COSHH Regulations 2002

COSHH Regulations 2002
Every employer must "ensure that the exposure to their employees to substances harmful
to their health has been either avoided or, when this is not reasonably feasible, effectively
controlled," according to the regulations. In order to adequately reduce the risk of infection,
it further states that when there are human patients or animals that seem to be, or are
presumed of becoming, infected with either a Group 3 or 4 biological agent, this same
employer choose the most appropriate supervision as well as containment measures from
all of those listed in Part II of Schedule 3."
The Health Service (Control of Diseases) Act of 1984 is one piece of law that refers to or
deals with infection prevention and control.
The Food Safety Act of 1990 and the Public (Infectious Diseases)
Regulations of 1988
Health Protection (Notification) Rules 2010,
Food Safety & Hygiene (England) Rules 2013
Supervision of Health & Safety at Work (Amendment) Rules 2006
Reporting of Injuries
Diseases and Hazardous Occurrences (RIDDOR) 2010
The NHS, independent healthcare organisations, and providers of adult social service in
England are all covered either by Health or Social Care Act of 2008. According to the code of
practise, healthcare professionals should monitor, manage, prevent, and control infections
using systems and risk assessments. Organizations must be able to show that they meet the
criteria in order to follow the law, one of which is that they have "systems managing and
monitor the control and prevention of infection, using risk assessments and considering the
vulnerability of patients as well as any dangers that their environment as well as other users
may pose to them."
Making sure that "there is a clear governing system and responsibility that specifies a single
lead for preventing infection" one of the appropriate management and monitoring
arrangements. In order to professionally supervise an organization's infection prevention
and control policies and processes and ensure that they are in accordance with all applicable
laws and regulations, an infection - control (IPC) lead should have undergone specialized
infection prevention lead training.
The Appropriate Protective Equipment at Workplace (Amendment) Regulations of 2022
(PPER 2022) went into effect on April 6, 2022. The 1992 Regulations are modified (PPER
1992). They extend to workers in limb (b) the obligations of employers and employees
regarding personal protective equipment (PPE).
what law is PPE?

The 1992 Regulations for Safety Equipment at Work
PPE regulations, first. The Personal Health and Safety At work Regulations of 1992 aim to
ensure that PPE should be accurately identified and used when dangers could be controlled
by the other means. PPE is made to shield you from dangerous substances like chemicals or
infectious diseases. It can also aid in preventing the spread of infection between workers
and patients in a pandemic situation. PPE is one metric in the system of workplace
regulations that is utilised in a hierarchy.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Disposable goggles, masks, and are examples of PPE used in the health and social services
fields. Each time you are likely to get into touch with any of the following, you must put on
gloves and an apron: bodily fluids, such as vomit, blood, urine, and faeces. hazardous
materials When helping with personal care tasks, an apron and gloves are always required.
Use fresh gloves and an apron for each task and each person. When there is the possibility
of contracting airborne diseases like MRSA and TB, masks are worn. When there is a chance
that bodily fluids will get in the eyes, goggles are used. When suctioning an endotracheal or
tracheostomy tube, this is especially important. Below, we examine how PPE should be used
and disposed of properly. Temporary Gloves Use disposable gloves only once and for that
specific operation. Each set of gloves should be used with thoroughly cleansed and dried
hands. Take the gloves directly out of the box and make every effort to avoid touching the
exterior of the glove. By one finger & your thumb, hold the glove by the four neck/cuffs. If
you've chosen the right size, it should be simple to slide the glove on without contaminating
the outside. You should be able to simply insert your hand, move your fingers, and slip it on.
Put the other glove on using the same method. To take off your gloves, grasp them by the
neck or cuff with your thumb and one finger, then pull them off away from you. Holding the
first glove in your gloved hand's palm, take off the second one by drawing away from your
body using your ungloves hand's thumb and index finger. The first glove should be placed
within the second glove, which should be facing out. Put the gloves in the appropriate trash
can right away for disposal. There are other options if either you or a service user is allergic
to latex gloves. Please talk to your line manager about this. It isn't an option to not wear
gloves.
Temporary Gloves Use disposable gloves only once and for that specific operation. Every
pair of gloves should be used with thoroughly cleansed and dried hands. Take the gloves
directly out of the box and make every effort to avoid touching the glove's outside. Including
one finger & your thumb, hold the glove by the four neck/cuffs. If you've chosen the right
size, it should be simple to slide the glove on without contaminating the outside. You should
be able to simply insert your hand, move your fingers, and slip it on
RIDDOR
The 2013 Reporting of Injuries, Diseases & Dangerous Occurrences Regulations is known as
RIDDOR. According to these regulations, some workplace occurrences must be reported by
employers, independent contractors, and anyone in charge of properties. 6 As required by
the RIDDOR legislation, your employer may be required to report any accidents, incidents,
or near-misses to a Health and Safety Executive (HSE). When in doubt, report it and let your
employer decide. According to HSE, reportable incidents are:
• Death
• fractures other than those to the fingers and toes; amputations; any accident likely to
result in a permanent loss of vision or a reduction in vision.
• any head or torso crush injury that damages the brains or internal organs,
• any scalping needing hospital treatment; • severe burns (including scalding) covering more
than 10% of the body or causing considerable harm to the eyes, breathing system, or other
important organs.
• Any consciousness loss brought on by a head trauma or asphyxia, as well as any other
injury sustained while working in a cramped area that necessitates hospitalisation for longer
than 24 hours or results in hypothermia or a heat-related disease.
 Events involving gas an incident must be reported if a worker misses more than 7 days in
a row or is unable to fulfil their regular job obligations. This seven-day span includes
weekends & rest days but excludes the day after the accident. Within 15 days following
the accident, a report must be filed. Accidents that prevent a worker from working for
three or more days straight must be noted on the company's DATIX risk management
programme, but not reported. Reporting of certain occupational illnesses by employers
is required A dangerous incidence is a specific, predetermined near-miss. Follow the link
to RIDDOR in the section listing helpful websites to learn more about RIDDOR.
The Environmental Protection Act 1990 (initials: EPA) is an Act of the United Kingdom
Parliament that, as of 2008, establishes the essential framework and legal authority for
waste management and emission control within England, Wales, and Scotland.
An Environmental Protection Act addresses problems involving garbage on land, defines

every facet of waste management, and requires local governments to collect rubbish. You
have a responsibility as a business owner to make sure that any garbage your operation
generates is managed legally and safely. The waste hierarchy is an EU idea that serves as the
foundation for all waste policies in the UK. According to the waste hierarchy, everyone in
charge of managing waste must first think about prevention, getting things ready for reuse
and recycling, then various types of recovery, such energy recovery, and last disposal.
Why is correct waste disposal crucial for infection prevention?

