workbook - careerforce · 2018-07-01 · issue 1.1 – jan 2013 27670 clean an operating theatre 2...

US 27670

Level 3 Credits 5 Name

Workbook Clean an operating theatre

Issue 1.1 – Jan 2013 27670 Clean an operating theatre 2

Clean an Operating Theatre

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Workbook Graphics

Write

Discuss (Talk to another trainee)

Read

Follow the instructions

? Need More Help

In this workbook, you will notice some extra colour-coded information. Vocabulary is in pink tables that look like this: Vocabulary Word Meaning Example

Procedure A list of steps you must do. What is the procedure for putting out a warning sign?

Assessor A person who decides if you have passed a test or unit standard.

An Assessor will watch you clean and ask you questions to find out if you know the information.

Procedures are in green boxes that look like this:

Procedure for Cleaning an Operating Theatre 1. Prepare to clean an operating theatre. 2. Clean an operating theatre. 3. Complete job-related tasks. ? Need More Help

Read the next two (2) pages to learn how to get the most from vocabulary tables and procedures.


Vocabulary In this workbook, you will learn some new cleaning industry words (vocabulary). New words are in pink tables. At the beginning of each reading, there is a list of vocabulary or words that you need to know to do your job as a cleaner. The words are always in a pink table.

The Vocabulary Table has three (3) parts 1. Headings

The headings go across the top of the table.

A cleaner puts a cordond th h h i

Things with a cord or line b t th t t

Cordon

A cleaner puts up a warning sign before mopping the floor.

A sign that tells people to be careful of something dangerous.

Warning Sign

ExampleMeaningWord

2. A list of words (vocabulary) The list of words goes down the left

hand side of the table.

A cleaner puts a cordonaround the area where he is working, before vacuuming the floor.

Things with a cord or line between that separate an area from people.

Cordon



Warning Sign

ExampleMeaningWord

3. Information about each word The information about each word

goes across the table. Read the Meaning of the word Read it carefully. You may need to read it more than one time.

Then read an Example sentence that uses the word to talk about cleaning.

A cleaner puts a cordonaround the area where he is

Things with a cord or line between that separate an

Cordon



Warning Sign

ExampleMeaningWord



Cordon



Warning Sign

ExampleMeaningWord



Cordon



Warning Sign

ExampleMeaningWord

A cleaner puts a cordonaround the area where he is working, before vacuuming the floor.

Things with a cord or line between that separate an area from people.

Cordon



Warning Sign

ExampleMeaningWord


A Procedure A Procedure Cleaners need to read about many different procedures. In this workbook all procedures are in a green box □. You need to read a procedure carefully and thoroughly. In this workbook you will need to learn many different procedures to pass the unit standard. Sometimes the assessor will watch you do a procedure. Sometimes the assessor will ask you to say a procedure. Here is an example of a procedure.

4. Remove the warning sign, when the floor is dry.3. Clean up the spill.

2. Put up a warning sign.1. Warn the public, that there is a spill

To stop people from slipping and falling, the cleaner should:

A procedure has two (2) parts. 1. A title The title gives the name of the

procedure.

4. Remove the warning sign, when the floor is dry.

3. Clean up the spill.

2. Put up a warning sign.

1. Warn the public, that there is a spill


2. Some steps This procedure has four (4) steps. Each step has a number.

4. Remove the warning sign, when the floor is dry.

3. Clean up the spill.

2. Put up a warning sign.

1. Warn the public, that there is a spill


Some procedures don’t have numbers, they have bullets instead. Some examples of bullets are:

•, –, , , .

• Remove the warning sign, when the floor is dry.

• Clean up the spill.• Put up a warning sign.

