Elements and Performance Criteria
- Prepare to clean used items
- Follow safe work practices and standard precautions at all times in accordance with legislative and workplace guidelines
- Dispose of sharps and sharps debris into a container that meets Australian/New Zealand Standards at the point-of-use
- Segregate and dispose of waste according to organisation and legislative requirements
- Clean and dry used items
- Prepare and pack items for sterilisation
- Open and unlock instruments with hinges or ratchets
- Prepare instrument trays in accordance with workplace protocols
- Package or wrap critical site instruments in a manner that prevents damage to delicate items
- Place the appropriate chemical indicator into packages as required in accordance with current Australian/New Zealand Standards and workplace protocols
- Label packs with the contents of the pack and batch control data as required in accordance with current Australian/New Zealand Standards and workplace protocols
- Seal wrapped trays with steriliser indicator tape as required in accordance with current Australian/New Zealand Standards and workplace protocols
- Sterilise loads
- Operate the steriliser safely and in accordance with manufacturer instructions, legislative guidelines and workplace protocols
- Monitor each sterilising cycle and record the details as specified in current Australian/New Zealand Standards
- Maintain records for each sterilising cycle as required in accordance with current Australian/New Zealand Standards and workplace protocols
- Unload the steriliser on the completion of the drying cycle to ensure sterility of items
- Follow criteria for release of processed items as specified in current Australian/New Zealand Standards
- Store sterile packs to maintain sterility in accordance with workplace protocols
- Maintain sterilising equipment
- Clean and check sterilisers routinely as required in accordance with current Australian/New Zealand Standards and workplace protocols
- Follow the preventive maintenance program as established by the workplace in conjunction with manufacturer or maintenance contractor
- Monitor the sterilising cycles at the intervals specified in current Australian/New Zealand Standards