Waste is potentially dangerous and, if improperly disposed of, can cause infection or harm.
All employees oversee the proper disposal and management of garbage, and they should be
aware as to how waste must be organised and stored before being collected or disposed of.
Waste
Waste can be disposed of in a few ways in the healthcare industry. Which are: Needle, razor
blades, broken glass, and other sharp objects should be disposed of in the yellow sharp’s
containers. Blood, faeces, human tissue, various body fluid, incontinence pads, colostomy
bags, replacement bed pans, used condoms, etc. are all included in the garbage that goes
into the yellow clinical waste bags. Bags for General Waste - These are for waste of any kind,
such as foods, paper, cans, etc. Keep common waste as low as possible and recycle these
materials whenever you can. A specialised service collects and disposes of medical wastes
and sharps containers. Make sure you always use the appropriate bin for your rubbish.
When in doubt, always seek counsel. NEVER OVERFILL ANY WASTE DISPOSAL (BAG, BOX,
ETC.). NEVER remove any rubbish out of the sharps box and ALWAYS handle bag by the
neck! When dealing with trash, always wear PPE.
Laundry
Always handle laundry and linen properly since improper handling could endanger your
health. Never fill laundry bags more than 75% full, and if they are very heavy, use a laundry
cart to protect yourself. Full laundry loads can be very heavy. Always wear personal
protective equipment (PPE) when handling laundry as it may be contaminated or
contagious. Straight into a red dissolving wash bag with the dirty laundry should go. These
disintegrate in the washing machine, lowering the chance of illness transmission. Items that
are dirty should be cleaned using an appropriate sluice cycle. In white sacks, clean linen is
kept. Laundry that must be cleaned should be neatly placed in a secure location so that no
one trip over it. Kneel when filling or unpacking a washing machine to protect your back.
Never let laundry pass through a space used for preparing meals. Additionally dangerous
when in use, irons should always be unplugged and placed in a secure location whenever
you exit the room. Remember that in addition to the surface being hot, an iron's vapour can
scald. An iron should never be stored until it has cooled.
The Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2010 describe
personal care as any physical assistance provided to a person as well as any monitoring or
encouragement of that person to perform daily living activities on their own.
Housekeeping
In order to maintain good health and safety, a home must be kept clean. Trip hazards
include items left on the floor, health risks include overflowing trash cans, infection risks
include unclean work surfaces, etc. Always be careful to clean up your own spills and
messes. Never leave goods on the ground where they could trip someone up. Keep
everything organised and spotless, wipe up spills so soon as they happen, and post "wet
floor" signs to alert others to the possible hazard. Always keep escape routes open, and
make sure that hallways are not blocked. Splash/Needle stick Injury In accordance with the
Thornbury Nursing Services Policy, you must:
If necessary, flush any mucous membrane with water, dry it, and cover it with a waterproof
covering. If known, record the source's name, birthdate, and hospital identification number.
• Follow Trust policy and notify the units or ward manager of the incident. For risk
assessment, you must get in touch with their OH department during regular business hours
or visit their A&E department as soon as possible after hours.
• Request a copy of the Incident Form from the Trust and fill it out.
• You need to fill out the relevant accident form and notify The Agencies via the phone
centre. For the protection of injuries and splash exposures, use standard precautions & safe
working techniques. 9 You must always stay current on any necessary immunizations.
• When utilising sharps, pay close attention to what you're doing and ignore any
distractions.
• If it's possible to encounter the patient's bodily fluids, always wear gloves, goggles, or
protective clothes.
• If a patient won't cooperate, always seek assistance. They can put you and the patient in
danger with only a small movement.
• Always apply bandages to any part of exposed flesh that has been cut or abraded.
• Always close sharps containers after use.
• To extract the needle from vacutainer, always use the tool on the sharp’s container.
Never reuse needles, ever.
• Avoid touching sharps containers.
• After a sharp’s container is two-thirds full, never use it. Make sure there are enough fresh
sharps containers on hand.
• Avoid trying to catch falling instruments.
• When utilising sharp objects or needles, never rush or try to cut corners.
• Avoid handling sharps.
• Never disassemble a used device.
P7
Midwifery
Hand hygiene
The term "hand hygiene" refers to practises that make health care professionals' hands safe
by lowering the number of microorganisms that are present from activities involving
touching patients, tools, or the surrounding environment at work. Surgical scrub, alcohol
gel, and handwashing are all considered to be part of good hand hygiene. The level of care
that really will or has already been provided will influence the kind of hand hygiene that is
practised. As previously stated, no single aspect of nursing practise should be considered a
stand-alone approach to infection prevention, however research suggests that improved
hand hygiene considerably lowers the incidence of HCAIs. There is evidence that many
healthcare workers, including nurses, neglect to wash their hands.

Hospitals should be regarded as special locations that differ significantly from a "typical"
home environment in terms of the danger of potential illness spread. Hospitals have a huge
number of people residing in a very limited physical area, even though dangers exist
anywhere that regular engagement between people or equipment happens. Due to their
need for around-the-clock care, patients may come into direct touch with a lot of people
(staff), which creates many more opportunities than in "normal" daily life at home for the
spread of bacteria, some of which may be antibiotic-resistant.
Microorganisms can spread by one patient to the next, from equipment to the environment,
or from the environment to patients, resulting in an infection between employees Changes
to the patient's "normal" routine bacterial flora can also make an infection more likely if
bacteria are transferred from one body part to another location than their usual one:
example for instance, removing intestinal microbes from the grown when washing the face
or during doing mouth
without replacing gloves or using hand washing techniques. the point of care: hand washing
It is crucial to understand that healthcare workers' hands will always be contaminated with
bacteria, either their own or those that adhered as a result of handling objects, touching
patients, or other surfaces. Even while it is impossible to "sterilise" hands, practising basic
hand hygiene can greatly minimise the number of bacteria present. Even if it is not always
possible to wash your hands during the workday or night, there is a few situations in which
it is especially advised to help your workers follow best practises.
The most dangerous circumstances include, but aren't limited to:
before engaging in an aseptic technique or procedure; before exposure to bodily fluids

(blood, vomit, faeces, urine, and so on); after removal of gloves; prior interaction with such
a vulnerable patient site (such as an invasive device or wound); after interaction with the
patient's immediate environment; and after removal of gloves.
When necessary, gloves should be worn but should not be used as a replacement for good
hand hygiene. Glove overuse is a growing problem. Gloves should only be used when
necessary because improper use can have a few negative effects, such as undermining
community hand hygiene activities and increasing the risk of skin conditions like contact
dermatitis or hand skin disorders. Gloves, one of the PPE components, serve as a control
measure to lower known dangers to healthcare personnel, especially nursing staff.
Employers are required by the Control of Compounds Dangerous to Health Regulations
(HSE, 2002) to evaluate any potentially harmful substances, including biohazards found in
blood and bodily fluids (such as blood-borne viruses), and take precautions to lower the risk
of exposure.

Gowns
When there is a chance that blood or bodily fluids will become extensively contaminated or
when local regulations require their usage in specific circumstances, impervious (i.e.,
waterproof) gowns should be worn. If there are large risk respiratory illnesses or infections
brought on by certain multi-resistant bacteria, for instance, or in maternity or A&E settings.
For more information, consult your neighbourhood’s infection prevention guidelines.

Glove use and hand hygiene
Glove use is a crucial component of safe healthcare practises; however, examination of

glove use compliance hasn't yet gotten the same attention as compliance with hand
hygiene. The RCN advises organisations to include audits of glove use in their hand hygiene
programmes or related practise areas to understand compliance and so this practise issue.
Plastic disposable aprons
 Disposable plastic aprons act as a physical barrier between skin and clothing, preventing
contamination and soaking of uniforms and clothing while bathing, washing, or cleaning
equipment.
When a patient has a suspected or diagnosed infection as well as when there is a chance
that uniforms or clothing will become contaminated with blood or bodily fluids, aprons
should be worn. Aprons should be replaced as soon even as intended individual work is
finished, much like with gloves. Aprons should only be worn, when necessary, not routinely
during shifts as part of regular activities. As single-use goods, aprons must be disposed of
right away after usage in accordance with regional waste regulations.
Spillage management
Blood and body fluid spills need to be cleaned up right away, in accordance with the
established spill clean-up procedures at your company.
The policy should specify the cleaning agents that employees should employ to ensure that
spills are adequately cleaned, based on the type of surface that was involved, such as a
carpeting in a patient's house or a hard surface in a medical facility.
Dentist
washing machine and chemical sanitizer

Before using the autoclave, the instrument is cleaned using advanced medical equipment
including washers and chemical disinfectors. By far, autoclaves are the best tool for
eradicating germs. After every patient, any equipment that can be autoclaved, including as
mirrors, dental drills, and metal hand instruments, is completely sterilised. The autoclave
sterilises the instruments by submerging them in a long-lasting steam bath at an extremely
high pressure and temperature.
Chemical serialisation
There is some equipment that can't be placed inside of an autoclave, including plastics, work
surfaces, and dental chairs. These goods have undergone thorough disinfection using strong
chemicals that are intended to eradicate viruses and bacteria. Masks and gloves for each
patient, a fresh pair of disposables is put on. Any time a dentist performs surgery, they don
a mask. Cross infection can be prevented with these low-tech measures quite well.
Personal protective gear (PPE) is basically a collection of things you can wear to protect
yourself from a variety of hazardous situations. PPE is crucial because it gives you additional
security throughout the case of an injury or protection from the elements. It also helps you
plan for risks to your health.
Pharmacist
Premises
• Avoid using too much carpet or soft furniture when constructing or remodelling a
pharmacy.
• Ensure that spaces utilised for "near patient" testing have impermeable surfaces that are
simple to clean.
• Keep workspaces free of "clutter," save paperwork, and swiftly get rid of trash, especially
in consultation spaces.
When a patient vomits, some viruses, like the norovirus, can be disseminated via
aerosolized particles, and further vacuum cleansing of soft ground may do the same by
aerosolizing the virus. Impermeable surfaces, such tiles or vinyl, may be cleaned more easily,
hence they should be utilised especially in community pharmacies' "near patient" testing
facilities like consultation rooms. These should ideally have skirting boards that are "curved"
to prevent dirt from collecting in the corners, and there shouldn't be a lot of paperwork or
documents kept in these spaces.

