approved for use in hospital settings, following the instruction label for dilution ratio and contact time.

5. Disinfection: chemical destruction of pathogenic and other types of microorganisms. For purposes of these rules, this includes the process of making a non-porous item safe for use. Disinfection requires the use of a chemical intended to kill or denature a bacteria, virus or fungus. Items to be disinfected must be cleaned prior to disinfection. An Ultraviolet ("UV") light box is not acceptable for disinfection.

6. Inanimate surface: nonliving surface (e.g., floors, walls, furniture). For purposes of these rules, an inanimate surface is also a non-porous item and defined separately.

7. Multi-Use Item: items that are intended to be used on multiple clients after proper cleaning and disinfection has occurred. Such items include a piece of equipment, implement, or material constructed of hard non-porous materials with smooth surfaces such as metal, glass, plastic, or cloth towels and linens capable of being laundered such as towels, capes, etc.

8. Non-porous: material that has no pores and does not allow liquids to be absorbed or pass through. Common non-porous materials include glass, metal and plastic.

9. Porous: material that has minute spaces or holes through which liquid or air may pass (permeable, penetrable, cellular).

10. Sanitation: for purposes of these rules, means the same as cleaning defined in Rule 1.7(A).

11. Sanitizer: agent that reduces the number of bacterial contaminants to safe levels as judged by public health requirements. Commonly used with substances applied to inanimate objects. According to the protocol for the official sanitizer test, a sanitizer is a chemical that kills 99.999% of the specific test bacteria in thirty seconds under the conditions of the test. A sanitizer is used to clean.

12. Single Application Item: a piece of equipment, implement or material constructed of paper, wood, or other porous material that is intended for a single application.

13. Single-Use Item: a piece of equipment, implement, or material constructed of paper, wood, or other porous material intended for only one client service.

14. Standard precautions: a set of infection control practices used to prevent the transmission of communicable diseases, including but not limited to blood borne pathogens such as HIV, hepatitis C, and hepatitis B. Previously referred to as Universal precautions.
a. Standard precautions apply to all body fluids including blood, non-intact skin, mucous membranes, secretions, and excretions regardless of whether or not they contain visible blood.

b. Standard precautions include the utilization of hand washing and appropriate personal protective equipment such as gloves, gowns, and masks whenever touching or exposure to blood and/or body fluids is anticipated.

15. Sterilize: the eradication of all microbial life through the use of heat, steam or chemical sterilant.

16. Sterilization: validated process used to render a product free of all forms of viable microorganisms. In a sterilization process, the presence of microorganisms on any individual item can be expressed in terms of probability. Although this probability can be reduced to a very low number, it can never be reduced to zero. For purposes of these rules, sterilization is not required.

17. Wax: includes hard or soft wax and includes the sugaring wax method.

B.CLEANING AND DISINFECTING REQUIREMENTS

Licensees must clean and disinfect:

1. Equipment, tools, implements, and supplies as described in this Rule. All registrants and licensees must ensure that clean and disinfected implements and materials are available prior to performing any barber, esthetic, cosmetology, hairstyling or manicuring service on each client;

2. Common work areas and equipment at a minimum on a daily basis. All chairs, treatment tables, nail stations, and shampoo bowls (including the front of the bowl and all handles) must be cleaned and disinfected daily according to the manufacturer's instructions;

3. Soiled or contaminated tools, implements, or supplies prior to use on each client, and at the end of each day;

4. All non-porous items (including multi-use items) to be used on multiple clients or on inanimate surfaces prior to use. Equipment used on multiple clients must be cleaned and disinfected between each client by following manufacturer instructions;

5. All non-electrical items according to manufacturer's instructions prior to use. Such items include, but are not limited to, combs, brushes, shears, hair clips, hair rollers, pushers, nippers, plastic/metal spatulas;

6. All electrical items according to manufacturer's instructions prior to use. Such items include, but are not limited to, clippers, nail files, razors, blow dryers, curling and flat irons; and,

7. All pedicure bowls according to manufacturer's label prior to each client use.

C. GENERAL CLEANING AND WASHING REQUIREMENTS

Licensees must clean:

