Annual Sterilisation Practical Assessment

• Site conducted

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• Conducted on

  Date

• Prepared by

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The ability to demonstrate competency in performing sterilising tasks is critical to prevent and manage healthcare-associated infections. This assessment should be conversational, and an opportunity for the assessor to ask questions to establish the participants' knowledge regarding each task and the risks associated. Competency is determined by using this practical assessment tool that guides the assessor, confirming repeatability of performance and that the team member can demonstrate skills and knowledge when required in all areas of the sterilisation area

• Team member being assessed

• Assessment conducted by

• Date of assessment

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• Centre
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Prerequisite Checks

• Can team member find relevant resources and information relating to Infection Prevention and Control? examples including:<br>- Infection Prevention and Control Manual (IPCM)<br>- Online Learning <br>-PSG Intranet

  Yes

  No

• Has staff member read and signed off "Reprocessing of reusable medical and <br>surgical instruments and equipment SOP"

  Yes

  No

• Has staff member completed PSG sterilisation accreditation online learning module?

  Yes

  No

Set up of Sterilisaiton room requiremtns

• Team member can explain the setup and testing requirements for the reprocessing area<br>i.e., correct ratio of neutral detergent, handpiece maintenance equipment functioning, tests required, checklists signed off

  Yes

  No

• Staff member checks all autoclave and biosonic tests have been completed and signed off BEFORE use each day

  Yes

  No

Section 1- Transportation and Receiving of Instruments

• Safe transportation of instruments from the surgery using tray or secured container

  Yes

  No

• Team member can demonstrate or explain the process of reducing and preventing sharps injuries i.e., trays are neat, and all disposable sharps have been removed by the practitioner

  Yes

  No

• Waste is separated and disposed of accordingly

  Yes

  No

• What would you do with an old amalgam restoration that has been removed during treatment and placed on the tray?

• Instruments are separated as listed below when the tray is bought into sterlisaiton room:<br>Handpieces<br>Biosonic Instruments<br>Biosonic - sensitive instruments (manual cleaning required)<br>Instruments that require pre-soaking

  Yes

  No

• The treatment tray is cleaned correctly

  Yes

  No

Section 2 - Cleaning Instruments

• Utility gloves are being used throughout this process

  Yes

  No

• Manual cleaning is performed low in the sink to avoid splash and aerosols

  Yes

  No

• All handpieces are cleaned with neutral detergent and rinsed with tepid water

  Yes

  No

• Handpieces (excluding scalers) are processed through maintenance equipment then wiped over with a moist low lint cloth to remove any excess oil/water

  Yes

  No

• Tip of scaler handle screwed off and cleaned and reassembled correctly

  Yes

  No

• Instruments that can withstand mechanical cleaning and are free of blood and debris are placed straight into instrument baskets to be placed into the ultrasonic.

  Yes

  No

• All instruments that cannot tolerate mechanical cleaning are effectively cleaned manually

  Yes

  No

• Team member understands that burs must be both manually and mechanically cleaned due to their design and use, and they can demonstrate this process

  Yes

  No

• Team member uses handles of the metal basket to safely lower and retrieve instruments from the ultrasonic and demonstrates correct use of ultrasonic, including cycle time and lid in the closed position

  Yes

  No

• Instruments are rinsed after manual and mechanical cleaning

  Yes

  No

• Staff member can explain the process if there is a contaminated instrument that is broken or faulty?

Section 3 - Inspection, drying, sorting and packing instruments

• Full PPE, plus utility gloves are worn throughout this process (apart from sealing pouches)

  Yes

  No

• A low lint towel is used to carefully remove excess water from instruments whilst thoroughly inspected for debris or damage

  Yes

  No

• What happens if you find some debris stuck to an instrument at this point?

