Course outline
This course has been modified from clinical cleaning procedures used in health care facilities. The course includes procedures for cleaning in infectious areas where there is a high risk of environmental surfaces contamination by an infective agent (harmful germs) which could be readily transmitted (spread) from person to person visa coughing or sneezing and from contamination of surfaces, an infected carrier (person with illness) has touched, and contaminated with their infectious germs.
Where possible the language throughout this course has been modified to cater for cleaning and environmental services staff, a significant number for whom English is their second language.
This course provides information on cleaning standards that may be required during an outbreak such as the Corona Virus (now called COVID-19). Cleaning and infection control procedures are the responsibility of the individual facility and where applicable their commercial cleaning company.
Throughout this course harmful germs may also be referred to as infections, infectious diseases, micro-organisms and pathogens.
It is extremely important for all facility cleaning enterprises to implement procedures that include laundering and disinfecting of cleaning cloths to minimise the risk of spreading an infection from one room/area to another. This may present a significant challenge to many cleaning operations due to their small size and logistics in laundering and disinfecting their materials after each use. Cleaning enterprises are advised to seek further advice from their chemical suppliers.
We would like to emphasise from the outset the simplest way to minimise spreading infection through cleaning practices will be to:
- use disposable cleaning cloths and
- implement cleaning procedures which start with cleaning low touch surfaces (potentially less contaminated) and finish by cleaning the high touch surfaces (potentially more contaminated). This will be discussed in more detail throughout this course.
This course uses modified cleaning procedures form clinical settings and should not be interpreted as a recommended cleaning standard for any facility or building without seeking further specialist advice. Specialist advice should be sought from persons with expertise in infection control procedures when finalising a clinical cleaning standard for any type of virus outbreak.
When you finish this course, you will have an understanding of the following concepts and ideas:
- Role of Cleaning in Controlling Infections
- Infection Control and the Environment
- Infection Prevention and Control
- Chemicals and Equipment
- Cleaning Techniques
- Cleaning Schedule (Risk Based Approach)
- Examples of Cleaning Procedures (Healthcare)
- Handle and Dispose of Clinical Waste
- Maintain and Store Cleaning Equipment
This course leads to a Statement of Attainment in the competency unit:
Comply with infection prevention and control policies and procedures (HLTINFCOV001)
Click here to enrol : https://hia.energe3.com.au/
