Hand Hygiene

Deanne York Douglas
Deanne York Douglas
Last updated 
Guidelines for maintaining good hand hygiene

Overview

Our clients are vulnerable people. They have compromised immune systems due to their medical conditions, and some clients are in palliative care. To add to this situation, the ongoing strains of the COVID-19 virus and the usual seasonal viruses present serious health risks to our clients. To provide the best protection to our clients, it is critical for you to practice effective hand hygiene techniques as part of your professional practices. This policy aims to reduce the risk of infection between clients and our support workers.
 
The three purposes of Hand Hygiene
  • To break the chain of infection
  • to stop the spread of infection  
  • to reduce the risk of cross-infections.
Introduction
  • Hand Hygiene refers to any action of hand cleaning that reduces the number of microorganisms on your hands. 
  • Many illnesses, viruses and infections develop from poor hand hygiene.
  • Infection is a disease or illness caused by microorganisms (infectious agents) such as bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites. People are often at a greater risk of infection if they have a chronic disease or are frail.
  • Infections require three main elements to spread:
    • a source of the infectious agent
    • a mode of transmission, and
    • a susceptible host.
  • This is the chain of infection, and breaking the chain of infection helps to stop the spread of infection and reduce the risk of cross-infections.
  • Common modes of transmission include contact, droplet and airborne. Some diseases can spread by multiple modes of transmission, e.g. Influenza can be spread by droplet or contact.
  •  When supporting our clients, PPE is often used to reduce cross-contamination. PPE can include:
    • gloves
    • gowns or aprons
    • face masks
    • face shields or protective eyewear.
Applies
  • at all times
  • to all HWH staff, including key managers, home support workers and contractors.

Policy

Infection prevention
Stopping the spread of infection is everyone’s responsibility and includes the following:
  • staff complete the Hand Hygiene course in Talent LMS annually
  • staff to complete the HWH annual Hand Hygiene Competency Assessment annually
  • adopting the standard hand hygiene techniques and skills in this policy by:
    • following respiratory hygiene/cough etiquette
    • practising good hand hygiene at all times and when: 
      • handling medical devices
      • cleaning and managing spills
      • handling food, waste and linen
      • providing assistance with medications
    • wearing PPE (personal protective equipment) where required
    • covering any broken skin with a waterproof dressing
    • completing pandemic training - COVID-19

Responsibilities

HWH Infection control responsibilities
Responsibilities of HWH management include:
  • providing a Hand Hygiene policy
  • providing Hand Hygiene processes
  • ensuring all staff are trained in the purposes of hand hygiene and the correct Hand Hygiene practices to reduce the risk of infection and cross infection:
    • providing annual education and knowledge via Talent LMS Hand Hygiene online course.
    • providing a knowledge quiz in Talent LMS to identify the correct steps in the hand hygiene and respiratory hygiene/cough etiquette. 
    • providing opportunities for staff to complete the annual Hand Hygiene Competency Assessment
    • staff practice to practice hand hygiene at all times
    • staff to practice respiratory hygiene/cough etiquette
  • ensuring appropriate PPE is available to home support workers when required
  • auditing of infection control policy and practices.
Staff Infection Control Responsibilities
Responsibilities of HWH home staff include:
  • following the HWH Hand Hygiene Processes
  • completing the Hand Hygiene course in Talent LMS
  • gaining competency in an annual Hand Hygiene assessment
  • practising hand hygiene at all times
  • practising respiratory hygiene/cough etiquette
  • wearing PPE when required
  • advising the office and seek medical advice if you are suffering from diarrhoea, vomiting, fever or have infected skin lesions
  • It is also important not to come to work if you are symptomatic of viruses. 
  • advising the office if you notice anything that might increase the risk of infection e.g. inadequate cleaning or an unwell client.
  • advise the office if the client has had a visitor who presented with symptoms of unwellness or illness, cough, wheeze, fever, chills, skin rash etc.

Related Items


Resources

The following Resources are available for staff in Care Team>Resources>Policies and Processes Quick Access.
  • Infection Control Processes
  • Hand Hygiene Processes
  • Pandemic Management Policy

References