• Warn the public, that there is a spillTo stop people from slipping and falling, the cleaner should:


Contents Page Introduction to Clean an Operating Theatre ...................................... 7 Part One: Prepare to Clean an Operating Theatre ............................ 8

Procedure for cleaning an operating theatre ................................................ 9 Prepare to clean an operating theatre ........................................................... 9 Take care of your hands ................................................................................... 12

Part Two: Cleaning an Operating Theatre ........................................ 18

Clean an operating theatre ............................................................................. 19 Information about hazardous waste signs and symbols .............................. 22

Part Three: Complete Job-related Tasks........................................... 29 Complete job-related tasks .............................................................................. 29


Clean an Operating Theatre

In this workbook you will learn:

• How to prepare to clean an operating theatre. • How to clean an operating theatre. • How to complete job-related tasks.

Introduction

Some hospital cleaners may also be required to clean an operating theatre as part of their duties. This workbook explains the procedure for cleaning an operating theatre (end of day cleaning). Health and safety is essential in hospitals. Cleaners who work in hospitals must follow the rules for infection prevention and must use standard precautions as a minimum level of protection.

What is infection prevention? Infection prevention is stopping the spread of infection by using some very effective approaches. These include hand hygiene/hand washing, using hygienic cleaning practices, disinfecting surfaces and sterilising medical equipment. What are standard precautions? Standard precautions are precautions that all staff members have to use with all patients and in all areas. Standard precautions list the minimum requirements that staff must follow. Standard precautions list the minimum requirements for:

• Hand hygiene (hand washing). • Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). • Handling contaminated waste. • Handling hazardous waste and sharps. • Reporting accidents and incidents and breakdowns in

standard precautions.


Part One: Prepare to Clean an Operating Theatre

In Part One, you will learn: • A procedure for cleaning an operating theatre. • How to prepare to clean an operating theatre. Here is a list of vocabulary (words) for Part One. Vocabulary Word Meaning Example

An operation Opening a part of a person’s body to remove or repair a damaged part.

She had an operation on her heart.

An operating theatre

A room in a hospital used for operations.

Hospital cleaners may have to clean operating theatres.

Infection An illness that is caused by bacteria or a virus and that affects one part of the body.

It is important that you do not spread infection.

Infectious Having an illness or disease that can easily be spread to others.

Blood can be infectious.

Prevention Putting steps in place to stop something bad from happening.

Health and safety information teaches you about the prevention of accidents.

Germs Very small living things such as bacteria or viruses that can cause infection or disease.

Washing your hands correctly helps to kill 99.9% of the germs on your hands.

Contaminated In hospitals, if something is contaminated it has been in contact with body fluids such as blood.

Contaminated food or contaminated water can make you very sick.

Hazardous Involving risk or danger, especially to somebody's health or safety.

Hazardous waste is rubbish that may be unsafe.

Disposable Made to be thrown away after one use.

Throw away your disposable gloves after cleaning an operating theatre.

Personal Hygiene

The things you do to keep yourself clean and free from germs.

Showering every day is an example of a personal hygiene routine.

Plug hole A hole in a bath, hand basin or sink where the water flows away.

Clean the plug hole with a special plug hole brush.

Laundering Clothes or equipment is sent off for washing (in a hospital laundry).

When you finish a shift, put your used theatre clothes into a linen bag for laundering.


The words in black (bold) are in the vocabulary table at the beginning of this section.

Cleaning an Operating Theatre Each time you clean you should follow the same procedure. A procedure is a list of steps that you follow to do something. It is important to work through the procedure step by step. Do step 1 first, then, do Step 2 and so on. The procedure for cleaning an operating theatre has three (3) steps.

Procedure for Cleaning an Operating Theatre 1. Prepare to clean an operating theatre. 2. Clean an operating theatre. 3. Complete job-related tasks. 1. Prepare to Clean an Operating Theatre

This is the first (1st) step in the procedure for cleaning an operating theatre. Let’s look at this step in more detail. It has six (6) steps.

