Application
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to comply with biosecurity and infection control policies and procedures in animal care workplaces and relevant field locations. Workplaces may include veterinary practices, catteries/kennels/shelters, pet grooming and equine services.
This unit applies to animal care workers who have a duty of care to maintain biosecurity and infection control standards. They work under broad direction, take responsibility for their own work, solve routine problems and use discretion and judgement in the use of available resources.
No occupational licensing, legislative or certification requirements are known to apply to this unit at the time of publication.
Elements and Performance Criteria
Elements | Performance Criteria |
Elements describe the essential outcomes. | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. |
1. Follow biosecurity and infection control guidelines | 1.1 Apply standard biosecurity and infection control precautions in all aspects of work 1.2 Apply additional, including transmission-based, precautions when standard precautions alone may not be sufficient to prevent transmission of infection 1.3 Follow workplace reporting and documentation requirements related to infection control procedures |
2. Recognise signs of abnormal health and disease in animals | 2.1 Identify signs of ill health or abnormal condition in animals that may indicate disease 2.2 Recognise signs of potential infectious diseases in animals 2.3 Maintain knowledge of main zoonoses and emerging contagious diseases relevant to animal care sector 2.4 Report signs of ill health, including potential infectious and/or zoonotic disease, to supervisor and/or seek veterinarian advice according to workplace procedures 2.5 Complete workplace records and follow procedures for reporting a notifiable disease to relevant personnel |
3. Identify and respond to infection risks | 3.1 Identify infection risks and report according to workplace procedures 3.2 Implement specific risk response according to workplace procedures 3.3 Follow workplace protocols for care following cuts, injury or exposure to bodily fluids and excrement 3.4 Remove biological spills following workplace procedures 3.5 Report infection control accidents/incidents and action risk control procedures |
4. Maintain personal protection | 4.1 Maintain personal vaccinations/immunisations according to workplace requirements 4.2 Maintain hand hygiene before and after animal contact and any activity likely to cause cross-contamination 4.3 Implement hand care in line with workplace procedures 4.4 Select, fit and use personal protective equipment and contamination prevention clothing according to workplace requirements |
5. Prevent spread of potential pathogens | 5.1 Demarcate and maintain clean and contaminated zones in all aspects of animal care work 5.2 Follow demarcation procedures involving the movement of animals within or between facilities 5.3 Isolate animals identified or suspected of presenting with a contagious or zoonotic disease and seek veterinary advice 5.4 Clean, disinfect and/or sterilise work surfaces, materials, equipment and instruments 5.5 Handle and process soiled laundry and protective clothing according to workplace procedures 5.6 Identify hazards to animal and human health from food sources and implement methods used to manage potential risks 5.7 Follow workplace rodent and vector control procedures 5.8 Handle and dispose of biological and general waste according to environmental and workplace requirements 5.9 Provide animal care facility clients/customers with information regarding biosecurity and infection control, including risks of zoonoses |
6. Contribute to incursion readiness processes | 6.1 Maintain infectious disease control kit for responding to infectious disease outbreaks and suspected outbreaks 6.2 Make contributions to the review and revision of the workplace biosecurity and infection control plan 6.3 Update and maintain biosecurity and infection control documentation according to workplace policies and procedures |
Foundation Skills
This section describes those language, literacy, numeracy and employment skills that are essential for performance in this unit of competency but are not explicit in the performance criteria.
Skill | Description |
Reading | Access and interpret key information in workplace policies and procedures |
Numeracy | Identify and interpret numerical information found on cleaning product labels and safety data sheets, including quantity, temperature, mixing ratio, application rate and withholding time |
Navigate the world of work | Recognise the importance of biosecurity and infection control associated with own role and work Take responsibility for following workplace and regulatory requirements for recording and reporting information |
Interact with others | Work collaboratively with others to achieve joint outcomes |
Get the work done | Plan and assemble resources and sequence activities relating to biosecurity and infection control activities to achieve positive outcomes |
Sectors
Infection control (INF)