Application
This unit applies to embalming staff and involves working autonomously with a high level of responsibility. | |
Prerequisites
Nil | |
Elements and Performance Criteria
ELEMENT | PERFORMANCE CRITERIA | ||
1 | Prepare to treat tissue gas. | 1.1 | Identify and prepare mortuary area and appropriate mortuary instruments and equipment according to workplace policies and procedures, relevant legislation and infection control practices. |
1.2 | Prepare and use personal protective equipment according to workplace policies and procedures, and relevant legislation. | ||
1.3 | Identify and respect social, cultural and religious requirements. | ||
1.4 | Identify need for tissue gas treatment through physical examination of the deceased person's skin. | ||
1.5 | Assess likelihood of success of the treatment and determine further action. | ||
2 | Remove tissue gas from identified areas of the deceased person. | 2.1 | Cleanse and disinfect the body according to workplace policies and procedures and infection control practices. |
2.2 | Check deceased person's skin for skin slip and durability. | ||
2.3 | Identify exit points for the tissue gas. | ||
2.4 | Insert hypodermic needle into appropriate point to create a channelling effect toward the tissue gas. | ||
2.5 | Move gas in direction of hypodermic holes to facilitate its expulsion from the deceased person's body. | ||
2.6 | Apply cauterising agent as required. | ||
2.7 | Identify and manage hazards, complications and problems according to workplace policies and procedures. | ||
3 | Complete documentation and clean up. | 3.1 | Complete case analysis report according to workplace policies and procedures. |
3.2 | Clean, disinfect or sterilise instruments and equipment according to workplace policies and procedures, and relevant legislation. | ||
3.3 | Dispose of waste materials according to workplace policies and procedures, and relevant legislation. | ||
3.4 | Store instruments and equipment according to workplace policies and procedures and report faults. | ||
3.5 | Clean and disinfect mortuary area according to workplace policies and procedures, and relevant legislation. |
Required Skills
Required skills problem-solving skills to identify and evaluate effectiveness of tissue gas treatment and take corrective action where required literacy and numeracy skills to complete case analysis report planning and organisational skills to conduct all procedures according to pre-embalming case analyses self-management skills to monitor own response to dealing with deceased bodies and take corrective action. |
Required knowledge infection control practices and procedures relevant workplace policies and procedures anatomy, physiology and post-mortem changes hypodermic insertion procedures properties of cauterising agents body examination techniques mortuary equipment, instruments and materials funeral services industry parameters and protocols for dealing with the deceased broad working knowledge of relevant federal, state or territory, and local government legislation and regulations relating to OHS, infection control and handling human remains. |
Evidence Required
The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package. | |
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit | Evidence of the following is essential: ability to identify treatment requirements through a pre-embalming case analysis and to perform tissue gas treatments using correct techniques and following OHS and infection control practices ability to prepare mortuary area and select and use the required instruments and equipment the cleaning, disinfecting and sterilising of the mortuary area, instruments and equipment at conclusion of the treatment completion of a case analysis report knowledge of infection control practices treating tissue gas on multiple occasions to ensure consistency of performance and ability to respond to different situations. |
Context of and specific resources for assessment | Assessment must ensure: demonstration of skills in a mortuary facility where deceased bodies may be safely prepared and appropriate mortuary lighting, plumbing and ventilation requirements can be monitored and maintained access to embalming equipment, instruments and chemicals access to deceased bodies requiring tissue gas treatment, including autopsied cases access to personal protective equipment. |
Methods of assessment | A range of assessment methods should be used to assess practical skills and knowledge. The following examples are appropriate for this unit: observation of candidate completing a range of tissue gas treatment procedures written or verbal questioning to assess knowledge and understanding of all OHS and infection control practices and procedures review of portfolios of evidence and third-party workplace reports of on-the-job performance by the candidate. Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, for example: SIFMWK013A Determine embalming requirements. |
Employability skills embedded in this unit should be assessed holistically with other relevant units that make up the skill set or qualification and in the context of the job role. |
Range Statement
The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included. | |
Mortuary instruments and equipment may include: | personal protective equipment cauterising agents sterilisation equipment sterilisation chemicals and solutions instruments and instrument tray dressing table disinfectant hand solution, paper towels and soap plastic laundry bags plastic infectious waste bags biomedical waste containers for infectious and radioactive human tissue pedestal lamps linen first aid kit cotton wool waterproof tape capsules for transporting babies scalpels scissors hypodermic needle needle holder forceps. |
Workplace policies and procedures may include: | standard operating policies and procedures standards and certification requirements communication protocols quality assurance procedures OHS procedures, such as: infection control procedures manual handling procedures material handling procedures, including hazardous or infectious materials emergency procedures, including fire and accident procedures security procedures. |
Relevant legislation, regulations and codes of practice may include: | OHS Anatomy Act Human Tissue Act Skin Penetration Act Coroner's Act Public Health Act Environment Protection Act local government regulations funeral services industry code of practice Worksafe Australia certification and standards. |
Infection control practices may include: | universal precautions, including: use of personal protective equipment presumption that all blood and body fluids are infectious covering exposed cuts and abrasions, particularly on workers' hands, with waterproof coverings prior to commencing work immediate treatment of puncture wounds or abrasions use of protective clothing when cleaning spillage of body fluids checking for infectious and transmittable disease sterilising apparatus and instruments providing sterile storage areas for instruments using disinfectants safe removal and disposal of soiled and contaminated garments safe ventilation avoiding invasive procedures on bodies immunisation periodic X-rays seeking medical advice recording injury and incidence reporting injury and incidence providing first aid kit performing first aid as necessary labelling clothing. |
Personal protective equipment may include: | disposable gloves heavy duty gloves barrier gown or suit waterproof overshoes waterproof aprons splash proof masks eye goggles face visor hair cover filtered air supply: negative air pressure powered positive air supply. |
Social, cultural and religious requirements may include: | dress standards gender of embalming personnel time required between death and burial or cremation orientation of the deceased person restrictions on methods of embalming permissible. |
Further action may include: | proceeding with treatment stopping procedure referring to colleague or supervisor. |
Hazards, complications and problems may include: | sharps injuries needle stick injuries blood splash infection contagious disease, such as: viral haemorrhagic fevers Creutzfeldt-Jacob Disease tuberculosis HIV chemical spill putrefaction and tissue gas wet area. |
Case analysis report may include: | problems and complications corrective action taken. |
Sectors
Sector | Funeral Services |
Competency Field
Mortuary Work and Embalming | |
Employability Skills
This unit contains employability skills. | |
Licensing Information
Not applicable.