1. Prepare to Clean an Operating Theatre

a. Follow infection control policies, procedures and standard precautions set by the hospital at all times during cleaning.

b. Select equipment individually or from single station equipment and is hygienic and in working condition.

c. Put out a warning sign, cordon or barrier.

d. Wear suitable Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) at all times during cleaning.

e. Select approved cleaning and disinfecting agent/s. f. Prepare cleaning solution in accordance with manufacturer’s

recommendations.

The procedure for Cleaning an Operating Theatre is in green


a. Follow infection control policies, procedures and standard

precautions set by the hospital at all times during cleaning.

What is Infection Prevention?

Infection prevention is stopping germs and infection from spreading (being carried) from patient to patient, patient to staff, staff to patient or between staff.

An Example of Infection Prevention: Hand washing is one of the most important ways of infection prevention. If you wash your hands correctly, you will destroy 99.9% of germs that you have picked up.

What are Standard Precautions? Standard precautions are a set of procedures or steps that a cleaner must follow when cleaning in a hospital or in an operating theatre. Standard precautions help to keep everyone safe and help to prevent spreading germs and infection.

When cleaning an operating theatre you need to follow these standard precautions:

1. Wash your hands regularly with soap or hand rub. Follow the hand hygiene rules used at your workplace.

2. Wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). 3. Handle contaminated waste safely. 4. Handle hazardous waste and sharps safely. 5. Report any accidents or breakdowns in infection prevention. For more information on Standard Precautions, please refer to the Workbook for Infection Prevention and Control – Unit Standards 7183 and 7184.


a. (Continued)

You must also take these extra precautions when working in an operating theatre:

• Change into theatre clothes before you enter operating theatre “clean areas”. The clean area may be marked by a red line that you cross.

• Wear disposable Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). • Don’t touch your mouth or eyes while you are cleaning. • Maintain personal hygiene.

You must wash your hands when moving from one

operating theatre to another operating theatre. Change Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) between theatres or before cleaning in other areas. This stops you from spreading germs or infection from one area to another.


Take Care of Your Hands • Keep your hands thoroughly clean. • Cut your fingernails short, no nail polish, no acrylic nails. • If you have a cut or sore on your hands, cover it with a waterproof

dressing (not a band aid or bandage). Then put on some gloves for extra protection.

• Change the waterproof dressing if it becomes dirty or damaged. • Make sure you wash your hands before and after you change the

dressing.


Handrub Handrub is an alcohol-based cleanser or gel used to clean your hands. This can be used when your hands are not visibly dirty or soap and water are not available. Follow the instructions for “Hand Hygiene Technique with Alcohol-based Formulation” below. Handrub for about 20 – 30 seconds.


b. Equipment is selected individually or from single station equipment and is hygienic and in working condition. Some hospitals use a single station equipment system. This means that all the cleaning equipment stays in one area. The cleaning equipment must not be used in any other area. Each operating theatre may have its own cleaning equipment. Single station equipment is stored separately from other equipment to stop cross contamination (germs being spread from one area to another). You will need the following equipment:

• A bucket. • A mop/ flat mop. • A plug hole brush. • Cloths (these may be colour-coded). Some hospitals use a

colour-coded cloth system for cleaning different areas. Each area has different coloured cleaning cloths. The colour of cloth tells you what you must use it for. It also tells you what you must not use it for.

• Wet vacuum cleaner.

Safety check for buckets

a. Check that the bucket has no leaks.

b. Check that the handle is in good condition.

c. Check that the rollers are in good condition. The rollers should turn easily.

d. Check that the foot pedal works.

Handle

Rollers

Foot Pedal

Check for dusters and cloths The dusters and cloths (cotton or microfibre) must be clean and have no holes or rips.


Vocabulary about parts of a Mop Handle Strands

Mop heads

Handle connection to mop head

Safety check for mops, brooms and dustrols a. Check that the handle connection to the mop head is clean and

not worn out. If the connection is in good condition, the mop head will screw on tight. If the connection is in poor condition, the mop head will be loose and could easily fall off.

b. Check that the handle is smooth. If the handle is damaged or

rough, it could hurt your hands. c. Check that there are enough mop strands to be able to clean

well.

c. Put out a warning sign, cordon or barrier Put out the warning signs, making sure that the signs are placed where public can see and will not cause a hazard.

