What policy should be followed for turnout gear contaminated with blood or bodily fluids?

The policy that should be followed for turnout gear contaminated with blood or bodily fluids is the Department's Infection Control Policy. This policy is specifically designed to address situations involving exposure to potentially infectious materials, which includes blood and bodily fluids. Turnout gear, if contaminated, poses a risk not only to the individual who wore it but also to others who may come into contact with the gear afterward.

The Infection Control Policy outlines the necessary steps for safely handling, decontaminating, and disposing of contaminated equipment, ensuring that health risks are minimized. This is crucial in a firefighting environment where responders often come into contact with hazardous materials.

Other policies, while important, do not specifically address the intricacies of handling contaminated gear. The Fire Safety Policy might focus more broadly on safety measures while on duty, the Hygiene Policy could refer to general cleanliness and personal hygiene practices, and the Waste Management Policy would pertain to the disposal of waste rather than the containment and decontamination of potentially hazardous materials. Therefore, the Infection Control Policy is the most appropriate and effective framework for dealing with the contamination of turnout gear in these situations.