Waste Disposal
• Use a foot-operated, lidded, and lined pedal bin to discard soiled tissues and paper towels
for hands drying.
• "Sharps" must be promptly disposed of using an approved container, whether they were
produced by treatment procedures in the pharmacy, such as travel vaccination clinics, or
were returned by Injecting Equipment Providers (IEPs).
• 'Sharps' containers that have received approval must be carefully made, filled to no more
than 2/3 capacity, sealed, & securely stored till returned for incinerated by a qualified
carrier. (The approved NHS GGC carrier should be used for IEPs.)
• Returned medications should be disposed of right away in the proper container.
• All garbage, including used packaging, shall be quickly removed from commercial spaces
and kept properly for routine collection by waste disposal services.

Cleaning and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
• Have a routine cleanings schedule carried out by designated employees, and clear
contaminated areas as quickly as feasible.
• Adhere to proper procedures for cleaning testing instruments used close to patients, such
as blood glucose monitors.
• A blood spill kit needs to be provided in pharmacies.
Community pharmacies must have established Operating Procedures (SOPs) for cleanliness
as well as a regular cleaning schedule. Clinical spaces should be cleaned at least once every
day, according to the rota and SOPs, and cleaning duties should be carried out by staff
members who have been assigned to that work.
Hand Washing Facilities
• In all clinical spaces, such as the dispensary and consultation rooms, a sink (preferably a
clinical basin) with warmed water should be accessible for hand washing.
• All front-desk employees should have easy access to hand washing facilities.
• The latest washing hands guide must be clearly marked at all basins designated to hand
washing.
• Paper towels, liquid soap, and a lid, lined foot operated pedals bin must be accessible at
all basins designated to hand washing.
• A separate sink should be available for the management of clinical samples

If possible, a sink should be designated for hand washing only. Liquid soap
dispensers filled with disposable soap pouches and paper towel dispensers should
be fitted to the wall at the sink. If hand creams and lotions are used a pump bottle
of hand cream with pump dispenser should be available for staff use
Occupational therapist
Occupational therapists must adhere to infection control regulations.
Wearing protective clothing, masks, gowns, eyewear, & face protection when splash or
spattering of body fluids or blood is expected to occur are some general infection control
techniques.
• Prior to and following client contact, complete hand washing using soap and water is
essential.
• If washing hands is not possible, use antibacterial hand gels with alcohol as a base. The
number of times that gel can be used effectively is specified on the label of the gel product
and should be adhered to.
• After every client interaction or if they get infected with bodily fluids in any other way, all
tools and equipment used with customers must be cleansed and disinfected.
In order to protect themselves and their clients from contact with blood, blood, excretions,
secretions, tissues, and surfaces as well as materials exposed to those substances during
interactions with clients, practitioners in all practise settings should adhere to acknowledged
universal infection control procedures. When working with patients who have open sores,
lesions, or skin that isn't intact, infection control procedures should also be used. When
working with patients, a healthcare provider who's had non-intact skin, open wounds, or
lesions must always keep them covered and adhere to infection control protocols.
Merit
Hospital covid19
Within a hospital is it key to prevent infection and control, here is how to and what to do for
staff and members of public as well as the patient
infection prevention
chain of contamination
Effective IPC requires an understanding of how infection spreads. There are six links in the
infection chain. Any link in the chain can be broken, so the more connections that have been
broken, the more protection there is.
The microbe and germ which causes disease is referred to as a pathogen. For instance, the
flu virus or the norovirus can both produce vomiting and diarrhoea. Pathogens reproduce
and reside in a reservoir. This may include, for instance, a person, the surroundings, or
meals and drinks. Pathogens depart the reservoir via a portal of egress. This could happen
through the disease is spread of someone who has the flu or another respiratory infection,
or it might happen through faeces or vomiting of someone who has diarrhoea.
Pathogens are passed from one individual or location to another through a mode of
transmission. It might spread through the air, contacting a contaminated object, from one
person's hands to another, or through contact with blood or other fluids. Pathogens enter a
new host through a portal of entrance. This might occur by inhalation, mucous membranes
(such as the mouth and nose linings), a wound, or an intrusive device like a catheter. The
person who's susceptible to infection is the susceptible host. This might be due to a few
things, including advanced age, lowered immunity, or underlying medical issues.
examples of breaking the chain

Link Example of breaking the chain
Pathogen Completing prescribed course of antibiotics reduces the opportunity for

the pathogen to become resistant to treatment.
Reservoir Regular cleaning or decontamination requirements will reduce the

number of pathogens present in the environment and on equipment.
Isolation or distancing, keeping away from others when infectious,

reduces the opportunity for the pathogen to find a new host (reservoir).
Portal of exit Covering nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing reduces the
chances of spread of respiratory infections.
Having dedicated toilet facilities and access to vomit bowls reduces the
chances of spread of gastrointestinal infections.
Means of Hand hygiene removes many pathogens and stops them moving between
transmission people.
Ventilation can help dilute certain pathogens such as viruses which cause
respiratory illness.
Portal of entry Fluid repellent surgical face masks and eye protection reduce the risks of
pathogens entering the body through mucus membranes.
Ensure any wounds are covered and only use indwelling devices, such as
Link Example of breaking the chain
catheters, when necessary.
Susceptible host Vaccination helps fight off infection and prevent disease, illness and
death.
The of regulating principles for care settings can be widely interpreted using the following
categories: lowering risk, changing what we are doing, how we work, where we operate,
and employing personal protection equipment. These limitations are rated in ascending
order of efficacy. PPE is the top-level control and is only used after all other controls has
failed to sufficiently reduce risks. To be effective, PPE must be used properly, for instance by
putting on and removing it off properly. This approach to risk mitigation is seen as less
reliable because it depends on everyone's compliance.
lowering the risk
Immunization, testing, and isolation are examples of public health interventions that assist
lower the infection risk. Immunization against respiratory infections like the flu and COVID-
19 is a crucial step in lowering the chance of developing serious illness. Diseases can be
stopped from spreading at work by taking precautions including staying home from work
when ill, encouraging others to stay home if they are contagious, and quickly identifying and
reporting infections.
Adapting our behaviour
When a risk, like an outbreak, arises, we might need to alter our course of action. Reducing
communal activities, restricting visitor traffic, or including disinfecting towards a more
frequent cleaning service are a few examples of how to do this.
Changing our workplace
Even while we may not have been able to modify our workplace, we can make it as safe as
feasible. We can decrease the likelihood that viruses will survive in the environment, for
instance, by enhancing ventilation, ensuring that fittings and fixtures are in excellent repair
and are simple to clean, and observing water safety regulations.
Adapting our working methods
Risk can be decreased by altering the way people organise work. Reducing increasing
number of individuals using a location at once is one example, as is minimising staff mobility
between settings. The risk of infection at work can also be decreased by administrative
measures such risk assessments, training, audits, and the provision of clear signage and
instructions.
standard measures to prevent infection
Effective infection control measures (SICPs) need to be applied by all employees for all
individuals, regardless of whether an infection is recognized to be there or not, in order to
maintain safety. The fundamental IPC procedures required to lower the probability of
pathogen spread are known as SICPs.
These fundamental IPC practises include hand washing, respiratory and cough hygiene, PPE,
safe care equipment management, safe environment management, laundry management,
spill management for blood and body fluids, waste management, and exposure
management.
Blood and other bodily fluids, secretions as well as excretions (other than perspiration), non-
intact skin or mucous, and any tools or objects in the world that might have picked up an
infection are all sources of infection.
By evaluating risk to or from people, SICP applications are chosen. Task, amount of
interaction, and/or anticipated exposure levels to blood and/or similar bodily fluids are all
included in this.
Washing hands is a method of hand cleaning that helps to get rid of any potential infections.
To be effective, hand hygiene must be practised at the proper time, using the proper
product, with the proper technique, and being made simple to do.
According to the Health Organisation (WHO), there are specific times when employees
should wash their hands:
After contact to blood or bodily fluids, before touching someone, access public clean or
antiseptic process (if necessary), after touching someone or having considerable interaction
with their environment.
Other times when hand washing should be practised include after taking off personal
protective equipment (PPE); after using the restroom; in between different caregiving tasks
with the same individual (such as feeding them; helping them wash); after having to clean or
handling waste; etc during handling food.
The hand sanitiser should be suitable for the circumstance. Apart from the following
situations, where liquid soap & water must be used, alcohol-based hand rub is used:
Hands are dirty, infected, soiled, or could have encountered bodily fluids. When providing
care for a person who is vomiting or having diarrhoea, keep in mind that alcohol does not
kill the bacteria that typically cause these disorders. Alcohol-based handwashes must
adhere to a minimum alcohol content of 60%. Use of alcohol-based hand rubs must be risk-
adjusted because they are flammable and dangerous if eaten. The proper method for
administering alcohol-based hand rubs entails applying the solution and briskly rubbing
hands together to ensure that the solution contacts all areas of the hands till the solution
has evaporated.
When washing hands, workers should:
 use a liquid soap (bars of soap can harbour pathogens)

