Unit 264 – The principles of infection prevention and control Outcome 1 - Understand roles and responsibilities in the prevention and control of infections 1.1 – explain employees’ roles and responsibilities in relation to the prevention and control of infection. Each employee is given equipment which is known as PPE (personal protection equipment, such as gloves, aprons, waste bags that are disposable, so that if an employee is dealing with something that is potentially infectious, they can use their PPE and discard it after each use. It is the employee’s responsibility to make sure that the equipment used stays in the potentially infectious area to prevent spreading. Any waste is double bagged so that it can be transferred from the infectious room and taken to a hazardous waste bin. Regular hand-washing with bacterial soap is needed to ensure that no infection is being transferred from the employee to another area.
Control means to contain the infection once someone has it for example using personal protective equipment and washing your hands even if they don’t feel dirty. 1:2 Employers’ responsibilities in relation to the prevention and control of infection are set out in the Health and Safety at work act 1974. And this states that employers have a responsibility to protect employees’ from danger and harm, as reasonably practicable. Employers must: * Provide a safe workspace. * Carry out risk assessments to assess the dangers of certain work activities.
Ensuring that they have good hand hygeine techniques is also very important when it comes to the prevention and control of infection. Proper cleaning and decontamintation of equipment and the environment is essential. Employee's may also ensure that they attend all relevant infection control training, and inform their employer if they notice that infection control policies are being ignored, or if relevant equipment or PPE needs to be updated/restocked. 1.2 Employers have legal, organisational and personal responsibilites when it comes to the control and prevention of infection. It is the employers responsibilty to assess the risk of infection or the spread of infection and they must also ensure that all relevant procedures are in place and adhered to by their staff, as well as providing the relevant training for their staff to attend.
Nurses must use sterile dressings on open skin surfaces to prevent infection. We must also keep patient equipment and supplies clean in order to prevent the spread of germs. Nurses must also use personal protective equipment like a mask, eye protection and a face shields if you are near a patient care activity that may involve a splash or spray of body fluids, they should then dispose of all single use personal protective equipment immediately after use. Cleaners should clean toilets with disinfectant to kills any germs. They should also clean any surfaces e.g.
* Cooperate with the employer in respect of Health and Safety matters .Not intentionally damage any Health and safety equipment or materials provided by the employer * Attend training provided by the employer * Use protective equipment provide by the employer In respect of the prevention of infection, you must think about the prevention and control for you and others around you. Basic controls are: * Dispose of waste correctly * Wash hands when appropriate * Keep equipment clean * Remain vigilant and report potential hazards * Attend infection control training and keep updated * Wear clean PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) for each person * Maintaining personal hygiene. It is the responsibility of an employees to take precautionary measures to prevent and control the spread of infection in the workplace. They are responsible to work safely to protect themselves, other staff, visitors and individuals from infections. As an employees, they must ensure that they attend all necessary trainings that their employers provide regarding infection control and prevention.
• The employer or manager – To make sure that employees are up to date with mandatory health and safety training to improve the safety at work for themselves as well as patients. • Others in the work setting – builders should make sure that their building equipment does not harm members of the public by keeping walking paths clear. 4. Identify tasks relating to health and safety that should not be carried out without
Unit 4222-264-The principles of infection prevention and control Outcome 1: Understand roles and responsibilities in relation to the prevention and control of infections 1.1 explain employees’ roles and responsibilities in relation to the prevention and control of Infection As a care worker I have a responsibility to make sure my own actions don’t affect the health and safety of others or I e.g. service users, families and colleagues. The health and safety at work act 1974 states we must take care of our own safety and others, follow employers instructions regarding health and safety, not damage health and safety equipment and materials, attend training and use the health and safety equipment provided. I need to think, prevent and control infection, I should prevent someone getting an HCAI to save them discomfort, anxiety and antibiotics and to save the NHS money by adapting the practice of using standard precautions for all people including high risk people and myself. I do this by disposing of waste correctly, washing hands, cleaning equipment, remaining vigilant and reporting hazards, attending and keeping my infection control training up to date, clean PPE for every person, maintaining personal hygiene,, if someone has an infection I will have to prevent it spreading by being more vigilant and report any changes in their condition and be extra careful to follow all the prevention techniques.
UNIT-4223-007 The principles of infection prevention and control Outcome1 Understand roles and responsibilities in the prevention and control of infections The learner can; 1. Explain employees ’roles and responsibilities in relation to the prevention and control of infection As a minimum I need to ensure that I wash my hands before and after each activity. However, hand washing alone may not be sufficient for the activity I’m involved in. When assessing the risk of infection, the chances are that if you are assisting somebody to walk from the bedside to the toilet on the ward, hand washing alone may be sufficient. If, however, I was assisting with the repositioning of a patient who is incontinent, I would probably consider hand washing, gloves and an apron.
1.2) Explain employers’ responsibilities in relation to the prevention and control of infection Employers have the responsibility of ensuring the safety of our work place in such a way that is protects members of staff and the public from infection. To ensure the safety of the working place employers are expected to carry out risk assessment to access the extent of dangers on certain work activities and put in place key strategies to minimise exposure to danger. Employers should provide the requisite training on safety management to staff and also provide PPE and cleaning materials for free for staff and visitors in the work place environment. [019.2] Understand legislation and policies relating to prevention and control of infections 2.1) Outline current legislation and regulatory body standards which are relevant to the prevention and control of infection Most of the legal regulation concerning infection prevention and control comes under the Health and Safety Act 1974, also there is the
CU311 The principles of infection prevention and control 1.1 Explain employees’ roles and responsibilities in relation to the prevention and control of infection. It is our responsibility as employees to take precautionary measures to prevent and control the spread of infection in the workplace this involves working safely to protect myself, other staff, visitors and individuals from infections. Some of the legislation and regulations that relate to the control and prevention of infection include the Health and Safety at Work Act, COSHH and RIDDOR. It is important as employees that we are aware of these so that we can work safely. 1.2 Explain employers’ responsibilities in relation to the prevention and control of Infection.