Final answer:
If your gloves are contaminated, you should remove the gloves and wash your hands thoroughly following CDC guidelines to avoid transferring pathogens to clean surfaces and ensure safety.
Step-by-step explanation:
If your gloves are contaminated and you need to touch a clean surface, the correct action is to remove gloves and wash hands.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and general safety protocols, it's imperative to prevent cross-contamination. Wearing contaminated gloves can transfer harmful pathogens to other surfaces and increase the risk of disease transmission.
After removing the gloves, proper handwashing should be performed.
This includes wetting your hands with clean, running water, lathering your hands with soap, scrubbing for at least 20 seconds making sure to clean the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails, rinsing thoroughly under running water, and drying with a clean towel or air dryer.
It is essential to follow these steps every time you are planning to go from working with contaminated material to working with clean areas or items to maintain hygiene and safety.
This practice helps avoid pathogens and is critical while working in laboratory or clinical settings, where there is a high risk of contamination.