{{org_field_logo}}
{{org_field_name}}
Personal Protective Equipment for Infection Control Policy
Policy Statement
This policy shows how {{org_field_name}} prevents and controls the spread of infection among staff, people who use the services and the local community through the correct wearing of protective equipment and related procedures.
The aims are to ensure that people who use the services, their families and staff are as safe as possible from acquiring infections and care staff are aware of and put into practice the basic principles of infection control.
Infection control is the name given to a wide range of policies, procedures and techniques intended to prevent the spread of infectious diseases among staff, people who use the services and communities. All care staff working in a person’s home are at risk of infection or of spreading infection, especially if their role brings them into contact with blood or bodily fluids like urine, faeces, vomit or sputum. Such substances may well contain pathogens which can be spread if staff do not take adequate precautions.
Adherence to strict guidelines on infection control is of paramount importance in ensuring the safety of both people who use the services and staff. Also, good, basic hygiene is the most powerful weapon against infection, particularly with respect to cleaning, the wearing of protective clothing and hand washing.
Legislation and Guidance
The policy is in line with the requirements of Regulation 12: Safe Care and Treatment of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 and the corresponding Code of Practice for Health and Adult Social Care on the Prevention and Control of Infections and Related Guidance.(The Hygiene Code).
Other infection control legislation, which {{org_field_name}} must observe include:
- the Health and Safety at Work, etc Act 1974 and the Public Health Infectious Diseases Regulations 1988 which place a duty on {{org_field_name}} to prevent the spread of infection
- the Reporting of Incidents, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR), which places a duty on {{org_field_name}} to report outbreaks of certain diseases as well as accidents such as needlestick accidents
- the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH) which places a duty on {{org_field_name}} to ensure that potentially infectious materials are identified as hazards and dealt with accordingly
- the Environmental Protection Act 1990, which makes it the responsibility of {{org_field_name}} to dispose of clinical waste safely
- the Health and Social Care Act 2008: Code of Practice for Health and Adult Social Care on the Prevention and Control of Infections and Related Guidance (the “Hygiene Code”), which requires care providers to base infection control and prevention policies on evidence-based guidelines which include those on effective hand hygiene at the point of care and the use of personal protective equipment.
The Use of Personal Protective Equipment
In consultation with staff and their representatives, {{org_field_name}} will:
- identify, as part of its risk assessment programme, the need for any Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
- carry out an assessment of proposed PPE to determine whether or not it is suitable
- take any necessary measures to remedy any risks found as a result of the assessment
- replace, modify or repair PPE to meet statutory obligations, as necessary and at no cost to the employee
- inform every employee of any risks that may remain
- ensure that staff are trained to use PPE correctly
- reassess, as necessary, any substances used or work processes that have changed.
Disposable gloves and aprons
{{org_field_name}} understands that the effective use of personal protective equipment (PPE) in relation to infection control and prevention is a vital area in preventing the spread of healthcare-associated infections and is essential in complying with the Health and Social Care Act 2008: Code of Practice for Health and Adult Social Care on the Prevention and Control of Infections and Related Guidance. This guidance, commonly referred to as the Hygiene Code, requires care providers to base infection control and prevention policies on evidence-based guidelines which include those on effective hand hygiene at the point of care and the use of PPE.
The hands of staff are likely to be the most common means of transmission of infection from one person to another unless basic precautions are taken, ie careful hand washing between contacts and the correct use of protective clothing such as disposable gloves (sterile and non-sterile) and disposable aprons.
Disposable gloves and disposable aprons are provided for staff who are at risk of coming into direct contact with body fluids, or waste such as faeces.
- Sterile gloves are provided for clinical procedures.
- Non-sterile gloves are provided for non-clinical procedures such as:
a. providing personal care
b. clearing up blood or bodily fluids or spillages
c. handling disinfectants
d. inserting suppositories or enemas
e. emptying catheter bags
f. performing mouth care. - Gloves should be worn at all times during these procedures and disposed of immediately after the procedure or contact is finished.
- Gloves should always be changed between people.
- On no account should staff attempt to wash and reuse gloves.
Plastic disposable aprons are also provided for use by care staff. Aprons should be used in all of the above procedures and should be changed between contacts with individuals, especially where people who use the services are known to be colonised or infected with MRSA.
The responsibility for ordering and ensuring that supplies of gloves and aprons are readily available and accessible lies with {{org_field_registered_manager_first_name}} {{org_field_registered_manager_last_name}}.
