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Title / Demonstrate knowledge of infection prevention and control and manage laundry and waste in a health care facility
Level / 2 / Credits / 5
Purpose / This unit standard is designed for workers in the cleaning industry.
People credited with this unit standard are able to: explain the principles of preventing and controlling the transmission of infections; identify cleaning requirements for specific areas; manage laundry; and manage and dispose of waste, in a health care facility.
Classification / Cleaning and Caretaking > Health Sector Cleaning
Available grade / Achieved
Explanatory notes
1Competence demonstrated during assessment against this unit standard must comply with the requirements of:
Employment Relations Act 2000;
Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act1996;
Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992;
Resource Management Act 1991;
The heath care facility infection prevention and control policies and procedures.
2Definitions
PPE is an industry term which stands for personal protective equipment.
Infections,for the purposes of this unit standard, refer to virus and bacterial infections.
Transmission of infections refers to the spreading of infections through mucus droplets (sneezing), blood, skin (touching) and needle stick injuries.
3Assessment against this unit standard may include either written or verbal explanations.
Outcomes and evidence requirements
Outcome 1
Explain the principles of preventing and controlling the transmission of infections in a healthcare facility.
Evidence requirements
1.1The explanation includes how infections can be transmitted.
1.2The explanation includes the use of PPE.
RangePPE may include but is not limited to – gloves, clean uniform, covered shoes, boots, gowns, surgical mask and head coverings.
1.3The explanation includes using clean water for cleaning in different areas.
1.4The explanation includes washing hands.
Rangemay include but is not limited to – washing hands before and between tasks, before putting on gloves, and after using toilet facilities.
Outcome 2
Identify cleaning requirements for specific areas in a health care facility.
Rangeareas may include but are not limited to – isolation wards, operating theatres, reception areas, food serving areas, general wards, sluice rooms.
Evidence requirements
2.1Areas of a health care facility which have specific cleaning requirements are identified.
2.2Cleaning products appropriate for use in each area are identified.
2.3Cleaning equipment appropriate for use in specific areas of the health care facility is identified.
Rangeequipment may include but is not limited to – single station cleaning equipment, vacuum cleaner filters, colour coded cloths, extendable microfiber dusters, colour coded mops.
Outcome 3
Manage laundryin a health care facility.
Evidence requirements
3.1Laundry is separated into general and infectious and put into colourcoded laundry bagsin accordance with organisational requirements.
Outcome 4
Manage and dispose of waste in a health care facility.
Rangewaste may include but is not limited to general, human and contaminated waste.
Evidence requirements
4.1Waste is separated in accordance with organisational requirements.
4.2Waste is disposed of in accordance with organisational requirements.
Planned review date / 31 December 2019Status information and last date for assessment for superseded versions
Process / Version / Date / Last Date for AssessmentRegistration / 1 / 17 July 2014 / N/A
Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR) reference / 0004
This CMR can be accessed at
Please note
Providers must be granted consent to assess against standards (accredited) by NZQA, before they can report credits from assessment against unit standards or deliver courses of study leading to that assessment.
Industry Training Organisations must be granted consent to assess against standards by NZQA before they can register credits from assessment against unit standards.
Providers and Industry Training Organisations, which have been granted consent and which are assessing against unit standards must engage with the moderation system that applies to those standards.
Requirements for consent to assess and an outline of the moderation system that applies to this standard are outlined in the Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR). The CMR also includes useful information about special requirements for organisations wishing to develop education and training programmes, such as minimum qualifications for tutors and assessors, and special resource requirements.
Comments on this unit standard
Please contact if you wish to suggest changes to the content of this unit standard.
CareerforceSSB Code 101814 / New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2018