The cleaner has the warning sign out to warn people to be careful.

d. Wear suitable Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) at all times during cleaning.

• Wear a disposable hat. • Wear disposable overshoes or shoes that you only wear in the

operating theatre. • Wear disposable gloves. Change them when required. You

will need to change them when you move between operating theatres. Throw them away in the general waste bin/container.

• When you finish a shift, put theatre clothes into the contaminated linen bag for laundering.

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Protect yourself by wearing personal protective equipment (PPE). You may have to wear more personal protective equipment (PPE) when you are cleaning an operating theatre.

If you are not sure what personal protective equipment (PPE) you need to wear, ask your supervisor.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) used in an operating theatre includes: Write the correct name of the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

under each picture. The first one is an example answer.

N-95 Mask

Overshoes Gloves (disposable) Surgical face mask

Gown Hat (disposable) Goggles or safety glasses

Plastic Apron N-95 Mask


e. Select approved cleaning and disinfecting agent/s. You don’t need special cleaning agents to clean operating theatres. You will need: • A mildly alkaline detergent (the same one used everywhere

else in the hospital). • A disinfectant. (Disinfectants kill germs). Your hospital’s infection control manual will list the detergents and disinfectants that you must use. If you are not sure, ask your supervisor. Only use cold or warm water according to the

manufacturer’s instructions.

Never use hot or boiling water – it may stop the germs from being killed.

f. Prepare cleaning solution in accordance with manufacturer’s recommendations.

This means that you must follow the instructions on the bottle of cleaning agent.


Part Two: Cleaning an Operating Theatre

In Part Two, you will learn: • How to clean an operating theatre. Here is a list of vocabulary (words) for Part Two. Vocabulary Word Meaning Example

Human products

Human products are substances made in the body.

The most common human products that cleaners will see are blood, urine (wee) and faeces (poo).

Biological About the processes which take place in living things.

Bacteria are an example of a biological hazard.

Biohazard Biological substances which are dangerous to humans and animals.

Medical waste is an example of a biohazard.

Microorganism A very small living thing that you cannot not see with the human eye.

There were a lot of microorganisms in the sample of water that was tested.

Sharps Needles, syringes, ampoules, scalpels or other sharp things that can break your skin or cut you.

Always put used sharps in a sharps container.

A needle stick injury

An injury caused by a needle or syringe (or another type of sharps) breaking your skin or cutting you.

You must always tell your supervisor immediately if you have a needle stick injury.

Linen Sheets, pillowcases, towels etc.

In a hospital, used linen is sorted into different linen bags for contaminated or infectious linen.

Mattress The soft part of the bed that you lie on.

When you clean the operating table, you must also wipe down the mattress.

Horizontal Flat and level. Wipe down all horizontal surfaces including window ledges and shelves.


2. Clean an Operating Theatre

This is the second (2nd) step in the procedure for cleaning an operating theatre. Let’s look at this step in more detail. It has thirteen (13) steps.


a. Check operating theatre floor for human products and remove them.

b. Bag and seal hazardous waste and sharps safely.

c. Bag contaminated linen safely.

d. The cleaner must follow infection control procedures and standard precautions.

e. Rinse sinks and basins. f. Wash and rinse down non-technical equipment. g. Wipe down non-technical equipment.

h. Wash and rinse down all surfaces.

i. Wipe down all surfaces.

j. Complete tasks without risk or damage to operator, equipment, fixtures or fittings.

k. Set up operating theatre.

l. Remove and bag Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

m. Wash your hands.


a. Check operating theatre floor for human products and remove

them. Check the floor for human products. Human products are made in the body. The most common human product that operating theatre cleaners might come across is blood. Human products can be a personal health hazard because they can carry germs that can make you very sick.