 use tepid running water
 dry hands with paper towels
 not use nailbrushes as they can damage the skin, creating an environment for
pathogens to thrive
The proper method should be used when washing your hands:
1. Use warm running water to wet your hands.
2. Apply liquid soap and vigorously rub your hands together for 20 seconds to make sure the
soap gets on all the surfaces of your hands and wrists.
3. After skin-to-skin contact and if the forearms have unintentionally come into touch with
bodily fluids, hands should be washed.
4. Thoroughly rinse.
5. Use paper towels to dry
Regular application of an emollient hand lotion will shield the skin first from the
drying effects of proper hand hygiene. Hand cream from communal tubs shouldn't
be applied. A clinician must be consulted if a certain soap/alcohol product causes
skin problems.
When giving personal care, improve hand hygiene to make it safer and more effective:
 • when caring for oneself, "be nude below the elbows." This entails wearing short
sleeves as well as sleeves that are tightly folded above the elbow; taking off jewellery
from the hands and wrists; wearing only one plain metal ring, which should be
moved a bit during hand washing to allow cleaning underneath the ring; and
securing bangles accessorised for religious reasons higher up the arm to allow for
washing of the wrists and hands.
 • cover injuries or grazes with waterproof treatment; • have neat, short fingernails
that are free of nail products, such as fake nails.
 • Locate handwashing stations as near as feasible to the place where medical care is
provided or think about using personal alcohol-based hand rubs.
 • After washing your hands, apply an alcohol-based hand rub if you can't wash your
hands adequately.
• When it's difficult to find running water for washing hands, use hand wipes first, then
a hand rub with alcohol. However, there is little support for this, so you should wash your
hands with water and soap as soon as you can.
personal defence tools
Evaluate the probability of blood or body fluids, bodily fluids, secretions, or excretions,
procedure-related dangers, and the risk of pathogen transmission to the worker when
evaluating the use of PPE.
When deemed required to limit the risk of disease transmission and other risks related to
care tasks, PPE should be worn. PPE is the final ingredient in the control hierarchy but is only
applied when it is determined that all other measures are insufficient to reduce the risk of
contamination.
Wearing unneeded PPE has a negative influence on worker comfort, raises costs, and has a
negative environmental impact if not removed at the appropriate time. Therefore, the
usage of PPE should be based on the risk assessment method. Advice from local IPC teams
might be consulted when unclear of what PPE is appropriate circumstances.
If at all feasible, keep PPE near to the site of application and in a clean, dry, closed container
or dispenser. Consider practicality, simplicity of usage, the safety of the patients you are
caring for, and other factors when choosing where to store PPE. This can entail keeping PPE
in dispensers or containers with lids. PPE must never be kept on the ground. If the person's
consent is obtained and it is safe to do so, arrangements for workers who help people in
their homes may include storage in a dry, clean space protected from dust, like in sealed
containers within person's house or in containers in the worker's vehicle. properly disposed
of in accordance with local rules for handling infectious waste. Gloves - Consider the
dangers to the individual and the worker when determining if gloves are necessary and
when choosing the type of glove. Polythene gloves, for instance, aren't used for personal
hygiene or in situations where exposure to bodily fluids is possible.
Who is at risk, regardless of whether sterile as well as non-sterile gloves are needed, what
the risk is (possibility of exposure to blood, bodily fluid, secretions, or excretions), and
where the risk is (contact with non-intact mucous membranes and skin all through general
care as well as any invasive procedures), should all be considered in the assessment. Gloves
should normally not be worn unless a particular care task calls for them because they are
not a substitute for good hand hygiene.
Wear gloves when providing care that involves touching mucous membranes or non-intact
skin, and whenever exposure to blood, bodily fluids, or excretions is anticipated, such as
when providing personal care or treating wounds. Whenever using topical creams or drugs
that could be absorbed into to the care provider applying them, gloves should be worn
Aprons - When there is a chance that clothing may encounter blood, bodily fluids,
secretions, or excretions, wear plastic disposable aprons. This could involve tasks like taking
care of oneself or managing dirty laundry. Use single-use plastic aprons for a single surgery
or episode of care. When there is a chance that bodily fluids will splash around a lot and
aprons won't offer enough protection, gowns should be worn. When polluted, when the
care activity is finished, and when caring for different persons, dispose of aprons.
facial masks - Type IIR fluid-repellent face masks shield the user from the environment by
creating a barrier that is fluid repellent. They offer supplementary defence against
respiratory droplets. Individual usage goods - Only one person is supposed to utilise these
items for a certain number of times. They cannot be utilised by distinct people. Observe the
cleaning and re-use instructions provided by the manufacturer. environmental clean-up -
cleaning personnel must be aware of their obligations under the COSHH and related laws, as
well as the Health & Safety at Work etc. Act of 1974. Workers should be given the PPE
needed to complete cleaning chores safely. Ventilation - By dilution and dispersal of the
microorganisms that cause respiratory illnesses, ventilation is a useful preventative
measure. Increased window and vent openings are a good idea; even a tiny amount of
opening can help. control over laundry - Depending on the context, workers have varying
levels of accountability and ownership for the handling of laundry. Care is provided in a
range of various environments.
It's critical to make sure staff members have the proper laundry management knowledge for
the environment in which they are providing help. The three types of laundry are as follows:
Used laundry that hasn't been tainted by blood or bodily fluids is considered clean. Clean
laundry has been cleaned and therefore is ready for use. • Infectious - clothing worn by
someone who is known to be contagious or who is suspected of being so, as well as clothing
or linens polluted with blood or bodily fluids, such as faeces. handling spills of blood and
bodily fluids: A spill is when pollutants unintentionally leak into the environment. Pathogens
can be found in large quantities in blood and bodily fluids. Keep others away from an area
until the bodily fluids have been cleaned up in the case of a spill. Blood and other bodily
fluid spills need to be cleaned up very once since they could transmit infection.
handling of waste
Trash management is crucial to ensuring that there is no risk of infection or damage from
waste. The proper management of waste provides extra advantages over safe working
procedures in terms of the cost and reduce the environmental of waste. People are helped
in a range of settings, and employees' levels of power and accountability over waste
management vary. According to the hazard, all employees who manage garbage should
know how to separate and store waste for collection or disposal. Waste bags are frequently
colour labelled in nursing homes. However, trash management companies could have a
various colour coding scheme.
General or household garbage is black.
offensive waste is yellow with a black stripe.
Orange: contaminated.
Yellow - polluted infectious waste

management of infection
Standard safety measures might not be enough to stop an infection from spreading. When a
person has an illness that is suspected or confirmed, it is important to determine whether
any additional steps are necessary. Additional safety measures are determined by: • the
pathogen responsible for the suspected or confirmed infection or colonisation; and
• the pathogen's mode of transmission
• the illness's intensity
• the location of support or care for the individual
· The process or task being carried out
To reduce the risk of transmitting an infection to others, it is crucial to identify someone

