Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for Infection Control in {{org_field_name}} (Wales) Policy

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 services and communities. All of the staff working in the 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.

Policy Statement

{{org_field_name}} considers that adherence to strict guidelines on infection control is of paramount importance in ensuring the safety of both people who use services and staff. It also believes that good, basic hygiene is the most powerful weapon against infection, particularly with respect to cleaning, the wearing of protective clothing and handwashing.

The policy is written in line with the requirements of Regulation 56: Hygiene and Protection Control of the Regulated Services (Service Providers and Responsible Individuals) (Wales) Regulations 2017 and national infection control guidance.

Aim

The aim of the organisation is to prevent the spread of infection among staff, people who use services and the local community.

Goals

The goals of the organisation are to ensure the following.

People who use services, their families and staff are as safe as possible from acquiring infections.
All care staff are aware of and put into practice the basic principles of infection control.

Personnel

___________ is the infection control lead for the organisation.
Other infection control personnel are:
a. _______ who is responsible for infection control risk assessment and staff training
b. _______ who is responsible for the cleaning and hygiene of the home.

Legal Considerations and Statutory Guidance

The organisation adheres to the following infection control legislation:

the Health and Safety at Work, etc Act 1974 and the Public Health Infectious Diseases Regulations 1988 which place a duty on the organisation to prevent the spread of infection
the Reporting of Incidents, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR), which places a duty on the organisation to report outbreaks of certain diseases as well as accidents such as needle-stick accidents
the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH) which places a duty on the organisation to ensure that potentially infectious materials within the home are identified as hazards and dealt with accordingly
the Environmental Protection Act 1990, which makes it the responsibility of the organisation to dispose of clinical waste safely.

Key guidance for care homes in Wales includes:

Infection Prevention and Control in Social Care (Social Care Transition Plan), Welsh Government (updated July 2022)
Health and Social Care Winter Plan 2021 to 2022, Welsh Government
National Infection Prevention and Control Manual (NIPCM), NHS National Services Scotland (adopted in Wales).

All staff are required to comply with formal Covid-19 restrictions and to keep themselves updated with changes as they occur.

The Use of Personal Protective Equipment

In consultation with staff and their representatives, the organisation 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 PPE in relation to infection control and prevention is a vital area in preventing the spread of healthcare-associated infections and is essential.

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 handwashing 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 such as:
a. applying dressings
b. wound care
c. catheterisation
d. suturing
e. working with MRSA.
Non-sterile gloves are provided for non-clinical procedures such as:
a. washing dirty or used instruments
b. clearing up blood or bodily fluids or spillages
c. handling disinfectants
d. inserting suppositories or enemas
e. PR examinations/procedures
f. emptying catheter bags
g. venepuncture
h. 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 nursing care staff, care assistants and domestic staff. Aprons should be used in all of the above procedures and should be changed between contacts with individuals, especially where people who use 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 __________________________.

In {{org_field_name}}, gloves and aprons are supplied by ___________________________.

Maintenance

All PPE should be adequately maintained by the home. PPE will be repaired, replaced or modified as required.

Where a problem arises with the use of PPE, staff must inform a responsible person immediately, ie a supervisor, line manager or {{org_field_name}} manager. The manager will take immediate steps to investigate. In all such cases, the risk assessment will be reviewed and the PPE replaced, repaired or modified.

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.

Charges

In {{org_field_name}}, there will be no charges to staff for using PPE.

Where an assessment of risks has taken place under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 and residual risks exist after control measures have been applied, then the provision of PPE will be a specific requirement for employees and in these circumstances no charge will be made for the PPE.

Training

All new staff should be encouraged to read the organisation’s health and safety policies as part of their induction process. Where new staff are required to use specific items of 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: {{next_review_date}}

WCH215. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for Infection Control in the Care service