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Elements and Performance Criteria

1. Conduct preparatory procedures for cleansing and disinfecting deceased persons.
   • Prepare and use personal protective equipment.
   • Identify and prepare mortuary area and appropriate instruments and equipment.
2. Remove wrapping on deceased persons.
   • Disinfect body wrappings using appropriate droplet disinfectant according to infection control practices.
   • Open outer body wrappings and ensure containment of body fluids.
   • Cover mouth and nose with cloth soaked in an appropriate disinfectant.
   • Disinfect inner wrappings or clothing using a droplet disinfectant as required and according to infection control practices.
   • Remove inner wrapping and ensure containment of body fluids.
   • Place a durable modesty cover on genital area as required.
   • Place wrappings in an appropriate biowaste container and ensure containment of body fluids.
   • Recheck identity of deceased person against documentation, clothing, labelling and wrist tags.
   • Package or dispose of clothing separately according to given instructions.
3. Cleanse oral and nasal cavities.
   • Remove cloth covering mouth and nose, and dispose of using appropriate biowaste container.
   • Aspirate oral and nasal cavities if purge is present.
   • Relieve rigor mortis from lower jaw as required.
   • Open mouth to enable access and place cotton soaked in disinfectant deep inside using long forceps.
4. Cleanse and inspect body.
   • Spray all areas of body with appropriate disinfectant and allow to remain on body surface for five minutes.
   • Conduct external head and face inspection.
   • Wash, rinse and dry all body surfaces using appropriate washing materials.
   • Access rectal and vaginal orifices and place disinfectant cotton deep inside using large forceps, if required.
   • Shampoo hair using germicidal soaps, shampoos and conditioners.
   • Shave facial hair, trim beards and moustaches, if required.
   • Conduct final inspection of body and note anything unusual for further attention.
   • Note and document all jewellery and remove if required.
5. Relieve rigor mortis in body.
   • Manipulate, move and rotate arms, hands, fingers, legs, ankles and toes carefully to relieve rigor mortis.
   • Identify and avoid weakened tissue areas which may become damaged through relieving rigor mortis.
6. Clean instruments, equipment and mortuary areas.
   • Clean, disinfect or sterilise instruments and equipment.
   • Dispose of waste materials.
   • Store instruments and equipment and report faults.
   • Clean and disinfect mortuary.
   • Remove personal protective equipment and process.
7. Conduct preparatory procedures for cleansing and disinfecting deceased persons.
   • Prepare and use personal protective equipment.
   • Identify and prepare mortuary area and appropriate instruments and equipment.
8. Remove wrapping on deceased persons.
   • Disinfect body wrappings using appropriate droplet disinfectant according to infection control practices.
   • Open outer body wrappings and ensure containment of body fluids.
   • Cover mouth and nose with cloth soaked in an appropriate disinfectant.
   • Disinfect inner wrappings or clothing using a droplet disinfectant as required and according to infection control practices.
   • Remove inner wrapping and ensure containment of body fluids.
   • Place a durable modesty cover on genital area as required.
   • Place wrappings in an appropriate biowaste container and ensure containment of body fluids.
   • Recheck identity of deceased person against documentation, clothing, labelling and wrist tags.
   • Package or dispose of clothing separately according to given instructions.
9. Cleanse oral and nasal cavities.
   • Remove cloth covering mouth and nose, and dispose of using appropriate biowaste container.
   • Aspirate oral and nasal cavities if purge is present.
   • Relieve rigor mortis from lower jaw as required.
   • Open mouth to enable access and place cotton soaked in disinfectant deep inside using long forceps.
10. Cleanse and inspect body.
    • Spray all areas of body with appropriate disinfectant and allow to remain on body surface for five minutes.
    • Conduct external head and face inspection.
    • Wash, rinse and dry all body surfaces using appropriate washing materials.
    • Access rectal and vaginal orifices and place disinfectant cotton deep inside using large forceps, if required.
    • Shampoo hair using germicidal soaps, shampoos and conditioners.
    • Shave facial hair, trim beards and moustaches, if required.
    • Conduct final inspection of body and note anything unusual for further attention.
    • Note and document all jewellery and remove if required.
11. Relieve rigor mortis in body.
    • Manipulate, move and rotate arms, hands, fingers, legs, ankles and toes carefully to relieve rigor mortis.
    • Identify and avoid weakened tissue areas which may become damaged through relieving rigor mortis.
12. Clean instruments, equipment and mortuary areas.
    • Clean, disinfect or sterilise instruments and equipment.
    • Dispose of waste materials.
    • Store instruments and equipment and report faults.
    • Clean and disinfect mortuary.
    • Remove personal protective equipment and process.

Performance Evidence

Evidence of the ability to:

remove the wrapping and clothing from the deceased person, cleanse and disinfect the body and relieve rigor mortis

prepare mortuary area and select and use the required instruments and equipment

clean, disinfect and sterilise the mortuary area, instruments and equipment at conclusion of the treatment.

Evidence of performance of cleansing and disinfecting deceased persons on two or more occasions is required to demonstrate consistency of performance and ability to respond to different situations.

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Knowledge Evidence

Demonstrated knowledge of:

mortuary instruments and equipment used for cleansing and disinfecting bodies and associated uses

preparation requirements for the mortuary area

body cleansing and disinfecting techniques

properties and uses of germicidal sprays and disinfectants

workplace policies and procedures for cleansing and disinfecting deceased bodies and, sterilisation procedures for mortuary instruments and equipment

correct and environmentally sound disposal methods for all types of waste and in particular for hazardous substances

structure and functions of the system of the body, including the musculo-skeletal in relation to cleansing and disinfecting deceased bodies

effect of rigor mortis and techniques use to relieve it in the body

funeral services industry parameters and protocols for dealing with the deceased, including social cultural and religious requirements considerations

federal, state or territory, and local government legislation and regulations relating to work health and safety/occupational health and safety, infection control and handling human remains.

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