Accounting & Finance Infection Control
A procedure for preventing and controlling the transmission of infections in the workplace through standard precautions, environmental hygiene, and outbreak management.
Purpose
To protect workers, clients, and visitors from the transmission of infectious diseases by implementing evidence-based infection prevention and control measures aligned with Australian guidelines.
Scope
Applies to all workplace settings where there is a risk of infection transmission. Covers hand hygiene, PPE use, environmental cleaning, waste management, and outbreak response. Particularly relevant to healthcare, aged care, childcare, and food handling environments.
Prerequisites
- Infection control policy and procedures documented and approved
- Adequate hand hygiene facilities and supplies — soap, hand sanitiser, paper towels
- PPE stock appropriate for the risk level — gloves, masks, gowns, eye protection
- Staff trained in standard precautions and infection control procedures
Built with ASIC regulatory requirements, AML/CTF compliance, Tax Practitioners Board obligations, and APES standards in mind.
Step-by-Step Procedure
Implement Standard Precautions
Apply standard precautions as the baseline level of infection prevention for all interactions, regardless of perceived infection risk.
- 1.1Perform hand hygiene at the five moments — before touching a person, before a procedure, after body fluid exposure, after touching a person, after touching surroundings
- 1.2Use PPE based on the anticipated exposure — gloves for contact with body fluids, masks for respiratory risks
- 1.3Practice respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette
- 1.4Handle sharps safely and dispose of them in approved sharps containers
- Hand hygiene is the single most effective measure for preventing the transmission of infections
Maintain Environmental Hygiene
Implement routine cleaning and disinfection of the workplace environment, with enhanced cleaning for high-touch surfaces and when contamination is suspected.
- 2.1Develop and follow a cleaning schedule for all areas and surfaces
- 2.2Clean high-touch surfaces frequently — door handles, light switches, shared equipment
- 2.3Use approved hospital-grade disinfectants for disinfection tasks
- 2.4Ensure cleaning staff are trained in correct cleaning and disinfection techniques
Manage Waste Safely
Segregate and dispose of general and clinical waste in accordance with waste management regulations to prevent infection transmission.
- 3.1Segregate clinical waste from general waste using colour-coded bins
- 3.2Dispose of sharps in approved sharps containers — never recap needles
- 3.3Handle contaminated waste using gloves and appropriate PPE
- 3.4Engage a licensed clinical waste contractor for collection and disposal
Manage Laundry and Linen
Handle, transport, and process laundry and linen to prevent the spread of infection.
- 4.1Handle soiled linen with minimal agitation to prevent dispersal of microorganisms
- 4.2Place contaminated linen in designated laundry bags at the point of use
- 4.3Wash linen at the appropriate temperature to achieve microbial decontamination
- 4.4Store clean linen in a clean, dry area separate from soiled linen
Monitor Staff Health and Vaccination
Maintain staff health monitoring and vaccination programs to reduce the risk of staff acquiring or transmitting infections in the workplace.
- 5.1Ensure staff vaccinations are current as recommended for the workplace setting
- 5.2Implement a policy for staff illness — workers with infectious symptoms must not attend work
- 5.3Maintain a staff vaccination register
- 5.4Provide post-exposure prophylaxis or assessment following occupational exposures
Respond to Suspected or Confirmed Outbreaks
Implement outbreak management procedures when a cluster of infections or a notifiable disease is identified in the workplace.
- 6.1Identify and report suspected outbreaks to the relevant health authority
- 6.2Implement enhanced cleaning and infection control measures
- 6.3Isolate or exclude affected individuals as appropriate
- 6.4Communicate with staff, clients, and families about the outbreak and precautions
- 6.5Maintain outbreak records and cooperate with public health investigations
- Early detection and reporting is critical — a delayed response allows outbreaks to escalate
Conduct Infection Control Audits
Regularly audit infection control practices including hand hygiene compliance, PPE use, and environmental cleaning standards.
- 7.1Conduct hand hygiene compliance audits using the five moments framework
- 7.2Audit PPE use, storage, and disposal practices
- 7.3Assess environmental cleaning standards through visual inspection and ATP testing
- 7.4Report audit findings and implement improvement actions
Review and Update Infection Control Procedures
Review infection control policies and procedures at least annually, or following an outbreak, regulatory change, or emerging infectious disease threat.
- 8.1Schedule annual review of all infection control documents
- 8.2Incorporate learnings from outbreaks, audits, and new evidence
- 8.3Update procedures for emerging infectious disease threats
- 8.4Communicate changes to all staff and provide updated training
Quality Checkpoints
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Expected Outcomes
Percentage of observed hand hygiene opportunities where correct hand hygiene is performed
Rate of infections acquired in the workplace or care setting, targeting continuous reduction
Time from suspected outbreak identification to implementation of control measures
Frequently Asked Questions
When should alcohol-based hand rub be used versus soap and water?
Alcohol-based hand rub is effective and preferred for most clinical and workplace situations when hands are not visibly soiled. Soap and water must be used when hands are visibly dirty or soiled, after using the toilet, and when caring for patients with certain infections such as Clostridioides difficile or norovirus, where alcohol-based services are less effective.
What are standard precautions?
Standard precautions are a set of infection prevention practices that apply to all interactions, regardless of whether an infection is known or suspected. They include hand hygiene, use of PPE based on anticipated exposure, respiratory hygiene, safe handling of sharps, environmental cleaning, and waste management.
What diseases are notifiable in Australia?
Each state and territory maintains a list of notifiable diseases that must be reported to the public health authority. Common examples include COVID-19, influenza, measles, meningococcal disease, salmonella, and tuberculosis. The specific list and reporting requirements vary by jurisdiction.
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