To clean up a small spot or small spill (spots or drops of blood or other small spills up to 10cms) 1. ALWAYS put on personal protective equipment (PPE) (gloves,

and possibly surgical mask and/or safety goggles). 2. Wipe the area immediately with paper towels. 3. Clean with warm water (or cold water in case of blood) and

detergent. Rinse the area with water and then dry the area thoroughly because wet areas attract contamination.

4. A sodium hypochlorite (bleach) solution may be used on the spill area after cleaning (especially if people are going to touch the area).

If bleach is used it MUST be rinsed off after 10 minutes and the area dried. This is because bleach can damage metal.

5. Dispose of all hazardous waste in a yellow bag. Note: • You may need to use sodium hypochlorite (bleach) for

managing spills. Check your hospital’s policies and procedures.

• If the policy requires the use of sodium hypochlorite bleach,

you would need to follow a two-step cleaning procedure.

Two step cleaning procedure 1. Clean the area with an approved cleaning agent. 2. Wipe over with sodium hypochlorite (bleach). Dilute in

accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations.


b. Bag and seal hazardous waste safely.

Hazardous waste is rubbish that may be unsafe or unhealthy. For example it may have sharps or biohazards in it.

Biohazards are biological substances that may be dangerous to humans. Biological substances include microorganisms (small living things) that can carry infection. Examples of biohazards are medical waste, human products, viruses, bacteria, and toxins.

How to Handle Hazardous Waste Safely 1. ALWAYS wear gloves before you touch or pick up hazardous

waste. 2. DO NOT put hazardous waste in the same rubbish bin as

general waste or rubbish. 3. ALWAYS put hazardous waste in a biohazard bag. These

bags are usually yellow. Seal up the bag so the contents do not leak out.

The biohazard bag may have a label. Other words that mean biohazard are:

Biological waste or Clinical waste or Contaminated waste or Hazardous material or

4. ALWAYS put the hazardous waste bags out for collection in

the correct place.

5. ALWAYS change your gloves after handling hazardous waste. • Make sure that you wash your hands after you take off

the used gloves. • If you are using disposable gloves, throw the used gloves

away in a biohazard bag. • Wash your hands again, before you put on a new pair of

gloves.


Information about Hazardous Waste Signs and Symbols

In hospitals, yellow is often used to show that something is hazardous or contaminated. • Hazardous waste bags are usually

yellow. • Contaminated linen bags are yellow.

In hospitals, red is used to show that something is infectious (carries disease).

• Infectious waste bags are usually red. • Linen bags for blood soaked linen are red.

Hazardous waste bags and sharps containers may also have a caution sign like these ones below:

Caution sign

There are different types of workplace signs.

A yellow triangle with a black border with a picture or words inside is a Caution or warning sign. It warns you about danger.

It means look out, or watch out, or be careful!

This is the biohazard symbol for biological hazards.

The biohazard symbol can be seen in different colours, and inside different shapes.

The biohazard symbol means contaminated, infectious, health hazard.


b. Handle sharps safely. (Continued)

In hospitals, sharps are needles (syringes), ampoules (glass containers with medicine in them), scalpels (blades) and other sharp things that can break your skin or cut you. Sharps can be a health hazard

because they can contain contaminated blood. You should ALWAYS check for hazardous items such as needles and glass.

Check the operating theatre for used sharps. Look on the floor, on trolleys, on mayo stands and other surfaces. If you find sharps when you are cleaning, tell the nursing staff in the operating theatre or your supervisor. If a syringe or needle breaks your skin it is called a needle stick injury. Needle stick injuries are potentially serious because you may be in danger of getting an infection if the syringe is contaminated with infected human products. If you have a needle stick injury you must report it immediately.

If you have a needle stick injury you must report it immediately. Tell your supervisor, the operating theatre manager or an infection control person.


c. Bag contaminated linen safely.