1. Hands with running water and soap and dried with a disposable or unused cloth towel prior to any service to the public. When hand cleaning is not practical or possible, hand sanitizers (at least seventy percent (70%) alcohol) may be used. However, hand cleaning is required following the use of the restroom or when hands are visibly soiled- hand sanitizer is not acceptable. Hand sanitizer must be made available at all nail stations for client use prior to a service. Liquid soap and disposable or separate hand towels must be provided for both licensees and clients;

2. The client's feet or other skin surface with an appropriate cleanser prior to beginning services on the client skin. Cleansing of the skin is not required for waxing services; and,

3. All work surfaces and areas that have come into direct contact with client skin, hair or bodily fluids, including but not limited to floors, tables, chairs, esthetic beds, manicuring tables, mats, and cushions after services are performed.

D. CONTAINERS AND STORAGE

1. Trash containers must have solid sides and a liner must be used. Trash containers must be emptied when full and never allowing the lid to be partially open. If the trash container is stored in a cabinet or closed area, a lid not is required.

2. Used linens must be immediately placed in a closed container exclusively for storage of used or dirty linens. Containers for soiled linens must be covered and have vented sides to reduce the growth of pathogens. Containers used for soiled linens, must be cleaned daily and disinfected weekly with EPA registered disinfectant sprays or wipes, used as directed on manufacturer's label. Clean linens shall be stored in a closed container, cabinet, or drawer that is exclusively used for the storage of clean linens, regardless of the type of linens stored.

3. All bottles and containers must be distinctly and correctly labeled to disclose their contents. All bottles containing poisonous or caustic substances (including cleaners and disinfectants) must be additionally and distinctly marked as such and stored in an area not open to the public.

4. All lancets, razors, and other sharp objects must be disposed of in a puncture resistant container marked with a biohazard symbol. Once the container is full, it must be sent to a collection site for proper disposal.

5. Disinfected items must be stored in a clean, covered container labeled "disinfected", "ready to use", OR "clean". Disinfected electrical items must be stored in a clean place such as a stand, hook, or on a clean towel covered by a clean paper or cloth towel. Electrical items with a cord may not be stored in a "clean" container.

6. Implements or tools that have been used on a customer must be placed in a closed, covered, clearly marked container until properly cleaned and disinfected.
a. The container must be made of solid sides and be able to be disinfected.

b. The container used for temporary storage of used items must be disinfected daily

c. Tools and implements must not be placed in or on clothes, aprons, pockets, bags, or holsters, or worn by the licensee, and must not come into contact with surfaces that have not been disinfected.

7. Immediately following a hair service, all hair on floor, chair, and station must be removed and placed in closed trash container.

E. COMMUNICABLE DISEASE

1. Licensee's must not perform a service on a client who has a communicable disease or a contagious condition involving visible swelling, eruption, redness, bruising, a rash or an open wound or sore in an area where barbering, cosmetology, esthetic, nail, or hairstyling services are to be performed. A licensee may perform services after the client provides written authorization from a licensed physician, physician assistant, or advanced practice nurse.

F. BLOOD EXPOSURE

1. For client injury, a licensee must stop the service, follow blood exposure procedures, and return to service, if and when possible to do so safely.

2. For a licensee injury, that licensee must stop the service, follow blood exposure procedures and return to service, if and when possible to do so safely.

3. When blood and/or body fluid come in direct contact with a surface area including but not limited to a table, chair, or the floor, clean and disinfect according to the manufacturer's instructions to remove all blood and/or body fluid. Standard Precautions must be utilized when cleaning surface areas contaminated with blood and/or body fluids.

G. SINGLE-USE ITEMS

1. Any item that cannot be properly cleaned and disinfected is considered single use and must be disposed of after each single use.

2. Single-use items may not be stored for clients on the premises and clients may not take single-use items home and return with them for a future service.

