Unit F6165088 - Cleaning, decontamination and waste management
Understand how to maintain a clean environment
1.1 State the general principles for environmental cleaning
The general principles for environmental cleaning are to make sure that the hospital
environment is as clean as possible to minimise the risk of infection, and that all precautions
taken in accordance to legislation, policies and guidelines. Our task - as nursing assistants in
the hospital - is to prevent causes and spread of infection.
Some principles:
All staff needs to be trained in infection control and waste management before
commencing their work in the hospital
Hand hygiene is the single most important measure for preventing infection
Protective gloves should be worn for all cleaning tasks, which should be sturdy and
suitable for the purpose
Cleaning must always precede disinfection or sterilisation
The level of decontamination depends on the level of contamination
Methods involving heat are still preferable to chemical methods if disinfection or
sterilisation is required, because these procedures are safer, more efficient and ease the
monitoring of the process
Cleanliness is everyone’s responsibility
1.2 Explain the purpose of cleaning schedules
Cleaning schedules mean we have a set of instructions in the hospital that describe everything
that needs to do to maintain the premises in a clean and hygienic condition. This is an easy
and effective way of demonstrating that all equipment is regularly cleaned.
A written cleaning schedule should include the following information: the task, what needs to
clean and how often, also, the methods and products to be used as well as who is responsible
for cleaning. This schedule also must take into account low, medium or high-risk items of
equipment and areas in the healthcare settings.
Each functional area is assigned one of four risk categories according to its functionality.
Some examples:
very high risk - theatres and other places where invasive procedures are performed
such as A&E (Accident and Emergency) and ITU (Intensive Therapy Unit)
high risk – pharmacy, wards or public toilets
significant risk – pathology, laboratories and mortuary
low risk – administrative areas and healthcare records
Cleaning schedules should be recorded, monitored, reviewed and disseminated in a controlled
manner, and so they will maximise the decontamination of the environment. They should be
prominently displayed in a public part of the appropriate work area.
Understand how to maintain a clean environment
1.1 State the general principles for environmental cleaning
The general principles for environmental cleaning are to make sure that the hospital
environment is as clean as possible to minimise the risk of infection, and that all precautions
taken in accordance to legislation, policies and guidelines. Our task - as nursing assistants in
the hospital - is to prevent causes and spread of infection.
Some principles:
All staff needs to be trained in infection control and waste management before
commencing their work in the hospital
Hand hygiene is the single most important measure for preventing infection
Protective gloves should be worn for all cleaning tasks, which should be sturdy and
suitable for the purpose
Cleaning must always precede disinfection or sterilisation
The level of decontamination depends on the level of contamination
Methods involving heat are still preferable to chemical methods if disinfection or
sterilisation is required, because these procedures are safer, more efficient and ease the
monitoring of the process
Cleanliness is everyone’s responsibility
1.2 Explain the purpose of cleaning schedules
Cleaning schedules mean we have a set of instructions in the hospital that describe everything
that needs to do to maintain the premises in a clean and hygienic condition. This is an easy
and effective way of demonstrating that all equipment is regularly cleaned.
A written cleaning schedule should include the following information: the task, what needs to
clean and how often, also, the methods and products to be used as well as who is responsible
for cleaning. This schedule also must take into account low, medium or high-risk items of
equipment and areas in the healthcare settings.
Each functional area is assigned one of four risk categories according to its functionality.
Some examples:
very high risk - theatres and other places where invasive procedures are performed
such as A&E (Accident and Emergency) and ITU (Intensive Therapy Unit)
high risk – pharmacy, wards or public toilets
significant risk – pathology, laboratories and mortuary
low risk – administrative areas and healthcare records
Cleaning schedules should be recorded, monitored, reviewed and disseminated in a controlled
manner, and so they will maximise the decontamination of the environment. They should be
prominently displayed in a public part of the appropriate work area.
