The Principles of Medical Device Decontamination

Infection Prevention and Control, including Environmental Cleanliness and Occupational Health and Wellbeing

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This chapter describes the importance of Infection, Prevention and Control (IP&C) and the role of occupational health for employees working in or carrying out decontamination processes. Staff health and well-being of those undertaking decontamination procedures should be assessed and supported through key services such as occupational health. Risk Assessment and the management of risk in the workplace is a requirement of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 1 to assess and control the risk of occupational hazards, including exposure to chemical agents and infectious agents in these settings. Employees should be trained to use Standard and Transmission-based IP&C precautions as part of safe working practices as well as any specific IP&C training for the decontamination role including the hierarchy of controls 2 to assess the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to control risks. Environmental cleanliness is also key to IP&C in any healthcare setting.

Infection, Prevention and Control

All staff should be up to date with mandatory and statutory training for IP&C in accordance with their organisational policy and recorded within their written or Electronic Staff Record (ESR). Training in IP&C is a criterion or standard in compliance with the Healthcare Associated Infection (HCAI) Codes of Practice of each nation. Mandatory training includes training in accordance with Standard Infection Prevention and Control Precautions (SICPs) which are to be used by all staff, in all care settings, at all times, for all patients or exposure to equipment used on patients whether infection is known to be present or not. This is to ensure the safety of those being cared for, the staff and visitors in the healthcare environment.

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