What Is the Correct Doffing PPE Order?

Did you know that taking off your protective equipment the wrong way can put you at risk? Many healthcare workers make small mistakes that lead to big consequences. Learning the correct doffing PPE order helps prevent contamination and keeps you and your patients safe. In this post, we’ll guide you step-by-step to make sure you stay protected every time you follow the doffing PPE order.

Types of PPE and Their Functions

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) has many types. Each type protects different body parts from different dangers. When I select PPE, I consider the work area and the risks there, ensuring the doffing PPE order is appropriate for the equipment used.

Common PPE Components and Their Uses

• Gloves: I use gloves to create a barrier. They protect against blood, body fluids, strong chemicals, and things that cause infection. I find them vital for healthcare workers and people in industrial jobs.
• Gowns/Coveralls: These protect my body and clothes from spills, splashes, chemicals, and germs. I see them used a lot in labs and at worksites.
• Masks and Respirators: In healthcare, I use surgical masks and N95 respirators. They stop airborne germs. For industry, I choose respirators and gas masks to block dust, fumes, and harmful particles. I always ensure a good fit and test them regularly. This is key for them to work well.
• Face Shields: These give me full face protection from splashes and sprays. I often use them when there’s a high chance of fluid exposure, for example, during certain medical procedures.
• Goggles/Safety Glasses: These keep my eyes safe from bits of material, chemical splashes, and infectious drops. I know labs, construction sites, and factories require them.
• Helmets/Hard Hats: These protect my head from hits, falling items, and electrical dangers. They are a standard item, in my experience, for construction and some factory jobs.
• Earplugs/Earmuffs: I use these to prevent hearing damage in noisy places. Think of factories or construction sites where loud machinery operates.
• Protective Footwear: Safety boots and shoes protect my feet. They shield from crush injuries, chemical contact, and sharp things. Many have strong toes and soles that don’t slip.

PPE Selection by Work Setting

• Healthcare: In healthcare, I use gloves, gowns (like surgical gown or isolation gown), masks (like surgical or N95), goggles, and face shields. These items help me control infections. They also protect staff when they care for patients.
• Industrial: For industrial work, I select items like hard hats, safety boots, and chemical-resistant gloves. I also choose full-face respirators, earplugs, and coveralls. My choice depends on the specific mechanical or chemical dangers I face in that setting.
• Laboratory: In a lab, I use lab coats, chemical-resistant gloves, and goggles. I also use face shields and closed-toe shoes. These help me avoid contact with hazardous materials.

Important Considerations for PPE Effectiveness

• The protection I get depends on the equipment I choose. For eye and face gear, I recommend following guidelines like ANSI Z87.1.
• I make sure my PPE is the right size and fits well. Respirators, for instance, need fit-testing and regular checks. This is very important to me.
• Training on the doffing PPE order is key to ensure staff remove PPE correctly to avoid contamination.
  
• I inspect PPE regularly, replace it when needed, and ensure the doffing PPE order is followed to maintain safety.

From my perspective, every piece of PPE is crucial. It shields people from chemical, biological, physical, or airborne threats. This creates layers of protection. These layers are essential for safety at work and meeting regulations.

What Is the Correct Doffing PPE Order?

I want to stress that following the correct doffing PPE order is critical. It helps with stopping infections and keeping you safe. I recommend you follow the CDC guidelines. Using the correct order for the doffing PPE order to avoid spreading germs to yourself or nearby areas.

Correct Doffing PPE Order:

1. Remove Gown and Gloves Together
   • Using your gloved hands, pull the gown away from your body. Keep pulling until the ties break.
   • When you take off the gown, peel off your gloves at the same time. This way, just the inside parts of the gloves and gown are showing.
   • Make sure you touch just the inside of the gloves and gown here.
   • Roll the gown so it’s inside-out. Roll it away from you. This helps lessen contact with any dirty surfaces.
2. Perform Hand Hygiene
   • If your hands get dirty or after you take off the gloves and gown, I suggest you clean your hands well.
   • You can use soap and water. Or, you can use a hand sanitizer that has alcohol in it.
3. Remove Goggles or Face Shield
   • To take off goggles or a face shield, lift them from the back. Use the headband or earpieces.
   • I advise you not to touch the front part. It is probably dirty with germs.
   • When you take them off, touch just the clean parts of the eyewear.
4. Remove Mask or Respirator
   • Touch just the straps, ties, or elastic bands. These are at the back of your head.
   • Lift the bottom strap first, then the top.
   • I must tell you, never touch the front of your mask or respirator when you take it off.
5. Perform Final Hand Hygiene
   • Wash hands or use hand sanitizer immediately after completing the doffing PPE order.