Different types of linen are used in an operating theatre. This includes:

• Surgery towels. • Table sheets. • Wrappers. • Drapes. Contaminated linen is linen that has urine (wee), faeces (poo) or other body products on it.

Contaminated linen is put in a yellow linen bag for laundering.

Infectious linen is linen that has blood or other infectious substances on it.

Infectious linen is put in a red linen bag for laundering. Note: A lot of linen used in operating theatres now is disposable so you just throw it away. Check with the theatre staff if you are not sure if the linen is disposable. Handling Contaminated/Infectious Linen • ALWAYS wear gloves when handling contaminated or

infectious linen. • DO NOT let the linen touch your skin or contaminate the

environment (floors, others surfaces etc). • ALWAYS put dirty linen in the appropriate linen bag.

Contaminated linen bags are usually yellow. Infectious linen bags are usually red. Read the label carefully.

• ALWAYS put the hazardous linen bags out for collection in the correct place.

• DO NOT mix up contaminated linen bags and contaminated waste bags.


d. The cleaner must follow infection control procedures and standard

precautions. When cleaning an operating theatre you need to follow these standard precautions: 1. Wash your hands regularly with soap or hand rub. Follow the

hand hygiene rules used at your workplace. 2. Wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). 3. Handle contaminated waste safely. 4. Handle hazardous waste and sharps safely. 5. Report any accidents or breakdowns in infection prevention. For more information on Standard Precautions, please refer to the Workbook for Infection Prevention and Control – Unit Standards 7183 and 7184.

You must also follow these extra precautions when working in an operating theatre:

• Change into theatre clothes before you enter operating theatre “clean areas”. The clean area may be marked by a red line that you cross.

• Wear disposable Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). • Don’t touch your mouth or eyes while you are cleaning. • Maintain personal hygiene.

e. Rinse sinks and basins.

1. Rinse the sinks and basins to make sure there is no waste. 2. Clean the plugholes and overflow with a plughole brush.

Cover the plughole with your hand to make sure that you do not get any dirt in your face or eyes.

3. Use a disinfectant solution to clean the inside of the sinks and basins.

4. Clean around the bottom of the taps with the cleaning agent.

5. Rinse the hand basin to remove the cleaning agent. 6. With a damp cloth wipe the taps, exterior surfaces, pipes

under the sinks and basins. 7. With a dry cloth dry the taps, exterior surfaces, pipes under

the sinks and basins.


f. Wash and rinse down non-technical equipment.

• DO NOT clean medical equipment, monitors etc. These are cleaned by nursing staff or theatre technicians.

• Scrub all furniture with disinfectant solution. This includes: trolleys, stools and chairs, mayo stands, drip stands and the operating table. Clean wheels and casters thoroughly to remove any waste.

• Wipe doors of cabinets, especially around handles and push plates.

• Wipe all kick buckets, racks, and waste bins with disinfectant solution.

To Clean the Operating Table: You will need to clean the whole table. This includes the mattress and other furniture used with it (arm rests, stirrups). DO NOT clean an item and then place it back on a surface that has not been cleaned. 1. Clean one trolley first, clean one side of the mattress and place the

clean side on the clean trolley. 2. Complete cleaning the mattress and the other parts of the table. 3. Replace the mattress and other items when finished.

Trolleys

Operating table or bed

Lights

Mayo stand


g. Wipe down non-technical equipment.

• Dry all furniture with a clean, dry cloth.

Remember: Germs can’t live as easily on clean, dry surfaces.

h. Wash and rinse down all surfaces.

• Damp wipe all wall mounted equipment and horizontal surfaces. Start from the top of the room and work down. Damp wipe the operating lights, shelves, x-ray viewing box, tops of doors and window ledges.

• Wipe room door, especially around the handle.

• Wash the floor with disinfectant solution. Mop up the excess water, or pick up with a wet vacuum.

i. Wipe down all surfaces.

