Housekeeping, Regulated Waste and Laundry
POLICY:
In addition to the other compliance methods, employees must
maintain their work areas in a clean and sanitary condition.
The following guidelines have been established as a minimum
requirement for all personnel affected by this program:
PROCEDURE:
1. Written Schedule
A written schedule for cleaning and decontamination
of the applicable areas has been developed. The
Safety Officer is responsible for monitoring this
schedule.
The frequency of the cleaning is based on the
individual area to be cleaned and the following
related conditions:
A. Exposure within the facility;
B. Type of surface to be cleaned;
C. Type of soil present; and
D. Task or procedures being performed.
2. Minimum Requirements:
A. All personnel assigned to do housekeeping or
cleaning must wear personal protective equipment
(PPE) appropriate for the job including:
-appropriate general-purpose gloves,
-gown (or equivalent)
during all cleaning of blood or other potentially
infectious materials during decontamination.
B. Initial clean-up of blood or other potentially
infectious materials must be followed by the use
of an approved 'germicide'.
C. Equipment contaminated with blood or other
potentially infectious materials shall be checked,
cleaned, and decontaminated prior to servicing or
shipping. Any area which cannot be decontaminated
and/or cleaned should be shielded in some manner and
prominently labeled.
D. If surfaces or equipment are draped with protective
coverings such as plastic wrap or aluminum foil,
these coverings should be removed or replaced if
they become obviously contaminated. Reusable
receptacles such as bins, pails and cans that are
likely to become contaminated must be inspected and
decontaminated on a regular basis. If contamination
is visible, workers must clean and decontaminate the
item as soon as feasible.
E. Should glassware break that may be potentially
contaminated, employees need to use mechanical means
such as a brush and dustpan or tongs or forceps to
pick up the broken glass; such spills are never
picked up by hand, even when wearing gloves.
3. Decontamination Requirements
There are several housekeeping requirements listed
below that will be implemented as part of the
exposure control program and these procedures are also
required as part of the OSHA standard. Some examples
include:
A. Contaminated work surfaces shall be decontaminated
after completion of any exposure to blood or body
fluids; after any contact with blood or other
infectious materials; and at the end of the work
shift if the work surface or area is contaminated;
B. All reusable containers such as bins, pails, and
cans that have a likelihood of contamination
shall be inspected and decontaminated on a
regular basis or when visibly contaminated; and
C. Reusable items such as sharps shall be stored or
processed in a way that ensures safe handling.
4. Waste Management
Other requirements include procedures for handling
regulated waste and laundry.
Regulated waste must be properly contained, handled,
and discarded to protect employees from exposure to
infectious materials. Affected employees should be
familiar with the applicable requirements as described
elsewhere in this exposure control program and in the
Infection Control Policy and Procedure Manual.
5. Laundry
Employees must handle contaminated laundry as little as
possible, with a minimum of agitation and use appropriate
PPE. Contaminated laundry should be bagged or placed in
containers at the location where it is used, but not
sorted or rinsed there.
Employees loading the laundry hampers should utilize
appropriate personal protective equipment if the items to
be washed are heavily soiled.
Laundry must be transported within the establishment
or to outside laundries in labeled
bags. If the facility uses universal precautions for
handling all soiled laundry, then alternate labeling or
color coding that can be recognized by the employees may
be used.
Workers only use bags that prevent leakage during
transport.
Approved By Governing Board
PS.4
Control #126.2
GUPTA GASTRO