Important Safety Tips for Doffing PPE

• I believe you should think of all PPE as contaminated if you used it while caring for a patient.
• Clean your hands between steps. Do this if you think your hands might have become dirty.
• I suggest you put each used item in the right waste bin. This helps stop germs from spreading to the surroundings.
• Adjust the doffing PPE order based on specific PPE or tasks, as some situations may require additional precautions.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Doffing PPE

Removing PPE correctly is vital to stop germ spread, but mistakes can be dangerous. Here are common errors and tips to ensure the doffing PPE order is followed correctly:

Frequent Errors During PPE Doffing

• Touching dirty areas, like the front of gowns, masks, or gloves. This often happens if PPE is taken off without care or in the wrong sequence.
• Rushing through the doffing PPE order, skipping safety steps.
• Taking off many PPE items at the same time. I suggest handling them one by one. This lowers the chance of spreading germs.
• Taking off gloves first. Then, using bare hands to remove other dirty PPE items.
• Tossing PPE straight into trash cans. This can spread germs into the air or onto surfaces.
• Accidentally touching dirty outer surfaces. For example, grabbing the outside of gowns or masks when removing them.
• Not cleaning hands after removing each PPE item. I believe this is a big reason germs spread.

Data and Figures on Doffing Errors

What Happens If You Remove PPE Incorrectly?

• You increase your risk of getting germs on yourself. This can lead to work-related infections like MRSA, VRE, or Ebola.
• You might spread germs to other patients. Germs can also get on surfaces and medical tools.
• Workers might carry or get infections. If PPE isn’t removed correctly, it could cause outbreaks in the facility. I think this highlights how serious it is.

My Tips to Prevent Mistakes and Lower Germ Risk

• Move slowly. Handle one PPE item at a time when removing it.
• Follow the suggested order for taking off PPE. Always clean your hands between steps. I recommend this strongly.
• Touch the outside of PPE as little as possible. Don’t take off many items at once.
• Take part in training and practice sessions. This helps you learn the right way and make it a habit.
• If you can, ask a trained person to watch you. They can guide you and fix mistakes as they happen.

Key Areas That Often Get Germs (Based on My Observations)

• Hands and fingers (these are the most common spots)
• Arms and wrists
• Face, mainly the chin and cheeks. These areas often get germs when you adjust masks or respirators.

Common mistakes in the doffing PPE order can cause contamination up to 79% of the time. These mistakes include touching dirty PPE, rushing, not washing hands, or removing items in the wrong order. I believe this greatly raises the infection risk for both healthcare workers and patients. Taking your time and making hand cleaning a top priority are key for your safety.

Training and Resources for Doffing PPE Correctly

I believe good training on the doffing PPE order reduces germ spread. It helps reduce the chance of spreading germs. I know several groups offer good programs and ways to get certified:

• The Training Source:  Offers a detailed PPE course covering the doffing PPE order.
  
• NIOSH: I find their science-based safety culture course useful. It covers what you need to know about PPE.
• Biopharma Institute: Their “OSHA: Personal Protective Equipment for Healthcare Workers” course is one I’d look into. It includes practice for taking off PPE.
• Safety Unlimited: From my perspective, their “PPE Program and Selection” course is practical. It gives 1 Contact Hour CEU, which the California Department of Public Health accepts.
• SURGhub: They offer a free online PPE course. I suggest allowing 2–3 hours for it. It’s great for hospital workers and covers putting on, taking off, and reusing PPE.

What Good PPE Doffing Training Looks Like？

In my experience, good courses usually include a mix of these things:

• Step-by-step learning about dangers and the doffing PPE order.
• I think practicing with real equipment is key. It helps you remember the steps without thinking.
• There should be tests and practice situations. These help check and strengthen your skills.
• Goals include mastering the doffing PPE order, PPE care, and identifying replacement needs.

My Tips for Good Hands-On Training

• I recommend mixing general advice with rules for your specific workplace.
• Hold regular update sessions to keep the doffing PPE order current.
• I believe focusing on both knowing the information and doing the actions is crucial. This helps build safe habits that stick.