who has an infection and the pathogen that is responsible for it.
Be on the lookout for persons displaying any unusual behaviour or displaying signs of an
infection. Consider it suspicious if many than one people is exhibiting the same symptoms;
this may point to spread, even if there are no evident connections between the individuals.
Think about the people who might need to be aware of this information, such as the local
infection control team, primary healthcare network, and social care providers.
By limiting contact with people during their contagious phase, one can lessen the likelihood
that an infection will spread.
Employees with a suspected or proven virus that can be transmitted to others should stay
home until they are no longer at risk of infecting others. An individual evaluation of the
specific conditions and the pathogen invading will be required. People who are contagious
should still receive help, but different arrangements must be established for their care.
Employees may utilise alternative PPE equipment, and individuals may be counselled to
avoid social engagement or to separate themselves. Dependent on the pathogen's method
of transmission—some diseases have multiple modes—additional precautions are classified.
These 3 categories are:
• contact precautions, which are employed to prevent and manage illnesses that spread by
direct contact with people or inadvertently from the person's immediate environment. This
is how cross-infection spreads the most frequently.
• Droplet precautions - used it to prevent the spread of illnesses across small distances via
bigger droplets from one person's respiratory system straight into another person's eyes,
nose, or mouth. the infection of the respiratory tract is invaded by drops
• Airborne precautions - used to prevent the spread of illnesses without having to come into
close contact with a person via aerosols from one person's respiratory system into another
person's eyes, nose, or mouth. The respiratory system tract is exposed to aerosols.
Isolation is used to stop the spreading infection to other people. Depending on the
environment the individual is in, this goal will be accomplished in a different way.
To lessen the chance of infection spreading to other members of the household or care
facility during their contagious period, the individual should be advised to stay in one
location, typically their bedroom. Isolation can be challenging for some people.
Opportunities for people to access outdoor space should be offered since they have the
willingness & feel capable. Based just on pathogen causing the infection, consideration
needs to be given to avoiding close contact and restricting mixing with sensitive individuals.
Isolation spaces should be given extra cleaning considerations. If it is not possible to provide
this space with its own restrooms and laundry facilities, think about creating a schedule for
using and maintaining shared or community facilities. Any additional PPE should be
considered.
Workers must understand the person's infection and how to support them. Workers should
be alert for infection-related symptoms in their patients, such as fever, diarrhoea, or
vomiting, as well as more unusual symptoms in elderly clients, such as unanticipated falls
and confusion. Maintaining people's nutrition and hydration is important, and additional
staff checks can be necessary.
You must take precautions to stop the spread of germs if you are visit a friend or family
member. The most effective technique to inhibit the transmission of viruses is to: If you're
sick, stay at home, when instructed or when infections could be spread through the air,
wear a face mask, Keep your immunizations current. Alcohol-based Hand Cleaners and Hand
Washing. When you enter and exit the patient's room, whilst using the restroom, since
touching a patient, and both before and after donning gloves, wash your hands. When you
are ill, stay at home. If a member of the staff or a guest feels ill or has a fever, they should
stay at home. All the hospital patients are thereby protected.
Stay at home if you suspect you may have been infected to COVID-19, chickenpox, cold flu,
or any diseases.
Keep in mind that what may seem like a minor cold to you may be a serious problem for
someone that is ill and hospitalised. Before going to the hospital, phone your directly and
ask about your symptoms if you're unsure if it's safe to go.
Isolation - Visitors visiting hospital patients should wait just at nurses' station while going
into the patient's room if there is an isolation notice on the door.
Barriers created by isolation precautions aid in stopping the spread of pathogens within the
medical facility. That you and a patient you are seeing need them to be safe. The safeguards
are also required to safeguard other hospital patients.
Visitors may be expected to wear glove, a gown, a mask, or any other covering whenever a
patient has been in isolation.
• Must not enter the patient's room; • Must not touch the patient.
Additional Steps You Can Take to Prevent Infections

The most vulnerable hospital patients to the negative effects of diseases like colds and the
flu are those who are very young, very old, or extremely unwell. Get vaccinated against the
flu every year to avoid contracting it and spreading it to others. Get COVID-19
immunizations in accordance with the most recent guidelines from Centre of Disease
Control to avoid contracting COVID-19 and spreading it to others. Check with your doctor
what further vaccinations you require.
Take your hands away whenever you visit a person in the hospital. Instead, then coughing or
sneezing into the air, do so into a tissue or the bend of your elbow.
Covid-19: Experts warn MPs that the government did not safeguard employees at the height
of the epidemic
According to information provided to MPs, healthcare workers in England so at peak of the

COVID-19 virus were not adequately protected and were compelled to work in a dangerous
setting.
On July 21, specialists complained to the health and social services committee about the
government & NHS management's failure to supply personnel with enough tests and
personal protective equipment. (PPE). In order to support its investigation of the handling of
the COVID-19 outbreak, the committee began gathering material.
Francis Crick Institute director Paul Nurse expressed his opinion that a major factor in the
issues was the failure to put stronger testing methods in place in the early stages of the
pandemic.
He stated, "At the peak of the virus, our independent research—which confirms work done
somewhere else that up as 45% of healthcare professionals were sick and spreading the
disease to their co-workers and patients, although they weren't being tested consistently.
We weren't offering adequate safety in the healthcare setting, which is crucial because it
safeguards both our healthcare staff and the most defenceless members of our community.
Many of these individuals are dying due of what they do, and they ought to be able to work
in a secure atmosphere. Better is due to them.
Another witness, regius Doctor of Medicine at Oxford John Bell concurred, stating that it
was a serious omission that PCR [polymerase chains reaction] testing was not used more
aggressively in the healthcare industry. There was a rumour, which I believe is probably
true, that NHS organisations and the NHS avoided testing their hospital staff out of fear that
they would need to send everyone home and end up without a workforce.
Capacity
former health secretary and committee head Jeremy Hunt questioned Chris Whitty,
England's chief medical officer, during his appearance before the committee on why he had
not suggested requiring routine testing for all medical personnel.
Whitty stated, "At first, we lacked the capacity. Even now, if we performed routine testing
on even a very infrequent basis for any member of the medical team, we would still be at
the limits of our capability. However, as this is improving, the capacity limitations are easing.
I'm not opposed to routine checks of healthcare professionals, but there are some factors
that are uncertain. For example, we do not yet know the ideal rate to use, when to test at
various epidemiological levels, or what kinds of incidences to be concerned about.
During the first 5 weeks of the pandemic, MPs questioned what the UK still hadn't done
those other nations had done better.
"I think the UK was late to set up testing, to get in place extra medical capacity, and also to
make sure the healthcare professionals were covered with the PPE," said Jeremy Farrar,
head of a Wellcome Trust and advisor to the government's Scientific Advisory Committee for
Emergencies (SAGE).
Farrar claimed that the current threat was complacency. "It retains the same clinical
syndrome, it still kills the same amount of people, and as soon as the lockdowns expire, if
we don't have mechanisms to modify the fundamentals—that is, diagnoses, tests,
treatments, and vaccines—then it will spread like it did at the end of December.
This is a polices and procedure for a care home

Protocol for Essential Care Givers:
As the Essential Care Giver will have closer physical contact with the resident and may spend longer in and
around the Care Home it is important that they take further steps to reduce the risk of transmission.
The Essential Care Giver must remain at least one metre distance when in the presence of staff and any other
residents they may encounter.
The Essential Care Giver must not enter staff rest areas.
Testing Arrangements:
The Essential Care Giver no longer needs to test.
The Essential Care Giver must use the same PPE as the care home staff when providing direct personal care
interventions (apron, gloves and a mask).
The Essential Care Giver will be shown the correct procedure for Donning & Doffing either by video or care home
staff. When new to the role of Essential Cr Giver it is useful for a member of the care home team to observe the
person donning and doffing to monitor correct procedures are in use
VISITORS GUIDELINES
These guidelines are in place to protect our care community, including residents, staff and visitors.
We understand how important visits are to residents and their family and friends. We need to work together to
make sure that visits are safe for everyone. As we move closer towards a nearer normal lifestyle, we also need to
be mindful of caring for each other.
We have created this Visitors Guidelines document in line with the recent Government
"Guidance on Care Home Visiting 24th February 2022.
All visitors are requested to read and follow the guidelines prior to and during any visits.
Who can visit:
o Each resident can have visitors who may enter the Home for regular internal visits.
This is likely to be facilitated in garden rooms or in the persons bedroom if the resident feels better in
their room.
o Families can use the communal areas with their relative provided that there are not too many residents
using the space.
An "Essential Care Giver" is able to visit in addition to the other visitors. Please read the Essential Care-
giver information for guidance about this role
o In order to keep the risk of transmission reduced, visitors inside the Home must keep their movement
around the home limited.
o Visitors need to keep their distance from staff and residents and with this in mind visitors may only sit in
communal areas with their relative as long as there are not a lot of other residents in there. This will
assist us in keeping the risk of transmission down to a minimum.
o Visitors must inform the staff when they have finished their visit so that they can clean the room and
allow the decontamination time period between visits.
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o Visitors may take refreshment in their relative's bedroom. Visitors are not able to have refreshments in
communal areas, nor use the communal refreshments areas.
o Visitors no longer have to test before coming to the home. We ask they complete the Declaration form
that they do not have symptoms. They may be asked to have their temperature checked. There may be
occasions where the care home may ask the visitor to test before entering the care home. This may be
if a visitor is a close contact of a person with COVID-19 in the community and their relative is considered
extremely vulnerable. In this case the home will provide the lateral flow test.
Infection Control Measures:

