Application
This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to maintain infection control during skin penetration treatments and to review clinic compliance with the applicable state or territory and local council requirements.
It requires the ability to identify, manage and control infection risks to clients, self and work colleagues.
This unit applies to beauty therapists who work in beauty therapy salons, clinics or in cosmetic medical clinics. These therapists work autonomously and make independent treatment decisions.
No occupational licensing, certification or specific legislative requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
Elements and Performance Criteria
ELEMENTS | PERFORMANCE CRITERIA |
Elements describe the essential outcomes. | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. |
1. Comply with infection control regulations and guidelines and related legal obligations. | 1.1 Identify federal, state or territory, and local standards, regulations and guidelines that apply to beauty treatments and skin penetration procedures. 1.2 Review organisational infection control policy and procedures for compliance. 1.3 Identify infection control risks for skin penetration treatments. 1.4 Monitor workplace for potential infection control risks. |
2. Monitor hygiene of premises. | 2.1 Observe workplace to ensure surfaces and equipment are cleaned and disinfected. 2.2 Clean and disinfect non-penetrating instruments and articles. 2.3 Monitor removal and disposal of contaminated material. 2.4 Monitor handling and disposal of sharps and the cleaning of blood or body fluid spills. 2.5 Check dilution rates, use and storage of cleaning products. 2.6 Monitor storage of cleaning and treatment equipment. 2.7 Provide clean linen or single use, disposable coverings for each treatment. 2.8 Place soiled linen and protective clothing in a suitable receptacle. 2.9 Clean and disinfect work area after treatment. |
3. Maintain infection control for skin penetration treatments. | 3.1 Maintain personal protection using standard and additional precautions for client contact as required. 3.2 Provide single use, disposable and clean instruments where possible for each treatment. 3.3 Ensure instruments, equipment or other items intended to penetrate the skin or be used on mucous membranes are sterile at time of use. 3.4 Follow skin preparation procedures to minimise risk of transmission. 3.5 Immediately dispose of single-use items and waste in appropriate containers. 3.6 Separate, remove, clean and sterilise potentially contaminated items according to organisation infection control policy and procedure. |
4. Sterilise equipment and maintain steriliser. | 4.1 Ensure work flows from dirty zone to clean zone. 4.2 Clean and dry items to be sterilised. 4.3 Load steriliser and set steriliser cycle according to manufacturer instructions and Australian standard. 4.4 Unload packages, inspect for sterilising, validate and record details according to manufacturer instructions and Australian standards. 4.5 Store sterile items correctly to prevent contamination. 4.6 Monitor the sterilising process. 4.7 Inspect and clean steriliser and steriliser trays according to manufacturer guidelines and Australian standard. |
5. Maintain awareness of clinic design for control of infection risks. | 5.1 Identify aspects of the design of premises, surfaces, fixtures and fittings that minimise risk of transmission of infection. 5.2 Arrange cleaning area to ensure the separation of dirty and clean items and work flow is from dirty to clean to sterile. 5.3 Clean cleaning and sterilising area according to organisational policy and procedures. |
Evidence of Performance
Evidence of the ability to complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit in the context of the job role, and:
integrate the maintenance of infection control with skin penetration technical skills that individually or in combination demonstrate:
identification of potential cross contamination risks, protecting self and client from infection risks
choosing and using appropriate cleaning, disinfection and sterilising procedures for instruments, equipment and equipment attachments and work surfacescorrect steriliser operation procedures:
packaging of items
loading
monitoring
validation
calibration
documentation requirements
disposing of waste and sharps
provide a written review of workplace compliance with relevant state or territory and local council laws, regulations and requirements relating to beauty treatments and skin penetration.
Evidence of Knowledge
Demonstrated knowledge required to complete the tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit:
Australian standards AS/NZS4815 and 4187 relating to infection control in office based health care facilities
relevant state or territory legislation and guidelines relating to infection control procedures for skin penetration treatments
local council requirements for beauty salons offering skin penetration treatments
organisational policy and procedures relating to infection control
legal responsibilities in relation to infection control, sterilising, registration or business licensing, conduct of occupation, and maintenance of premises relevant to role
standard and additional precautions as defined by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)
industry codes of practice
aetiology of infection
sources of infection and means of transmission
risk management in relation to infection control
procedures and practices that support infection control measures and prevent infection transmission
cleaning, disinfection and sterilising procedures
procedures for responding to spills
needle stick or sharps injury procedures for notification and response
impact of premises layout and workflow on infection control risks
manufacturer instructions in relation to cleaning, disinfecting and sterilising equipment and products
risk management process for identifying treatment infection control risks
workplace infection control risks.
Assessment Conditions
Skills must be demonstrated in a beauty industry environment; this can be:
a beauty industry workplace or
a simulated beauty workplace set up for the purpose of skills assessment, that provides services to paying members of the public.
Assessment must ensure access to:
antiseptic wipes and alcohol based preparations
cleaning and disinfection products
hand washing facilities:
basin
hot and cold running water
liquid soap
single use towels or hand dryer
personal protective equipment:
gloves:
treatment
cleaning
protective clothing
eye protection
footwear
face masks
workplace documentation:
Australian standards
equipment manufacturer instructions
infection control regulations and guidelines
organisation infection control policy and procedures
safety data sheets for cleaning products
sharps and sharps disposal unit
single use, disposable equipment
sterile storage area
steriliser
storage area for materials, equipment and attachments
treatment area, cleaning area and clients
waste receptacles that comply with Australian Standards.
Assessment activities that allow the individual to:
demonstrate infection control during the provision of treatments that involve skin penetration
provide pre and post treatment infection control activities for these treatments
review a salon’s infection control performance.
Assessors must satisfy the Standards for Registered Training Organisation’s requirements for assessors and:
hold a qualification as a beauty therapist
have worked as a beauty therapist for at least three years where they have applied the skills and knowledge of this unit of competency.
Foundation Skills
Foundation skills essential to performance in this unit but not explicit in the performance criteria are listed here, along with a brief context statement. | |
Reading skills to: | locate and interpret health standards, regulations and guidelines interpret manufacturer instructions for cleaning product choice, dilution and storage. |
Writing skills to: | document steriliser use. |
Numeracy skills to: | calculate steriliser loads, timing and calibration calculate concentrations of solutions. |
Planning and organising skills to: | coordinate cleaning, disinfecting and sterilising tasks. |
Teamwork skills to: | work collaboratively with colleagues to control infection risk. |
Sectors
Beauty
Competency Field
Infection Control