Covid-19 infection and prevention measures
This care organisation will comply fully with all official public health guidance and restrictions introduced as part of the national response to the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic. {{org_field_name}} is aware that a range of infection prevention and control measures have been required.
In this home care organisation, during the current phase of the Covid-19 pandemic, all use of PPE for infection prevention and control purposes will be based on the latest guidance from the UK Health Protection Agency, including their Infection Prevention and Control in Adult Social Care: COVID-19 Supplement (DHSC 2022). The guidance sets out PPE requirements in a variety of common scenarios in different care settings, including home care.
According to the supplementary guidance, in situations when caring for a person who is not suspected or confirmed to be infected with Covid-19, the following is advised.
- During social contact with clients, other staff or family members, staff are advised that no PPE is required. They are also not required to wear PPE for tasks not involving contact with blood or body fluids (eg moving clean linen, tidying, giving medication, writing in care notes, etc).
- During care or domestic tasks involving likely contact with blood or body fluids (eg giving personal care, handling soiled laundry, emptying a catheter or commode) staff are advised to wear gloves and an apron. They should also risk assess the situation and wear a mask as required. A Type IIR mask should be used where splashing is likely, as well as eye protection.
- During general cleaning with hazardous products (disinfectants or detergents) staff are also advised to carry out a risk assessment and to wear the PPE indicated. Staff should wear a mask, eye protection, gloves and an apron if indicated in the risk assessment or if recommended by the cleaning product manufacturer. A Type IIR mask should be used where splashing is likely.
In situations when caring for a person who is suspected or confirmed to be infected with Covid-19 (symptoms may include coughing, sneezing, diarrhoea, vomiting, shortness of breath, temperature), the following is advised.
- When giving personal care to a person with suspected or confirmed Covid-19 staff are advised to wear a type IIR mask (which they should remove on leaving the area) and disposable gloves, a disposable apron and eye protection.
- During general cleaning duties in the room where a person with suspected or confirmed Covid-19 is being isolated or cohorted (even if more than 2m away) staff are advised to wear a type IIR mask (which they should remove on leaving the area) and disposable gloves, a disposable apron and eye protection.
- For tasks other than those listed above, when within 2m of a person with confirmed or suspected Covid-19, staff are advised to wear a type IIR mask (which they should remove on leaving the area), disposable gloves (if contact with blood or body fluids is likely), a disposable apron (if contact with blood or body fluids is likely) and eye protection.
In {{org_field_name}}, homecare workers are required to remove their masks when leaving the home of the person they are caring for and wear a new mask when entering different people’s homes.
Note that:
- Type I and type II masks are not considered PPE and are worn to provide “source control” — that is, to protect others from the wearer’s respiratory droplets should they have asymptomatic Covid-19 infection.
- Type IIR fluid-repellent surgical masks protect the wearer by providing a fluid repellent barrier between the wearer and the environment — this protects the wearer against blood or body fluid splashes and against the respiratory droplets of others reaching their mouth and nose.
For PPE to be effective, it is important that staff use it properly and follow instructions for putting it on (donning) and taking it off (doffing). These will be explained to staff in training.
All staff are required to comply with formal Covid-19 restrictions and to keep themselves updated with changes as they occur.
Latex allergies
Some people can develop allergic reactions to the latex within disposable gloves. Any member of staff who suspects that they might be suffering from an allergic reaction to the latex gloves provided should stop using them immediately and inform their line manager or supervisor. They should then consult their GP.
Personnel
1. {{org_field_registered_manager_first_name}} {{org_field_registered_manager_last_name}} is the infection control lead for {{org_field_name}}.
2. Other infection control personnel are:
a. _____ who is responsible for infection control risk assessment and staff training.
Training
All new staff receive training in {{org_field_name}}’s health and safety policies as part of their induction.
Where new staff are required to use specific items of personal protective equipment (PPE) they should be trained in all aspects of its use.
All care staff will be trained in the effective use of PPE at the point of care as part of their infection control training.
Responsible Person: {{org_field_registered_manager_first_name}} {{org_field_registered_manager_last_name}}
Reviewed on: {{last_update_date}}
Next review date: this policy is reviewed annualy (every 12 months). When needed, this policy is also updated in response to changes in legislation, regulation, best practices, or organisational changes.
Copyright ©2024 {{org_field_name}}. All rights reserved