o Visitors must telephone the care home the day before their visit, to make sure the situation in the
service has not changed that would restrict visiting (e.g., an outbreak).
o All visitors and all people in the visitors' households must be free of any COVID-19 symptoms on the
day of their visit and must not be unwell on the day of their visits.
o Wherever possible, visitors should try to walk or travel by car and avoid public transport when visiting
the home, in line with the latest government advice on travel during COVID-19.
Visitors must not come into the home if they are feeling unwell, even if they have tested negative for COVID-19,
fully vaccinated and have had the booster jab. This is because other viruses and bugs can be equally dangerous
to vulnerable people. The visitor must wait 5 days until they feel better before returning to visits to the Home
Essential Care Givers need to follow the same testing regime as the care home staff.
Currently this is an LFD test before entering the home twice a week and registered on the care home UON
number.
PPE Requirements:
All visitors need to wear a fluid repellent mask. The mask must fit securely over the nose, mouth and chin. If the
visitor does not have one, the Home have available appropriate masks. Non-surgical face coverings are not
sufficient to protect people within a care setting.
In certain circumstances (e.g., Essential Care Giver) they will also need to wear an apron and disposable gloves
such as when providing close personal care
Screening Questions
The following questions will be asked of all visitors on arrival
o Have you been feeling unwell recently?
o Have you had recent onset of a new continuous cough?
o Do you have a high temperature?
o Have you noticed a loss of, or change in, normal se se of ste or smell?
COVIDO3. VISITORS POLICY

This policy is in place to protect our care community, including residents, staff and visitors.
We understand how important visits are to residents and their family and friends. We need to work together to
make sure that visits are safe for everyone. As we move closer towards a nearer normal lifestyle, we also need to
be mindful of caring for each other.
We have created this Visitors Policy in line with the recent Government guidelines "COVID-19 supplement to the
infection prevention and control resource for adult social care" updated on 24th August 2022
All visitors are requested to read and follow the Visitor Guidelines document prior to and during any visits
Who can visit:
o Each resident can have visitors who may enter the Home for regular internal visits.
This is likely to be facilitated in garden rooms or in the persons bedroom if the resident feels better in
their room.
o Families can use the communal areas with their relative provided that there are not too many residents
using the space and there is adequate ventilation.
o An "Essential Care Giver" is able to visit in addition to the other visitors. Please read the Essential Care-
giver information for guidance about this role
o Other options for visiting will continue such as outdoor visits, rooms with substantial screens or from
behind windows
o In order to keep the risk of transmission reduced, visitors inside the Home must keep their movement
around the home limited
o Visitors need to keep their distance from staff and residents and with this in mind visitors may only sit in
communal areas with their relative as long as there are not a lot of other residents in there. This will
assist us in keeping the risk of transmission down to a minimum.
o Visitors must inform the staff when they have finished their visit so that they can clean the room and
allow the decontamination time period between visits.
o Visitors may take refreshment in their relative's bedroom. Visitors are not able to have refreshments in
communal areas, nor use the communal refreshments areas.
o Visitors no longer have to test before coming to the home. We ask they complete the Declaration form
that they do not have symptoms. They may be asked to have their temperature checked. There may be
occasions where the care home may ask the visitor to test before entering the care home. This may be
if a visitor is a close
COVID 01. Covid19 Outbreak Policy

2. Scope
2.1 The following roles may be affected by this policy:
• All staff
2.2 The following Residents may be affected by this policy:
• Residents
2.3 The following stakeholders may be affected by this policy:
o Family
o Commissioners
o External health professionals
o Local Authoritv
o NHS
o Public Health England
o Health Protection Agency
3. Objectives
3.1 The company will ensure that it follows an agreed plan to prevent, control and limit the spread of COVID-19 in
the homes and the wider community.
4.Policy
4.1 The company understands that good infection prevention (including cleanliness) is essential to ensure that
Residents who are cared for receive safe and effective care.
Effective prevention and control of infection must be part of everyday practice and must be applied consistently
by everyone. Good management and organisational processes are crucial to make sure that high standards of
infection prevention (including cleanliness) are developed and maintained.
We understand that it is critical that we manage any outbreak of infection to prevent spread and to protect
Residents, staff and visitors and the wider community. This policy details how this will be achieved and how we
will aim to identify, prevent, limit and manage the spread of COVID-19 within the Company.
4.2 Human Rights and Outbreak Management
The Human Rights Act 1998 discusses personal freedom in relation to the isolation of Residents and states that
a person has the right not to be deprived of their liberty even

for a short period. It is important that the least restrictive options are taken, that any decisions that are made are
documented and that, where the Resident has capacity, the reasons for isolating them to manage the outbreak of
a disease is explained and consent is obtained. Where Residents lack capacity, a best interest decision will take
place and the outcome recorded. Where required, the responsible Deprivation of Liberty team will be involved
5. Procedure
5.1 Standard Practice During COVID-19
o Visits by health and social care staff will be limited to only essential care/work/activity
o No one (visitors or staff) with symptoms of suspected COVID-19 must enter the
o Care Homes.
. Those allowed to enter should wash their hands immediately for 20 seconds with warm water and soap
and wear a mask.
o Visitors should also complete an LFD test before coming into the home. If the test is positive the visitor
will be asked to leave immediately.
o The highest standard of hand hygiene must be implemented by every member of staff
o Isolation and appropriate care of all COVID positive residents will be carried out as per the government
guidelines.
5.2 Preparing for COVID-19
o There must be a 100% staff adherence rate to infection prevention and control policies and related
COVID-19 documents at the care homes.
o Staff must all follow hand hygiene as detailed in training. This will be discussed in supervision
o The Company will ensure that there are adequate supplies of tissues, soap, paper towels and cleaning
materials
o The Company will ensure there is adequate PPE available. This includes disposable gloves, aprons,
fluid- repellent face masks and eye protection
o The Company will ensure that there are appropriate linen management systems and clinical waste
disposal systems in place
o The Company will provide alcohol-based hand gels if safe to do so
o The Company will follow Public Health guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19):
admission and care of people in care homes

5.3 Isolation Procedures for a Single Case of
COVID-19
The Company will:
o Isolate the Resident in a single room with en-suite facilities for 10 days from the onset of symptoms of
COVID-19.
o Ensure that staff wear the correct PPE in line with the policy of Company and the locally agreed PPE
requirements.
o Ensure good hygiene procedures are maintained.
o Ensure that personal waste (used tissues, continence pads and other soiled items), discarded PPE and
disposable cleaning cloths will be bagged in orange bags, securely tied, bagged again, securely tied
and put directly into a separate bin for at least 72 hours (away from other waste) before being disposed
of as normal.
Protecting Other Residents
o Residents will be able to have one visitor in the event of an outbreak (2 or more cases), even if the
resident is COVID positive. Outdoor, window and well-ventilated screen visits can continue
o They will be monitored for any symptoms
o The Company will cohort (group together) contacts within one suite rather than individually, if isolation in
single rooms is not possible, or
o Cohort unexposed Residents in another suite within the home, away from the cases and exposed
contacts, and
Ensure that extremely clinically vulnerable Residents stay in a single room and do not share bathrooms
with other Residents
o Staff must wear gloves and surgical face masks
o If possible, staff will only work with either confirmed, symptomatic or asymptomatic Residents
o The Company will support good hand hygiene with all Residents
o Cough etiquette will be promoted
5.4 Contacts and Unexposed Residents
For the purposes of the COVID-19 pandemic, a contact within the Company is a Resident who has spent more
than 15 minutes within 2 metres of an infectious case. The following action must take place if there is a confirmed
or suspected case:
Residents who are fully vaccinated and have been in contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 will not
normally have to undertake testing unless they show symptoms
o Will cohort Residents who have been in contact with the case within one suite rather than individually, if
isolation in single rooms is not possible, or
o Will cohort unexposed Residents in another suite within the care home away from the cases and
exposed contacts,