• Team member avoids sharp working ends of instruments when drying

  Yes

  No

• Preparing/packing sterilisation pouches<br>- Appropriate size pouches for instrument/handpiece<br>- Pouches are dry and intact<br>- Items are placed carefully to avoid injury and maintain the integrity of the pouch<br>-Instruments /handpieces are packed with the handle or non-working end down for Aseptic Non Touch Technique <br>- Scaler tips and handles are bagged together but not attached<br>-Millers’ forceps have cotton roll between the teeth to allow for steam penetration

  Yes

  No

• Pouches are sealed correctly- no gaps, no water or oil, no perforations, then placed into a basket ready for loading into the autoclave

  Yes

  No

• Pouches are initialed with a felt tip permanent marker on the laminate side, also any other required information e.g. "needs repair"

  Yes

  No

Section 4 - Loading the steriliser

• Clinical gloves are worn wherever handling nonsterile instrument pouches/packs

  Yes

  No

• Team member is again visually inspecting the pouches prior to placing them on the tray for visible debris, moisture, and overall pouch integrity

  Yes

  No

• What do you do if you find a pouch that is wet or contains moisture?

• Staff ensure pouches are not overlapped or folded over when loaded on the trays, and that bags aren’t caught up or damaged when being placed in the autoclave chamber.

  Yes

  No

• For FA Lisa's team member has taken note of the number of pouches loaded and recorded on the cycle # sheet. Team member has input the correct number of labels required

  Yes

  No

• Team member understands if they load any trays into the autoclave they MUST ensure the door has been secured and the load has commenced prior to walking away.

  Yes

  No

• Gloves are removed and hand hygiene is performed prior to touching the outside of the autoclave

  Yes

  No

• Team member can confidently navigate the touch screen to select and start the appropriate cycle and correct storage time (26 weeks)

  Yes

  No

Section 5 - Unloading the autoclave/cycle validation

• Team member has performed hand hygiene prior to unloading sterile instruments

  Yes

  No

• Can you explain how you recognised the difference between a successful/unsuccessful load as you approach the autoclave?

• Pouches are validated PRIOR TO RELEASING THE LOAD

  Yes

  No

• Care is taken to maintain the integrity of the pouches when unloading them onto the cooling racks

  Yes

  No

• Staff member correctly validates each pouch by checking the chemical indicator, initials, water or oil marks, rips or tears, sealed properly and instruments are free from debris

  Yes

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• Once satisfied the load is sterile, team member releases the load using their personal PIN code

  Yes

  No

• Barcodes are fixed to the plastic side of the pouch in a way that doesn’t restrict the view of the instrument, any excess labels are destroyed

  Yes

  No

• Team member understands they under no circumstances allowed to reprint labels as per the policy.

  Yes

  No

• Team member understands any excess barcodes are to be immediately destroyed

  Yes

  No

• Pouches are left to cool on a cooling rack- then placed into baskets for safe delivery to the surgery or storage areas

  Yes

  No

Section 6 - Storage of Instruments

• Transportation baskets are in good condition and located away from any potential contamination<br>- Care is taken to avoid overhandling of pouches and maintain their integrity

  Yes

  No

• Sterilised pouches are stored in a way that prevents contamination, are free from dust and moisture and able to be closed/sealed<br>-For centrally located storage areas pouches are stored at least 250mm from the floor and 440mm from the ceiling to allow for airflow and environmental cleaning

  Yes

  No

• Team member demonstrates the rotation of instruments when placing items in storage areas

  Yes

  No

Please confirm whether the team member was compliant in performing each area below:

• Team member demonstrates a clear understanding of contaminated/clean/sterile areas and the importance of following this workflow

  Competent

  Not Yet Competent

• Team member complies with PPE requirements throughout processing areas, including appropriate footwear

  Competent

  Not Yet Competent

• Team member performs effective hand hygiene prior to donning & after removing PPE, and moving between processing areas

  Competent

  Not Yet Competent

• Team member can explain equipment set-up and testing requirements for the sterilisation area

  Competent

  Not Yet Competent

• Assessment Result

  Competent

  Not Yet Competent

• What learning material is to be reviewed?

• Secondary assessment scheduled for:

  Date

• Acknowledged by Employee being assessed- please sign below

  Sign