Modification History
Not applicable.
Unit Descriptor
Unit descriptor |
This unit of competency covers the process required to comply with infection control policies and procedures in animal care workplaces and relevant field locations. No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication. |
Application of the Unit
Application of the unit |
This unit is applicable to all animal care workers who have a duty of care to ensure workplace procedures are followed in order to maintain infection control standards. All procedures must be carried out in accordance with current infection control guidelines, Australian and New Zealand Standards for maintaining infection control and the policies and procedures of the organisation. In addition to legal and ethical responsibilities, all units of competency in the ACM10 Animal Care and Management Training Package have the requirement for animals to be handled gently and calmly. The individual is required to exhibit appropriate care for animals so that stress and discomfort is minimised. |
Licensing/Regulatory Information
Not applicable.
Pre-Requisites
Prerequisite units |
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Employability Skills Information
Employability skills |
This unit contains employability skills. |
Elements and Performance Criteria Pre-Content
Elements describe the essential outcomes of a unit of competency. |
Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the required skills and knowledge section and the range statement. Assessment of performance is to be consistent with the evidence guide. |
Elements and Performance Criteria
ELEMENT |
PERFORMANCE CRITERIA |
1. Follow infection control guidelines |
1.1. The application of standard precautions to prevent the spread of infection is demonstrated in accordance with the organisation infection control plan. 1.2. The application of additional precautions is demonstrated when standard precautions alone may not be sufficient to prevent transmission of infection. 1.3. Organisation and legislative reporting and documentation requirements related to infection control procedures are followed. |
2. Identify and respond to infection risks |
2.1. Infection risks are identified, reported and appropriate response implemented within own role and responsibility. 2.2. Procedures for risk control and risk containment for specific risks are followed. 2.3. Protocols for care following needle stick injury or bodily fluid exposure are followed as required. 2.4. Spills are removed in accordance with organisation policies and procedures. 2.5. Suspicions of a notifiable disease or potential infectious disease signs are reported in accordance with organisation procedures and legislative requirements within own role and responsibility. 2.6. Infection control accidents/incidents are reported and risk control procedures actioned in accordance with legislative regulations and infection control requirements within limits of own role and responsibility. |
3. Maintain personal protection |
3.1. Hand hygiene is maintained before and after animal contact and/or any activity likely to cause cross-contamination in accordance with Australian/New Zealand Standards. 3.2. Hand care procedures are implemented. 3.3. Cuts and abrasions are covered with waterproof dressing and changed as necessary. 3.4. Personal protective clothing and equipment that complies with Australian/New Zealand Standards are worn and changed, as appropriate, for the intended use. 3.5. Personal immunisation/vaccination requirements for working with animals are identified, obtained (where required) and boosters kept up to date. |
4. Limit contamination |
4.1. Clean and contaminated zones are demarcated and maintained in all aspects of animal care work. 4.2. Demarcation procedures involving the movement of animals within or between facilities are followed in accordance with legislative requirements and infection control guidelines. 4.3. Animals identified and/or suspected of presenting with a contagious or zoonotic disease are housed in isolation as soon as possible. 4.4. Work surfaces, materials, equipment and instruments are cleaned, disinfected and sterilised, where required, in accordance with infection control guidelines. 4.5. Soiled laundry and protective clothing are handled and processed in accordance with organisation infection control procedures. 4.6. Hazards to animal and human health from food sources are identified and methods used to manage potential risks are implemented. 4.7. Organisation rodent and vector control procedures are followed. 4.8. Clinical, related and general waste, including sharps, are handled and disposed of in accordance with legislative requirements and organisation policies and procedures. 4.9. Animal care facility clients/customers are provided with information regarding infection control, including risks of zoonosis. |
5. Contribute to incursion readiness processes |
5.1. Infectious Disease Control Kit is maintained in accordance with infection control guidelines in readiness for facility or field activity requirements. 5.2. Contributions are made to the review and revision of the organisation's infection control plan and incident response procedures when problems are identified or government recommendations change. 5.3. Infection control documentation is updated and maintained in accordance with organisation policies and procedures. |
Required Skills and Knowledge
REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE |
This section describes the skills and knowledge required for this unit. |
Required skills |
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Required knowledge |
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Evidence Guide
EVIDENCE GUIDE |
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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. |
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Overview of assessment |
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Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit |
The evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit must be relevant to workplace operations and satisfy all of the requirements of the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge and the range statement of this unit. Assessors should ensure that candidates can:
The skills and knowledge required to comply with infection control policies and procedures in animal work must be transferable to a range of work environments and contexts and include the ability to deal with unplanned events. |
Context of and specific resources for assessment |
Assessment of this unit is to be practical in nature and will be most appropriately assessed in the industry sector in which candidates are working or in a situation that reproduces normal work conditions. Industry sectors can include veterinary practices, pet shops, breeding or boarding kennels and catteries, aviaries, companion animal training or grooming establishments, animal shelters, zoos, wildlife parks, mobile animal facilities, animal technology facilities or similar workplaces. There must be access in either situation to a range of animals as well as relevant information, equipment and/or resources to enable one to demonstrate competence. |
Method of assessment |
To ensure consistency in one's performance, competency should be demonstrated, to industry defined standards, on more than one occasion over a period of time in order to cover a variety of circumstances and where possible, over a number of assessment activities. The assessment strategy must include practical skills assessment. Suggested strategies for this unit are:
This unit may be assessed in a holistic way with other units of competency relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role. |
Guidance information for assessment |
Assessment methods should reflect workplace demands (e.g. literacy and numeracy demands) and the needs of particular target groups (e.g. people with disabilities, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, women, people with a language background other than English, youth and people from low socioeconomic backgrounds). |
Range Statement
RANGE STATEMENT |
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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. |
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Standard precautions may include: |
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Additional precautions may include: |
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Reporting and documentation may include: |
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Infection risks may include: |
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Current notifiable diseases information may be accessed from: |
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Indicators of potential infectious disease signs may include: |
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Clean and contaminated zones may include: |
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Hazards to animal and human health from food sources may include: |
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Rodent and vector control procedures may include: |
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Disposal of waste requirements may include: |
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Infectious Disease Control Kit may include: |
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Unit Sector(s)
Unit sector |
Infection control |
Competency field
Competency field |
Co-requisite units
Co-requisite units |
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