Application
This unit of competency covers the skills and knowledge required to ensure that laundry operations comply with infection control policies and procedures.
The unit of competency applies to preparing and processing laundry items in accordance with industry and organisational policies and procedures relating to infection control.
Work may be conducted in small to large scale enterprises and may involve individual and team activities. Work is performed within defined procedures under direct supervision.
No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
Elements and Performance Criteria
Elements describe the essential outcomes. | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. | ||
1 | Determine job requirements | 1.1 | Follow standard operating procedures (SOPs) |
1.2 | Comply with work health and safety (WHS) requirements at all times | ||
1.3 | Use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) in accordance with SOPs | ||
1.4 | Identify job requirements from specifications, drawings, job sheets or work instructions | ||
2 | Prepare to apply infection control policies | 2.1 | Collect and sort linen in accordance with organisational guidelines |
2.2 | Communicate constructively to achieve planned outcomes in relation to infection risks, waste management and hygiene issues | ||
2.3 | Complete required documentation | ||
3 | Clean and disinfect equipment and surfaces | 3.1 | Select and prepare appropriate cleaning products, disinfectants and cleaning equipment |
3.2 | Clean and disinfect equipment and surfaces in accordance with infection control guidelines and scheduled cleaning routines | ||
3.3 | Practise standard precautions and follow organisational infection control policy and procedures | ||
3.4 | Store equipment correctly | ||
3.5 | Maintain personal hygiene | ||
3.6 | Where appropriate, adhere to one way work flows from clean to dirty zones | ||
4 | Identify and respond to infection risks | 4.1 | Identify infection risks, apply standard precautions, and implement appropriate response within own role and responsibility to maintain a clean environment |
4.2 | Place appropriate signs as and where appropriate | ||
4.3 | Maintain awareness of common infection risks and wear PPE in accordance with standard precautions | ||
4.4 | Follow risk control and risk containment procedures for specific risks, when required | ||
4.5 | Remove spillages in accordance with organisational policy and procedure | ||
Evidence of Performance
Evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy the requirements of the elements and performance, and include:
reading and following work instructions, standard operating procedures (SOPs), safe work practices and other reference material
complying with relevant standards
complying with all infection control guidelines relating to specific work roles, safe waste handling and management procedures
applying personal hygiene and environmental practices
applying standard and additional precautions, as required, to identify and respond to infection risks
using technology to work safely and competently
communicating constructively to achieve planned outcomes in relation to infection risks, waste management and hygiene issues
maintaining accurate records.
Evidence of Knowledge
Evidence must be provided that demonstrates knowledge of:
safe work practices and procedures and use of personal protective equipment (PPE)
relevant Australian Standards
organisation’s infection control policy as it relates to specific work role
processes of how infection is spread
infection control guidelines
PPE:
eye and face protection
gloves
impermeable gowns
masks
hair protection or covering
overshoes or safety footwear
aprons
infection risks in a laundry environment, and specifically in own workplace:
sharps
waste
human waste and human tissue
body fluids
personal contact with infectious patients
stagnant water
stock, including food which has passed 'used-by' dates
animals, insects and vermin
incorrect concentration of disinfectants and chemicals
types of waste in laundry environment
responses to infection risks:
incident reporting
cleaning
removal of waste or spillage
following standard and additional precautions
containment or elimination of the risk
using PPE
following specified organisational procedures
seeking advice from or reporting to an appropriate person
personal hygiene practices
precautions against infection risk:
consistently following correct hygiene procedures
selecting and using equipment and disinfectants
following correct hand washing techniques
correctly using PPE
following procedures appropriate to the cleaning area and purpose
minimising disruption to the work environment
minimising infection risks and hazards for self and others
using appropriate chemicals for cleaning and disinfection
waste disposal practices:
lockable bins
special containers
trolley
bags
suitable vehicle
cleaning equipment:
buckets
mops and brushes
mechanical cleaning equipment
organisation's waste management policy and procedures
applicable work health and safety (WHS) policy and practice in relation to infection risks, hygiene, waste
relevant safety data sheets (SDS)
practices for recording and reporting.
Assessment Conditions
Assessors must:
satisfy the assessor competency requirements that are in place at the time of the assessment, as set by the VET regulator
have vocational competency in applying infection control policies and procedures, at least to the level being assessed, with relevant industry knowledge and experience.
Assessment should occur in operational workplace situations. Where this is not possible, or where personal safety or environmental damage are limiting factors, assessment must occur in a sufficiently rigorous simulated environment reflecting realistic operational workplace conditions. This must cover all aspects of workplace performance, including environment, task skills, task management skills, contingency management skills and job role environment skills.
Assessment processes and techniques must be appropriate to the language, literacy and numeracy requirements of the work being performed and the needs of the candidate.
Conditions for assessment must include access to all tools, equipment, materials and documentation required, including relevant workplace procedures, product and manufacturing specifications associated with this unit.
Foundation Skills
This section describes those required skills (language, literacy and numeracy) that are essential to performance.
Foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.
Range Statement
This field allows for different work environments and conditions that may affect performance. Essential operating conditions that may be present (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) are included. | |
Workplace procedures include one or more of the following: | requirements prescribed by legislation, awards, agreements and conditions of employment SOPs work instructions oral, written and visual communication quality practices, including responsibility for maintenance of own work quality and contribution to quality improvement of team or section output housekeeping tasks related to environmental protection, waste disposal, pollution control and recycling WHS practices |
Australian Standards include: | the relevant industry or Australian Standards that are current at the time this unit is being undertaken |
Sort linen includes: | wearing and using appropriate personal protective equipment when handling soiled linen segregating, containing, storing and transporting waste according to organisational policy and procedures. disposing of waste safely according to established organisational and legislative requirements |
Waste includes one or more of the following: | clinical and related wastes cytotoxic waste sharps radioactive waste general waste food wastes human or animal tissue hazardous substances |
Disposal requirements include one or more of the following: | determined by government, including local government requirements determined by organisational policy landfill flushing into sewerage system incineration licensed microwave disinfection |
Infection control guidelines include one or more of the following: | organisation's infection control policy and procedure manual standard and additional precautions codes of practice relevant Australian Standards National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) guidelines local government ordinances safety data sheets (SDS) for chemical use food safety plan |
Personal hygiene includes the following: | using standard and additional infection control procedures, when required maintaining cleanliness of work clothes maintaining personal hygiene covering open-skin areas with an occlusive dressing following hand washing procedures checking appropriate PPE prior to use wearing PPE correctly undertaking immunisation in accordance with organisational policy |
Sectors
Not applicable
Competency Field
Laundry operations