"Routine Practices", is an approach to infection prevention and control designed to prevent the transmission of infectious diseases from body substances of clients even those that do not exhibit signs and symptoms of disease such as clients with HIV, hepatitis B, or C. Routine Practices and Additional Precautions for Preventing the Transmission of Infection in Health Care published in1999 by Health Canada is the latest version of the precautions systems that started in the mid 20th century. Routine Practices requires that all care givers (i.e. electrologists) consider that blood and body fluids of all clients as potentially infectious and therefore capable of transmitting disease. Therefore, without exception, Routine Practices are always observed when one's work brings them into contact with blood and body fluids. Following the principles of Routine Practices will protect both the care giver and the client because it does not depend on a diagnosis before initiating protective safeguards.

The concept of Routine Practices is very simple and is easy to follow and involves the following:

1. Performing hand hygiene before and after interaction with a client and before donning gloves. Washing hands with (preferably liquid) soap and water when hands are soiled and using alcohol hand sanitizer when hands are not soiled.
2. Wearing medical gloves (preferably non-latex) when it is anticipated the hands will be in contact with body substances (this occurs during electrolysis).
3. Wearing a procedure mask to protect the mouth and nose (mucous membranes) if there is splashing or spraying of body substances. The electrologist should wear a mask if she or her client has a respiratory infection (i.e. a cold).
4. The necessity for protective eyewear is usually only needed if splashing or spraying of body substances (i.e. influenza virus) is anticipated and is worn to protect the mucous membrane of the eye.

Where do we see these precautions being practiced?

• In a dentist's office where the dentist, the assistant or dental hygienist works on the mouth.
• In a doctor's office during examinations.
• At accident sites where paramedics are working on injured people, and where police are in contact with items covered with body fluids including blood.
• In an electrologist’s office where treated skin and epilated hair is a source of blood and body fluid.

REMEMBER THE AMOUNT OF CONTAMINATED BODY FLUIDS INCLUDING BLOOD DOES NOT HAVE TO BE VISIBLE TO THE HUMAN EYE, TO BE CAPABLE OF TRANSMITTING DISEASE THROUGH EVEN THE SMALLEST OF BREAKS IN THE SKIN (i.e. a hang nail), OR IF IT COMES INTO CONTACT WITH MUCOUS MEMBRANES (i.e. the eye, nose or the mouth).