COVID-19 PPE Donning and Doffing Procedure

Introduction

This procedure is adapted from Public Health England guidance to cover the type of PPE needed when providing personal care which require staff to be in direct contact with a client.

Donning (putting on) PPE

1. Prepare PPE, tie hair back, remove hand and wrist jewellery and clean hands and forearms using soap and water or alcohol hand rub/gel.
2. Put on apron – pass neck strap over the head and tie at the waist.
3. Put on mask – position upper straps on the crown of head, lower strap at nape of neck or loop elastic straps behind ears, mould metal strap (if present) over bridge of nose, adjust straps as necessary to ensure good fit.
4. Put on goggles or face shield (if needed due to risk of splashing) – place over face and eyes and adjust to fit.
5. Put on gloves – select correct size of disposable gloves and pull on.

Doffing (taking off) PPE

1. Remove gloves – grasp outside of one glove with opposite gloved hand and peel off towards fingers so it turns inside out, hold removed glove in other gloved hand, slide fingers under the second glove at the wrist and peel off so it turns inside out over the first glove and pull off towards fingers. Discard in appropriate waste bag.
2. Clean hands and forearms using soap and water of alcohol hand rub / gel.
3. Remove apron – snap or unfasten ties at back of neck and allow top of apron to fall forward, then snap or unfasten ties at waist and fold apron forward in on itself. Discard in appropriate waste bag without touching contaminated surface.
4. Remove googles or face shield – grasp tips of arms or ear pieces and move forward off face without touching front surface. Place in designated re-use receptacle or discard in appropriate waste bag.
5. Clean hands and forearms using soap and water or alcohol hand rub / gel.
6. Take off mask – using both hands, grasp ties or elastic straps, lean forward and remove mask taking care to only touch the straps and not the mask surface. Discard in appropriate waste bag.
7. Clean hands and forearms using soap and water or alcohol hand rub / gel.

Note:  Face masks are for sessional use and should be removed before staff take a break. Mask should NOT be reused once removed. Follow PHE best practice guidance and PPE manufacturer’s instructions at all times.

Date: January 2024

Version: 3 (Review)

Source: ECM