Implement and maintain safe, hygienic and effective working practices
Overview
This standard is for professionals complying with the maintenance of effective health, safety, infection control and hygiene practices throughout your work, in accordance with the service protocol, legislative, regulatory and organisational requirements. This standard is part of the Hair, Barbering, Trichology, Beauty, Nails, Wellbeing and Holistic and related industries NOS suites. You will need to identify, assess and implement control methods in relation to yourself, the working environment including tools, equipment and products, the individual and area to be treated, prior to the procedure being performed. It is advisable users of this standard are aware of, and comply with first aid requirements, in accordance with legislation and organisational policies and procedures.
Performance criteria
You must be able to:
maintain your responsibilities for health and safety pre, during and post procedure, in accordance with legislation and other relevant regulations, directives and guidelines
carry out risk assessment(s) prior to undertaking the procedure, to include:
2.1 record the outcomes of the risk assessment(s)
implement control methods and take appropriate action
apply infection prevention and control measures in accordance with legislation and other relevant regulations, directives and guidelines, to include:
4.1 universal precautions and standard precautions
prepare the working environment in accordance with legislative requirements and organisational policies and procedures
prepare and protect yourself and others within the working environment in accordance with legislative and organisational policies and procedures, to include:
6.1 personal hygiene
6.2 personal presentation
6.3 personal protective equipment
position the individual in accordance with the service protocol
use working practices that:
8.1 minimise fatigue and the risk of injury to yourself and others
8.2 use environmental and sustainable working practices
8.3 minimise risk and maintain the individual's safety
- source and select the equipment, materials and products to meet the individual's needs, area to be treated and are fit for purpose, to include:
9.1 associated risks
9.2 according to recognised standards and legislative requirements
use equipment, materials and products, in accordance with the service plan, legislative requirements and manufacturer guidance
carry out tests to establish suitability for the procedure when required
assess and dispose of waste to meet legislative requirements
Knowledge and Understanding
You need to know and understand:
1. your responsibilities for health and safety as defined by any specific legislation covering your job role
the local authority's rules and conditions, licensing and/or registration requirements for yourself and your premises
why you must comply with ethical practice and work within legislative requirements
the importance to comply with a professional code of conduct in the workplace, in accordance with organisational policies and procedures
your own physical and psychological wellbeing and how this may impact on being able to provide a procedure safely
your responsibility and the reporting procedures for suspected malpractice
how and when to seek further advice and support outside the practitioner's remit, to include:
7.1 compliance with data legislation
how to carry out a risk assessment and controls to be implemented
how and why you must comply with infection prevention and control procedures, to include:
9.1 universal precautions and standard precautions
- the hard surface disinfectants, to include:
10.1 the chemical compositions and associated risks
10.2 how contact times impact the effectiveness
the causes and risks of microbial contamination and methods of infection prevention
the skin disinfectants, to include:
12.1 the chemical compositions and associated risks
12.2 the impact on the pH scale and barrier function
12.3 how contact times impact the effectiveness
the causes, hazards of accidental exposure to clinical waste and how to respond
the audit and accountability of working practices and procedures
the reasons for adhering to the *service protocol *
the consultation, assessment and delivery of procedures
the legislative and organisational requirements for the individual's protection, preparation, dignity and privacy
how safe positioning techniques and working practices can prevent work related injury and ill health
the importance of ensuring the working environment is in line with legislative requirements, to include:
19.1 lighting and illumination
19.2 heating
19.3 ventilation
19.4 fixtures, fittings and equipment
19.5 facilities and amenities
19.6 audit and accountability
the hazards and risks associated with working environment, equipment, materials, products and the controls to be implemented
the range of environmental and sustainable working practices
your current insurance and indemnity requirements, relevant to the procedure
the legislative, organisational and manufacturer safety instructions for equipment, materials and products, to include:
23.1 storage
23.2 handling
23.3 usage
23.4 disposal
23.5 record keeping
- why you must source equipment and products compliant with legislative requirements and manufacturer instructions, to include:
24.1 ensuring products sourced are for cosmetic use
24.2 avoiding the risk of toxicity
- the legislative requirements for tests prior to procedures, taking into account:
25.1 the purpose of tests
25.2 how and when to carry out tests
- the legislative requirements for waste disposal
Scope/range
Scope Performance
Working environment
- health and safety legislation, regulations, directives and guidelines
- licensing and/or registration requirements
- risk assessment(s)
- infection prevention and control
- fire safety risk assessment
- waste management
Waste
- non-hazardous waste
- clinical
- sharps
- mixed municipal waste
- general and confidential
- recyclable
Scope Knowledge
Health and safety
- health and safety legislation, regulations, directives and guidelines
- Local Authority legislation, licensing and/or registration schemes
- environmental protection
- cosmetic products enforcement
- safeguarding policy
Infection prevention and control procedures
aseptic techniques
single use items
universal precautions
standard precautions
Service protocol
- working environment
- health and safety
- risk management plan
infection prevention and control
service plan
- informed consent
- test outcomes
- manufacturer instructions
- additional advice and support
- data management
- pre and post instructions and advice
- sustainability
- waste management
- evidence-base practice
- reflective practice* *
Work related injury and ill health
- physical injuries
- disorders
- diseases
- mental health
- **fatigue
Environmental and sustainable working practices
- environmental waste management
- energy use
- environmental core practices
- working to commercial times
- use bio-degradable and compostable options or products
- aware of your own and business carbon footprint
Values
Behaviours
Skills
Glossary
Aseptic techniques
Aseptic techniques are using practices and procedures to prevent cross contamination of pathogens.
Microbial contamination
Microbiological contamination refers to the presence of unwanted microbes such as bacteria, fungi, viruses and spores.
Universal precautions and standard precautions
Universal precautions are relevant if the practitioner is exposed to blood and/or some bodily fluid. It is the responsibility of the practitioner to implement infection prevention and control measures to prevent exposure to blood borne pathogens or Other Potentially Infectious Materials (OPIM).
Standard precautions are the basic level of infection control that should be used at all times within the working environment, such as hand hygiene, personal protective equipment, risk assessment, respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette, environmental cleaning and waste disposal. If required, the storage, handling, use and disposal of sharps must be in accordance with legislative requirements.
First aid
First aid can refer to first aid at work qualifications or equivalent and first aid mental health awareness.
Tests
Tests can be referred to as patch, allergy alert, tolerance/pain and thermal/tactile depending on the proposed service.
Toxicity
Toxicity is determined by a person's reaction to different dosages of a chemical. Toxicity or adverse reactions can occur from incompatibilities with an incorrect mixture of chemicals.