Implementing And Monitoring Infection Control Policy And Procedure

Controlling infection in the workplace aims to avoid the virus from infecting another person. The basis for effective infection control is to suppose that everyone can be infected with an infectious disease. The purpose of establishing Infection Control policies and procedures is to make certain that employees, clients and families are confined from communicable diseases and infections by providing strategy for investigation, control and prevention. Infection prevention and Control (IPC) is an effective, evidence-based method that prevents patients and health employees from being infected with preventable infections and due to antimicrobial resistance (Lobo et al, 2019). The current infection control policy and procedure in the workplace includes: hand washing, using of separate storage and utensils for cooked foods in the pantry, washing of all utensils with hot water after use (Blomgren et al, 2021). Also, regularly cleaning the floors, washrooms and tables and bench tops by means of hot water and placing of waste in plastic bags. The benefits of existing policy are that it provides a secure place, safety for employees and loyal employees for the workplace. The recommendation is to provide more of hygiene in the conference halls where outside people visit.

A proper display of posters in workplace is intact to aware the employees in understanding the standards of infection control and raise voice if basic requirement is not met. A proper survey in the workplace is regularly done to check the viewpoints of workers and their satisfaction level (Alhumaid et al, 2021). The results of survey are maintained through a graph and improvement on the same is done. Employees are even free to consult their team leaders if they find anything which is harmful or may communicate infection to the other co-workers. The benefits of the approach used are proper listening to employees, giving them platform to raise their issues and maintaining a system of regular check. A more of accountability is recommended from the workplace point of view.

The implementation of infection control is done through strategies which include hand hygiene, personal shielding equipment, clean-up and suitable handling and discarding of sharps. These are the first approach to prevention (Lee et al, 2020). The current approach used to implement control in workplace is employer adopts infection prevention and control methods which are based on overall workplace hazard evaluation. It is done so by using appropriate combinations of manufacturing and administrative controls, protected work practices and personal protective equipment (PPE) to stop worker exposures (Koff, 2021).

The data collected shows the need for improvement in the waste management. The staff feedback is gained from surveys and Q&A regularly. The feedback is used to improve the areas where workforce is not satisfied. Few complaints were raised that disposal was around the dustbins and not inside it, which lead to foul smell in the area. A poster of imposing penalty of whoever found to be doing that again was done. Also, a CCTV camera for continuous monitoring of the same was also adopted. In few days, the problem was solved and garbage was seen only in the assigned dustbins. This incident has gained trust among the employees that proper safety measures are adopted by the organisation.

Step 1 & 2

A training was conducted for employees to make the workers understand the importance of infection control systems. This practice is significant in establishing a safe environment for everybody by dipping the risk of the probable spread of disease. The training was specific to the clean environment, but the important portion is to actually stop spread and communication of bacteria from the environment to the employees. The policies under infection control discussed in the session are: –

Hand hygiene and hand care- Washing hands appropriately with soap and water helps to prevent the spread of bacteria and viruses.

Usage of PPE- Personal protective equipment is a kit worn to mitigate contact to hazards that cause serious workplace injuries. These injuries are an outcome of contact with biochemical, radiological, bodily, electrical, machine-driven or other workplace hazards (Osei-Bonsu et al, 2019).

Surface Cleaning- Cleaning and sanitizing surfaces is crucial to stop down the spread of viruses. Contaminants can be left on surfaces and be a risk for days if not cleaned properly (Querido et al, 2019).

Waste management- It helps in easy identification of possibly infectious or unsafe materials for waste workers. Also, separating the infectious wastes and sharps from common wastes can decrease the quantity of healthcare waste that should be particularly treated.

·Handling of potentially infectious material- The defence contrary to infection immunity induced by vaccination. If a vaccine is available, it should be used for those who are at risk of exposure preceding to the handling of the virus. 

Hazard identification and risk assessment and management- It is a course of defining and relating threats by identifying the probability, occurrence and strictness and assessing adverse consequences.

The worker’s right in infection control and procedures were discussed. It includes- right to be aware about risks in the workplace, right to contribute in health and safety events and rights regarding to refusal for unsafe work. The responsibilities further include following health and safety procedures, report incident happened at workplaces, never working under the influence of drugs and alcohol (Bhattacharya, 2019). 

The responsibilities of organisation in terms of employee’s safety are prevention and mitigation cases of hazards in workplace, by means of evidence-based interventions. Surveillance is also done, as they give vital information on: what and where the problems are faced, how well control actions are working and where lacking. Proper introduction of the Infection Control Committee was discussed and its role was also educated to the workers (Gul & Ak, 2018). The committee is involved in preparation, monitoring, assessing, informing, and educating. It sets overall infection control policies and offers input into precise infection control issues.

The importance of monitoring of infection control procedures are to keep a check that everything is in place, to have a proper planning to evaluate and verifying the results. It is crucial to be updated whether all the roles and responsibilities are being followed by the organisation and workers or not. This report shall cover the monitoring methods and outcomes of training sessions

The monitoring methods used for the training evaluation of team was done by appointing a designation control owner. This person shall keep a track of work, delegate tasks and keep a follow up. This will help in active compliance by the team. Also, providing necessary resources for the implementation of effective controls (Chauhan et al, 2019). These resources may include money and time. Moreover, monitoring of negative air pressure is definite. It is done to ensure all the equipment’s are functioning properly. The methods for such monitoring include usage of manometer or doing a visual test with smoke (Jule, 2020). 

The outcomes of training session were greater productivity in terms of proper acknowledging of standards. Also, less supervision was required after the training.

A knowledge survey was also done after the training session. It was positively taken up by employees and the response was also progressive. It is a set of questions which is answered in ranks.  

Further, a near miss reporting was done to not miss an undesired event that in a different situation may harm people, property, or environment (Winkler et al, 2019). It is a safety measure to report these internally. These are a warning signs and can help in mitigating accidents (Thoroman et al, 2018). The process of miss reporting includes identifying the issue, fixing the error and learning from it. The mishaps can have a financial liability and adversely affect the organisation (Subbalakshmi et al, 2020).

There was a recorded incident that happened in the workplace. It was of swivel chairs. The employee stood on the chairs when he has to reach to the upper shelf (Bugalia et al, 2021). The chair moves and he jumps to save himself. He does not recognize that he may fall next time. But interestingly, another employee reported the same and it was realized that regular office accessories were kept at height. The items were rearranged and a safer model was used to reach items at height (Domingos et al, 2019).

At the end, feedback to team was provided on compliance, how changes in work procedures can be done to improve the outcomes

Conclusion

The training sessions are an important aspect in communicating the key goals of organisation with the employees. The monitoring of the specified training is also a crucial element to check the implementation of the trainings done. The report focussed on the aspects of infection control policy and procedures, the worker’s right and responsibilities of organisation.   

References

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