• Where Residents have dementia and walk with purpose, a safe area will be established for them to walk where
keeping them in self isolation is not possible.
This may be, for example, re-purposing a communal area
5.5 Declaring a Suspected Outbreak
During the COVID-19 pandemic an outbreak is defined as:
o Two or more cases which meet the clinical case definition
o Which have arisen within the same 14-day period
A case is defined as:
• A positive laboratory swab test result
A possible case may include one or more of the following
o New persistent cough or
o Coughing for more than 1 hour, or more than 3 coughing episodes in 24 hours, or
o Fever of 37.8°C or higher or
o Increased falls
o New onset of influenza like illness or
o Worsening shortness of breath or
o New onset/worsening confusion, particularly in those with dementia
o Chest tightness
o Fatigue
o Headache
o Muscle or joint ache
Sore throat
o Runny nose or congestion
o Loss of sense of smell or taste
o Nausea and vomiting
5.6 Responding to an Outbreak of COVID-19
If an outbreak is suspected, staff must:
o Discuss symptomatic Residents with NHS 111/GP as an assessment may be required
o Inform the local community Infection Control and Prevention Team (in hours) and the PHE Health
Protection Team (out of hours) of the situation immediately for advice on infection prevention and
control measures
o The General Manager will seek guidance on any local reporting requirements of an outbreak as part of
business continuity planning and will ensure that relevant contact details and escalation plans are in
place within the home.
o Adhere to all infection prevention and contro sures
o Implement Social Distancing measures for one wherever possible, and follow the shielding guidance for
the extreme!
o vulnerable group

o Implement regular monitoring of COVID-19 symptoms amongst Residents
o Measure every Resident's temperature twice daily and record the reading. Staff will be looking for fever
or new respiratory symptoms and immediately report any new suspected cases to NHS 111/GP
o The Company will keep a daily log of suspected and confirmed cases
o Provide accurate information, as required, to the local community Infection Control and Prevention
Team and implement the advice received from the GP or other infection specialists (e.g.,
partial/complete closure of the home to new move in's if indicated)
o If an outbreak is declared advice from HT may be different depending on the circumstances.
o Please refer to COVID 05. Living with COVID policy for guidance on testing frequencies for staff and
residents.
o Continue to liaise with the local Health Protection Team until the outbreak is declared over
5.7 Uniform/Clothing
o Uniforms should be transported home in a disposable plastic bag
o Staff must not travel to or from home in their uniform. They must change at work.
o Uniforms must be laundered:

o Separately from other household linen
o In a load not more than half the machine capacity
o At the maximum temperature the fabric can tolerate, then ironed or tumble dried
o Staff must wear a clean, laundered uniform/clothing every shift
o Staff must wash and dry their hands after they have removed their uniform and placed it in a plastic bag
and after loading it into the washing machine
o The plastic bag must be disposed of in a lidded waste bin
5.8 Hand
Hygiene
Water
and Forearm
- Soap and
98ER.
o Use liquid soap, warm water and paper towels
o Ensure that hand washing facilities are available in each Resident's room
o Ensure that hand washing facilities are available in key areas, e.g. kitchen, sluice, laundry, utility rooms,
toilets, bathrooms and cleaners' room
o Washing hands and forearms with soap and water for at least 20 seconds is essential at the following
times:
. Between Residents and between tasks for the same Resident
o When caring for Residents with diarrhea and/or vomiting
o When hands are visibly dirty
o When a build-up of alcohol-based hand rub can be felt on the hands
o At the beginning and end of shift
o Before and after eating, drinking or smoking
o After using the toilet
o After handling waste or dirty laundry
o Before and after cleaning duties
Alcohol-Based Hand Rub
o The company will undertake a risk assessment to ensure that alcohol-based hand rub is safe to use,
store or carry.
o Staff will use it on hands that are visibly clean
o Staff will not use it when caring for Residents with diarrhea and/or vomiting
o The company will provide 60% or above alcoh based hand rubs
o Ensure that staff understand that alcohol-baseu hand rubs are effective against enveloped viruses such
as the virus that causes COVID-19

5.9 Cleaning During the COVID-19 Pandemic
In addition to regular cleaning, staff will clean all communal contact surfaces (e.g. door handles, grab-rails, arm
rests, remote controls, buzzers, taps, flush handles) periodically throughout the day
To reduce the number of surfaces, the company will remove magazines, soft furnishings and fans in communal
areas to support thorough cleaning
5.10 Environmental Cleaning
o Domestic staff will be advised to clean the isolation room(s) after all other unaffected areas of have
been cleaned. The isolation room cleaning will, wherever possible, be undertaken by staff who are also
providing care in the isolation room
o Staff responsible for undertaking the cleaning with detergent and disinfectant must be familiar with these
processes and procedures
In Preparation:
o Collect any cleaning equipment and waste bags required before entering the room
o Before entering the room, perform hand hygiene, then put on a fluid-resistant surgical mask, disposable
plastic apron and gloves

On Entering the Room, Domestic Staff will:
o Keep the door closed with windows open to improve airflow and ventilation whilst using detergent and
disinfection products
o Bag any disposable items that have been used for the care of the Resident as clinical waste
Cleaning Process
o Use disposable cloths/paper roll/disposable mop heads, to clean and disinfect all hard
surfaces/floor/chairs/door handles/reusable non-invasive care equipment/sanitary fittings in the room,
following one of the 2 options below:
o Use either a combined detergent disinfectant solution at a dilution of 1000 parts per million (ppm)
available chlorine (av.cl.) or
o A neutral purpose detergent followed by disinfection (1000 ppm av.cl.)
o Follow the manufacturer's instructions for dilution, application and contact times for all detergents and
disinfectants
o Any cloths and mop heads used must be disposed of as single-use items
o Clean and disinfect any reusable, non-invasive care equipment, such as blood pressure monitors, digital
thermometers, glucometers, that are in the room prior to their removal
o Clean all reusable equipment systematically from the top or furthest away point
o For carpeted floors/items/soft furnishings that cannot withstand chlorine-releasing agents, consult the
manufacturer's instructions for a suitable alternative to use following, or combined with, detergent
cleaning
On Leaving the Room:
• Discard detergent/disinfectant solutions safely at the disposal point
. Dispose of all waste as clinical waste
o Clean, dry and store re-usable parts of cleaning equipment, such as mop handles
o Remove and discard PPE as clinical waste as per local policy
o Perform hand hygiene
5.11 Clinical Waste
• All consumable waste items that have been in contact with the individual, including used tissues, should be put
in a plastic rubbish b double bagged and tied. This should be put in a secure location awaiting uplift
. Waste such as urine or faces from individuals witl. Jossible or confirmed COVID-19 does not require special
treatment and can be discharged into the sewage system. If able, the Resident can use their en-suite WC

• Communal facilities must not be used. Staff will follow the policy and procedure for waste management
5.12 Laundry
• Any towels or other laundry used by the Resident will be treated as infectious and placed in an alginate bag
then a secondary clear bag. This must then be removed from the isolation room and placed directly into the
laundry hamper/bag. Take the laundry hamper as close to the point of use as possible, but do not take it inside
the isolation room.
When handling linen do not:
o Rinse, shake or sort linen on removal from beds
o Place unused infectious linen on the floor or any other surface
o Re-handle used/infectious linen when bagged
o Overfill laundry receptacles
o Place inappropriate items in a laundry receptacle
Laundry must be tagged with the care area and date, and stored in a designated, safe lockable area
whilst awaiting uplift or laundering.
5.13 Training and Education
Care Workers responsible for the care of Residents will have competence and knowledge in the following:
o Effective hand-washing techniques and the importance of hand washing after contact with each and
every Resident
o Use of alcohol gel rubs, whilst pointing out that these are a poor substitute for proper hand washing.
Refer to the Infection Control Policy and Procedure
o Wearing disposable aprons, gloves and regularly changing them . Not wearing care uniform clothing
while outside of the service premises, e.g., on the way to and from work
o Carrying out barrier care of Residents who have an infection
o Donning and doffing of PPE.
5.14 Caring for Staff
o Please refer to COVID 05 policy "Living with COVID-19" for testing protocols.
o the staff member should comply with all relevant infection control precautions and PPE should be worn
properly throughout the day
o if the staff member works with residents and are highly vulnerable to COVID-19 (as determined by the
organisation), a risk assessment should be undertaken, and consideration given to redeployment during
the outbreak
5.20 Staff roles access zones following an outbreak

