State the general principles for environmental cleaning
The
general principle for environmental cleaning focuses on the eradication of
germs and pathogens thorough cleaning, exposing to the light, dry, ventilated
environment. The waste product, body fluids, and spillages should be
responsibly eliminated from the environment. Dry, dust and liquid substances
must be clean using the COSHH assessment manual. While cleaning and dusting PPE
must be worn and should be disposed into the yellow bin (AGREE Collaboration,
2003).
Explain the purpose of cleaning schedules
The
purpose of the cleaning schedule is to eliminate the risk of infection and
fatal disease. Furthermore, to provide the service user with a safe and secure
system to increase their health life (Ritchie, Sanderson, Kilbane, &
Routledge, 2003).
Describe how the correct management of the environment minimizes the spread of infection
The
correct management reduces the risk of hazard and infections in the workplace
and fulfills the purpose of service user contact. As they receive the service
to improve the quality of health, to fulfill their purpose best the correct
management is mandatory. The clean environment, equipment, dry, ventilated
place and removal of body, fluids and infection from the environment increase
the quality of health (Ritchie, Sanderson, Kilbane, & Routledge, 2003).
Explain the reason for the national policy for colour coding of cleaning equipment
The
national colour coding of cleaning equipment is imperative to categorise and
identification of the staff member. The colour coding helps to identify at what
place, which staff member is showing what kind of carelessness so that the
management steps can be taken. The white colour gloves and apron indicate the
personal hygiene is considering while performing the particular task. The blue
apron and gloves represent that the food-oriented hygienic policies are being
followed. The national colour for maintain the cleaning the types of equipment
the blue colour apron and gloves for general cleaning, red for toilets, and
green for food and drink serving (AGREE on Collaboration, 2003).
Describe the three steps of the decontamination process
The
three steps in the documentation process are
• Set up the support areas and
decontamination
• Conduct decontamination triage
• Decontaminate the victims
Describe how and when cleaning agents are used
The
cleaning agents must be used in moist, wet and dark places to kill the
pathogens. The hair nails and skin should be cleaned and dry so that pathogens
may not enter the body or not transmit room person to person. The waste
products, body fluids, and waste PPE must be eliminated to kill the germs.
While giving the assistant to the infectious people, the clean clothing and
bandage must be changes. The staff member should wash their clothes after
touching the patients and hands must be washed with cleaning agents, soap,
liquid and antiseptic gels (Sanderson, Kennedy, Ritchie, and Goodwin, 2002).
Describe how and when disinfecting agents are used
The
disinfected agents usually include chemical detergents, antiseptic and
antibacterial and are used in the case of low risk, e.g., cleaning floor and
surface area following the rules of COSHH. The disinfected agents must be used
in multiple setting and situation to eliminate the pathogens.
Explain the role of personal protective equipment PPE during the decontamination process
The
personal protective equipment (PPE) protects the worker and other people
against the pathogens, germs, body fluids and infection. The types of PPE are
mask, apron, and gloves, and all these PEE must be disposed of or washed after
each activity (Ritchie, Sanderson, Kilbane, & Routledge, 2003).
Explain the concept of risk in dealing with specific types of contamination
The
concepts of risk in dealing with specific types of contamination are to deal
with the process of cleaning, sterilise and disinfected before carrying out the
management. It requires that each item, equipment must be clean and sterilised.
The high risk occurs when the equipment that used to heal the individual is
contaminated. The medium risk may attack with urinals, commodes, and bedpans.
The low risk is associated with a contaminated floor, surface, and mobility
aids (Sanderson, Kennedy, Ritchie, and Goodwin, 2002).
Explain how the level of risk determines the type of agent that may be used to decontaminate
The
level of risk determines the types of an agent that needs to be decontaminated
depends on the severity level of the contamination such as high risk
(equipment) low risk (bedpans) and low risks (surface and floors). The
high-risk needs the antiseptic agents to be used for decontaminating the items,
while soap and liquid detergents may be sufficient for cleaning the low risk or
floor and surfaces.
Describe how equipment should be cleaned and stored
The
equipment should be clean, sterilised and disinfected using several antisepses
agents. They need to be pack and store in a dry place and secure from sharp
instruments that may be torn the packing. The regular assessment should carry
to reduce the risk of infection or break (Ritchie, Sanderson, Kilbane, &
Routledge, 2003).
Identify the different categories of waste and the associated risks
There
are different types of waste associated with risk such as
• Pathological waste (fetus, body parts,
blood)
• Pharmaceutical waste (boxes, bottles)
• Infectious waste (Urine, feces)
• Chemical waste (laboratory agents)
• Genotoxic waste (drugs and substances)
• Sharps (needle, scalpels, infusion sets,
blades)
• Radioactive waste
Explain how to dispose of the different types of waste safely and without risk to others
The
different types of waste may be disposed of using the segregation process,
which is also known as colour coding.
• The used apron and gloves should be
scrunch, pack in a plastic bag and through into yellow bin.
• The used needles, blades and other sharps
must be disposed into the yellow bin.
• All the waste boxes, bottles, and drugs
must be disposed into the white bin.
• Effluent and heavy bottles should be
disposed into a red bin.
• Nonhazardous wastage should be disposed
into black bags.
Explain how waste should be stored before collection
The
waste should be restored in black bags before the collection so that the risk
of infection may reduce. The waste should be packaged and disposed of following
the policies and rules of The Controlled Waste Regulation Act (Ritchie,
Sanderson, Kilbane, & Routledge, 2003).
Identify the legal responsibilities concerning waste management
The
following legal acts impose some responsibilities concerning waste management.
• Environmental Protection Act (EPA) 1990
• The Controlled Waste Regulation 2012
State how to reduce the risk of sharps injury
The
risk of acute injury may reduce by avoiding leaving the sharps instrument
around, re-creating the used needle, breaking the needles before discarding,
and placing the used needle in the bin after immediate use (Sanderson, Kennedy,
Ritchie, and Goodwin, 2002).