Application
This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to safely prepare for, follow and complete cleaning and sterilisation processes for standard mortuary items and equipment. It applies to funeral home staff who clean and sterilise mortuary items and equipment, working autonomously or under direction according to work health and safety, relevant legislation and workplace policies and procedures.
No licensing, legislative or certification 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. Collect and sort reusable mortuary items and equipment. | 1.1 Identify, prepare and use personal protective equipment. 1.2 Check, segregate and prepare mortuary items and equipment for appropriate cleaning or sterilisation requirements. 1.3 Identify and transport reusable mortuary items and equipment to appropriate areas. 1.4 Identify and report faulty or damaged items and equipment. 1.5 Segregate and dispose of sharps and waste according to relevant legislation. |
2. Prepare load for sterilisation. | 2.1 Select appropriate sterilisation method for mortuary items and equipment. 2.2 Identify appropriate packaging requirements according to manufacturer guidelines. 2.3 Wrap, label and secure instrument trays and items according to manufacturer guidelines. 2.4 Close and secure containers according to manufacturer guidelines. 2.5 Load sterilising equipment according to manufacturer guidelines. |
3. Operate sterilisers. | 3.1 Conduct and document sterilising equipment test cycles. 3.2 Operate and monitor sterilising cycle according to manufacturer guidelines. 3.3 Clean and maintain sterilising equipment. 3.4 Record maintenance program. 3.5 Identify and report equipment faults. |
4. Complete sterilisation procedures. | 4.1 Check monitoring devices and record results on completion of cycle according to manufacturer instructions. 4.2 Remove sterilised items immediately on completion of cycle and check to ensure specified sterilisation criteria have been met. 4.3 Remove and record damaged items or packaging and take corrective action. 4.4 Conduct cooling down procedures according to manufacturer guidelines. |
5. Store sterile stock. | 5.1 Identify storage areas for sterile items and equipment. 5.2 Cover and label sterile items and equipment. 5.3 Check and complete relevant documentation. |
6. Clean and disinfect reusable items and equipment. | 6.1 Select and prepare cleaning equipment according to manufacturer guidelines. 6.2 Conduct water quality and temperature checks. 6.3 Perform equipment test cycles as required according to current Australian standard. 6.4 Select instrument cleaning chemicals as required according to current Australian standard. 6.5 Clean reusable items and equipment. 6.6 Identify and report faulty or damaged appliances and reprocess items as necessary. 6.7 Clean equipment and work area. |
7. Process cleaned items. | 7.1 Transfer items to appropriate area. 7.2 Check items for functionality according to manufacturer specifications and take corrective action. 7.3 Assemble and pack cleaned reusable items and transfer to appropriate areas. 7.4 Complete required documentation. |
Evidence of Performance
Evidence of the ability to:
identify, sort, handle and store reusable mortuary items and equipment safely
load, unload, test, operate and maintain cleaning and sterilising equipment to ensure integrity of process using appropriate cleaning chemicals safely
use work health and safety/occupational health and safety procedures, including standards precautions and the use and maintenance of personal protective equipment
complete relevant cleaning and sterilisation documentation.
Evidence of performance of cleaning and sterilising mortuary items and equipment on two or more occasions is required to demonstrate consistency of performance and ability to respond to different situations.
Evidence of Knowledge
Demonstrated knowledge of:
reusable mortuary items and equipment requiring cleaning, disinfecting or sterilising
sterilising methods, including:
steam under pressure
low temperature ethylene oxide gas
low temperature hydrogen peroxide vapour or plasma
chemical
dry heat
safe operating procedures for sterilisers, including procedures for corrective actions, including repeating cycles, reporting faults and disposing of items
workplace requirements for cleaning, disinfecting, sterilising and disposing of mortuary items and associated recording procedures
types and characteristics of effective cleaning chemicals for manual cleaning of mortuary instruments and equipment
use, care and maintenance of personal protective equipment
workplace documentation reporting requirements including reporting for time, pressure and temperature of each sterilisation cycle, sterilising equipment maintenance, test cycle, cleaning and faults
federal, state or territory, and local government legislation and regulations that impact on cleaning, sterilising and disposing of mortuary items, including work health and safety/occupational health and safety and infection control
environmental impacts in relation to cleaning and sterilising mortuary items and equipment and minimal impact practices to reduce these, especially those that relate to resource, water and energy use
correct and environmentally sound disposal methods for all types of waste and in particular for hazardous substance including chemicals used for sterilisation
Australian standards for testing, operation and maintenance of equipment, and use and storage of chemicals.
Assessment Conditions
Skills must be demonstrated in the workplace or in a simulated environment that is as industry realistic as possible. In a simulated environment, it is essential that assessment is conducted:
using suitable facilities, equipment and resources, including:
a mortuary facility where mortuary items and equipment can be sorted and cleaned, and sharps and hazardous waste can be disposed of appropriately
cleaning and sterilising equipment and chemicals
mortuary items and equipment requiring cleaning and sterilisation
under industry conditions where there is:
integration of tasks with possible interruptions to work typical of the job role
speed and timing requirements that reflect commercial operating conditions
Assessors must satisfy the NVR/AQTF mandatory competency requirements for assessors.
Foundation Skills
This section describes those language, literacy, numeracy and employment skills that are essential to performance.
Foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.
Sectors
Embalming
Competency Field
Mortuary Work and Embalming