Front of House Manager
o Access to reception area only. If staffing levels become critical, Front of House Manager will be
assigned to support a suite where required and deployed by the General Manager.
Maintenance Person
o Minimal but full access to the home when required for critical maintenance issues. If staffing levels
become severely critical, may be deployed to a unit at the discretion of the General Manager.
General Manager, Assistant General Manager, Deputy Manager
o Minimal but full access to the home to enable them to respond to situations in the home if required.
This must be risk assessed at the time to deem if this is necessary. If staffing levels become extremely
critical, they will be assigned suites at the discretion of the General Manager and/or senior management
of the company.

suite at a time to collect and return so there is no cross contamination. Catering staff will only be assigned to a
suite if staffing levels reach very critical levels and this will be discussed with senior
management.
Domestic Staff
Where able, increase domestic hours and they work on one suite only. If this is not possible, they work on two
suites maximum with full handwashing before and after any transfer of suites.
Domestic staff will be assigned to care duties if staffing levels reach critical on the suites.
Laundry Staff
o Restricted to laundry area only. They must inform suites when clothing and linen is ready to be returned
and one suite at a time should collect from the corridor door. The trolley should be fully decontaminated
before returning and laundry staff should clean the trolley down again before sending the next suite load
out.
Laundry staff do not go on the suites unless deployed by the General Manager if staffing levels are very
critical.
Care Staff 8am - 8pm
o Restricted for the full shift on the suite. Communicate by phone and resources required left at the door.
Breaks to be taken on the suite.
Restricted smoking times and only at the permission of management and must seek approval before
going.
Handovers to be shared via phone and PCS communication.
Walk round documents to be available and completed by a designated person, three times per day for the
General Manager to view and respond accordingly ensuring we have a safe and clean environment for the
residents to live in.
Night Care Staff
o To stay on suites as per days and respond as above. Must seek approval from the Night Care Manager
before smoking
Designated Senior Care
o There will be times when there will not be enough senior staff on duty so cannot be restricted to a suite
fully. Medication will have to be completed from the corridor by clinical rooms and if the trolley has to be
taken on the suite, it is sanitised and wiped down before and after. Full handwashing before and after if
moving to other suites.
Activity CoOrdinator's/Lifestyle Managers
. Assigned to the most dependent dementia suite in the home to support the staff with residents who
need the extra support in their daily lives. They are to ensure all other suites have amble supplies
5. Procedure
5.1. Staff Testing
5.1a There is no need to complete asymptomatic testing of staff or residents unless someone becomes
symptomatic or tests positive for COVID-19.
5.2 Resident Testing
5.2a If a resident has symptoms and/ or feel unwell, they should take a lateral flow test (Day 0).
5.2b If the test is negative, the person should take another test 48 hours (Day 2) afterwards whilst avoiding
contact with other people
5.2c If the 2nd test is negative and the feel well enough, the person can resume their normal daily routine
5.2d If the test is positive, the person should isolate for 10 days, from the start of symptoms or the date of the test
if they were asymptomatic.
The person should test daily from Day 5 and can end their isolation after having 2 x consecutive negative tests
24 hours apart or after 10 days isolation and do not have a high temperature.
5.3 Personal Protective Equipment
5.3a Face masks should be worn by ALL staff within the home and visitors should be encouraged to wear a mask
when in the home (see COVID 03 Visitors Policy).
5.3b Face masks must be changed at least every 4 hours or if the mask becomes soiled, damp or have been
removed for any other reason such as break times.
5.3c Staff should wear a Type IIR mask, eye protection (goggles or face shield), apron and disposable gloves
when assisting with personal care to someone who is suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19 or when
cleaning their room.
5.3d When undertaking other tasks within 2 metres of someone suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19, a
type IIR mask and eye protection should be worn. Apron and gloves are
Infection and control wouldn’t of been able to be applied correctly within the capacity issue
during COVID-19, as there was not enough capacity for the amount of people coming in or
the people leaving that needed support from staff for health which meant the hospitals
were over populated with patients needing care and attention, but then staff Being stressed,
trying to cover all patience with the correct for care and attention while still following laws
and legislations correctly. Also, the fact of being understaffed made it difficult and if new
staff are being brought in, they wouldn’t necessarily be trained or experienced enough to
understand what to do in certain scenarios.
This meant that laws, legislations like hand, washing policy, and ………. May be hard to follow
for example, this meant that infection and control wouldn’t be to the standard expected as
the staff might not have time to wash their hands and change P P E to prevent infection
between each patient with COVID-19, being such a big factor of hospitalisation with the
members of public it was a key and simple legislation or law to carry out. also, the factor of
a capacity. If you meant rooms are crowded and people weren’t given a proper bed, or a
private area leaving members of public (patient) with many different emotions, like feeling
frustrated, they aren’t being cared for quickly and don’t seem prioritised for the care they
need but not only do they need the care but everyone else does so it’s like a physical
backlog of patients crowded in every room or corridors.
By just following the law and legislation I put above the prevention of infection would go
down tremendously but this would be a struggle with what has previously been said with
staffing issues, but as long as training and support is given in controlling and preventing with
infection like PPE and hand washing then infection control would be much better by doing
this and following the laws and legislations it would mean infection rates will go down and
the control of infection and that people are following laws and legislations correctly.
Capacity could only really be solved with extra buildings being put in place, whether that is
temporary or permanently or patience being able to be supported and cared for at home by
family or care assistant and more staff to deal with the high levels of patience.

COSHH Regulations 2002

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COSHH Regulations 2002

what law is PPE?

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

An Environmental Protection Act addresses problems involving garbage on land, defines

Why is correct waste disposal crucial for infection prevention?

The most dangerous circumstances include, but aren't limited to:

before engaging in an aseptic technique or procedure; before exposure to bodily fluids

Glove use is a crucial component of safe healthcare practises; however, examination of

Plastic disposable aprons

washing machine and chemical sanitizer

• Returned medications should be disposed of right away in the proper container.

• A blood spill kit needs to be provided in pharmacies.

Hand Washing Facilities

• A separate sink should be available for the management of clinical samples

Occupational therapists must adhere to infection control regulations.

examples of breaking the chain

Pathogen Completing prescribed course of antibiotics reduces the opportunity for

Reservoir Regular cleaning or decontamination requirements will reduce the

Isolation or distancing, keeping away from others when infectious,

catheters, when necessary.

lowering the risk

Adapting our behaviour

Changing our workplace

standard measures to prevent infection

When washing hands, workers should:

 use a liquid soap (bars of soap can harbour pathogens)

The proper method should be used when washing your hands:

1. Use warm running water to wet your hands.

5. Use paper towels to dry

personal defence tools

General or household garbage is black.

offensive waste is yellow with a black stripe.

Yellow - polluted infectious waste

• the pathogen's mode of transmission

• the illness's intensity

• the location of support or care for the individual

· The process or task being carried out

To reduce the risk of transmitting an infection to others, it is crucial to identify someone

Additional Steps You Can Take to Prevent Infections

According to information provided to MPs, healthcare workers in England so at peak of the

This is a polices and procedure for a care home

Infection Control Measures:

COVIDO3. VISITORS POLICY

COVID 01. Covid19 Outbreak Policy

COVID 01. Covid19 Outbreak Policy

COVID 01. Covid19 Outbreak Policy

COVID 01. Covid19 Outbreak Policy

COVID 01. Covid19 Outbreak Policy

COVID 01. Covid19 Outbreak Policy

COVID 01. Covid19 Outbreak Policy

COVID 01. Covid19 Outbreak Policy

COVID 01. Covid19 Outbreak Policy

5.20 Staff roles access zones following an outbreak

COVID 01. Covid19 Outbreak Policy

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