3. Allowing clients to keep their own implements or single use items and bring them back to appointments is prohibited.

4. Single use items may be given to client for use at home, but may not be brought back for use in salon.

5. All single- use items must be stored in a clean, covered container marked "clean", "new", or "ready for use" or in their original, single-use packaging.

6. Tools contained within a "re-sealed" package shall not be used.

7. Any item marked as a disposable item shall not be used on more than one client.

H. LINENS (Capes, Bedding, Towels, Sheets, Robes, etc.)

1. All linens must be washed prior to each use according to manufacturer fabric-care instructions.

2. Towels, cloths, sheets or robes shall not be reused and must be washed between clients. This includes towels used for application of hair color remover and towels used as a hand or a footrest for clients.

3. Capes shall be washed or disinfected daily or when they become contaminated or soiled or have been exposed to direct skin.

4. All treatment tables must be covered with a new, paper cover or clean linen or cloth cover prior to each service

I. HOT TOWELS AND TOWEL WARMERS

1. Licensees preparing towels for the warmers must first wash their hands or wear gloves.

2. Towels must be washed and dried before wetted again and put into a warmer.

3. Wet towels must be prepared fresh each day. At the end of the day, unused steamed towels must be removed and washed and dried.

4. All towels used in towel warmers shall be washed and dried at end of the day and stored overnight in a clean, covered, closed container (not the towel warmer).

5. Towel warmers must be cleaned and disinfected daily and must be left open overnight to allow unit to dry completely.

6. Licensees must follow manufacturer instructions for the operation and care of the towel warming device.

J. MAKEUP ITEMS

1. All makeup that comes in a cream, cake, powder, liquid or other form, including eyeliner not requiring a sharpener must be transferred to a palette with a disinfected (or single-use) spatula for use with a single customer. Any excess makeup used by the client must be disposed of immediately following the service.

2. Makeup pencils that require a sharpener must be sharpened prior to each use.

3. Pencil sharpeners must be cleaned out and properly disinfected after each use.

4. Disposable applicators must be used in the application of mascara.

5. Liquid foundation must be dispensed with a pump style bottle or removed from container without allowing the mouth of container to be contaminated.

6. When make-up displays are accessible to the public, single-use disposable applicators for all make-up must be readily available with proper signage for use.

K. WAXING SERVICES AND WAX POT

1. Roll on wax may be used only if a newly disinfected roller is used for each client.

2. Wax may be removed for use by one of the following methods:
a. Single-use spatula disposed of after a single dip or wax application.

b. Disinfected plastic spatulas- new spatula for each dip into pot.

c. Removal of wax needed for entire service into single use, disposable cup. ONLY in this circumstance may the same applicator be used for the entire service. Cup (including all remaining wax) and applicators must be disposed of immediately after use. The remaining wax must not be put back into pot.

3. If wax becomes contaminated or has visible debris, the pot must be emptied, cleaned and disinfected. No wax may be reused; only new wax may be used in the pot.

4. Any area of a client's skin to be waxed must be cleaned prior to service if necessary to reduce the risk of infection.

5. Paraffin wax must be portioned out for each client in a bag or other container, or dispensed in a manner that prevents contamination of the unused supply. All portions used on a client must be disposed of immediately following use.

6. Wax pots must remain covered and free from debris.

L. OTHER REQUIREMENTS

1. All places of business and licensees must ensure that Safety Data Sheets (SDS) that pertain to product ingredients, proper use, storage, disposal and potential hazards for products used that could endanger the public are kept on the premises and immediately available upon need or request. Such document may be electronically available so long as it is available and accessible instantly by all business location personnel.

2. Creams, cosmetics, astringents, lotions, removers, waxes, paraffin wax, moisturizers, masks, oils and all other such products that become contaminated must be immediately discarded.

3. Permitted procedures that may be used to avoid cross contamination include, but are not limited to:
a. Placing the amount of product needed to perform a single service into another container and then disposing of any remaining product after service is completed;

b. Using a single-use disposable implement to remove the product from the container and disposing of such implement after application of the product on the client;

c. Using a clean applicator bottle to apply product; or

d. Following manufacturer suggested guidelines for the product used.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Colorado may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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