• Dry all surfaces with a clean, dry cloth.

j. Complete tasks without risk or damage to operator, equipment,

fixtures or fittings. Put out warning signs, cordons or barriers to warn staff that you are cleaning.

Follow health and safety guidelines, standard precautions and infection prevention practices to keep you, other staff and patients safe.

Work safely if you need to use a ladder to clean operating theatre lights, high shelves or ledges and the tops of doors.

Follow manufacturer’s recommendations when preparing cleaning agents.

There is a lot of expensive equipment and furniture in an operating theatre. Clean it carefully so that you do not damage it. Check with your supervisor if you are not sure what furniture to clean or how to clean it.

DO NOT clean medical equipment or medical monitors.


k. Set up operating theatre.

• Remake the operating table. Put back the clean mattress. • Return all equipment and furniture to the proper area.

l. Remove and bag Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

• After cleaning one operating theatre change your Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) before moving to the next operating suite.

• Throw away disposable Personal Protective Equipment in the general waste bin.

• During the shift, change your theatre clothes if they become contaminated by blood when you are cleaning. Put your used theatre clothes into the contaminated linen bag for laundering.

• When you finish a shift, put theatre clothes into the contaminated linen bag for laundering.

m. Wash your hands.

• Wash your hands regularly. Follow the correct procedure.

• Wash your hands between all cleaning tasks.

• Wash your hands between theatres.


Part Three: Complete Job-related Tasks

In Part Three, you will learn: • How to complete job-related tasks. Here is a list of vocabulary (words) for Part Three. Vocabulary Word Meaning Example

Dispose of Get rid of, throw away. Dispose of used gloves in the rubbish.


This is the third (3rd) step in the procedure for cleaning an operating theatre. Let’s look at this step in more detail. It has five (5) steps.

3. Complete Job-related Tasks

a. Place clean laundry (linen) bags, biohazard bags and sharps containers in their holders.

b. Clean and store away cleaning equipment.

c. If required, send cleaning equipment for laundering. d. Dispose of soiled cleaning solutions in accordance with the

Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996. e. Place contaminated gown/uniform/apron in appropriate linen

bag for laundering.


a. Place clean laundry (linen) bags, biohazard bags and sharps

containers in their holders. • Place clean laundry bags in their holders. There may be

different coloured linen bags for contaminated and infectious linen. Make sure you choose the correct type of linen bag (choose the correct colour).

• Place clean waste bags in their holders. There may be different coloured waste bags for general waste, contaminated waste, biohazards and infectious waste. Make sure you choose the correct type of waste bag (choose the correct colour).

• Put new sharps containers in their holders.

b. Clean your equipment and store it away

When you have finished, clean the mop and bucket.

1. Clean the mop • Thoroughly rinse out the mop.

• Thoroughly wring out the mop.

• Store the mop upside down on its handle to dry. (Sometimes the mop head is sent away to the laundry for cleaning).

2. Clean the bucket • Thoroughly rinse out the bucket.

• Dry the bucket.

• Store the bucket upside down.

3. Thoroughly wash and rinse the plug hole brush 4. Wipe down the outside of the wet vacuum cleaner


c. If required, send cleaning equipment for laundering. After you have finished cleaning, you may need to send cleaning cloths and mop heads off for laundering.

Check with your supervisor on the system for laundering cleaning equipment.

If you are using disposable cloths or cleaning equipment, do not keep them after use. Throw them away.

d. Dispose of soiled cleaning solutions in accordance with the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996. Check with your supervisor how you are to dispose of soiled cleaning solutions. There will be a system for doing this.

e. Place contaminated gown/uniform/apron in appropriate linen bag for laundering. When you finish a shift, put used theatre clothes into the contaminated linen bag for laundering.

Check with your supervisor that you are using the correct linen bag. There may be different coloured linen bags for contaminated and infectious linen.

Issue 1.1 – Jan 2013

workbook - careerforce · 2018-07-01 · issue 1.1 – jan 2013 27670 clean an operating theatre 2...

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