Unit 15 The Principles of Infection Prevention and Control Y/616/4058 Assignment Answers

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Introduction

The Principles of Infection Prevention and Control assignment focuses on understanding how infections spread and implementing measures to minimise risks in care environments. It covers essential areas such as staff responsibilities, relevant legislation, correct use of PPE, risk assessments, and personal hygiene practices that ensure the safety of individuals, staff, and visitors. Students in the UK can get reliable support from UK Assignments which offers expert guidance, practical examples, and well-structured answers to help them submit high-quality work that meets academic standards. This support is especially valuable for learners aiming to excel in health and social care studies, demonstrate thorough knowledge of safe working practices, and confidently achieve top grades in their assessments.

Activity 226: Explain employee's roles and responsibilities in relation to the prevention and control of infection.

Infection is causing major issues related to human suffering, a minor infection becomes severe and creates major problem for an individual. Employees are accountable for performing certain roles and responsibilities for undertaking preventive measures related to spread of infection. The roles are associated with employees who are working within communal living environment and hazardous substances (Acheampong and Kemp, 2022). Further, employees who might expose themselves towards infection and employees who are working with individuals vulnerable to infection. Employees responsibilities are aligned with focusing on self, colleagues, employer, service users and visitors. It is important to assure protection to all from infection and this can be done via complying with guidelines and creating consistent awareness.

Activity 227: Explain employer's responsibilities in relation to the prevention and control infection.

Employers are responsible for assessing risks and putting the procedure in place. All the guidelines are followed in appropriate manner and employers further assures that relevant protocols are considered and followed. It is essential to ensure that employers are aware regarding health and safety domains related to their work and they have to maintain records as well (Smith et al, 2022). By assuring that all the relevant standards are met while complying with policies and guidelines effective practices can be performed. Thus, in this manner, employers playing pivotal role in supporting employees at the workplace and further they are protected from infection.

Activity 228: Outline current legislation and regulatory body standards which are relevant to the prevention and control of infection.

The Health and Safety at Work Act 1947 and Management of Health and Safety at work Regulations 1999 are major legislation and regulatory bodies complying with infection control procedure. In accordance with COSHH regulations both employers are employees are accountable for implementing these legislations in their own practices at the workplace. The reasonable steps require to be taken while carrying the work and delegating duties to staff members. Health and training safety should be given to employees along with providing protective equipment (Peace, 2024). Employees are responsible for using this equipment is appropriate manner and in case, any issue has been faced by them then they should immediately report it to the employer so that timely action could be taken. The public Health Act 1984 providing information and legal requirement related to immediate reporting of such infections that are contagious. Furthermore, Health and Protection Legislation Guidance 2010 depicts that protection should be kept at the forefront and employees must be made aware regarding safety measures. Infection control 2010 [Control Assurance Standards has been providing detailed framework related to controlling and managing infection (Peace, 2024). Thus, by complying with these legislations, regulatory body and standards infection control procedure can be undertaken within setting.

Unit 15 The Principles of Infection Prevention and Control Y/616/4058 Assignment Answers

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Activity 229: Identify local and organisational policies relevant to the prevention and control of infection.

Local policies are significantly established by the local health department and local government bodies. This is concerned with immunisation policies; this emphasis on assuring that individuals have taken certain vaccinations for preventing the spread related to infectious disease. This also involves health education policies; this comprehends with educating individuals regarding infectious disease along with creating awareness regarding the ways in which infectious disease could be controlled. The surveillance policies are further comprised with monitoring of the disease and trends for determining the potential outbreaks. On the other hand, organisational policies that are relevant to preventing and controlling infection are associated with infection control policies that involves hand hygiene, using personal protective equipment and cleaning disinfection practices (Daniels, 2024). Further, it aligns with employee health policies that involves vaccination, regular health check-ups and the sick leave policies. Training policies assures that staff members are trained within infection practices and taking appropriate actions for solving the issues. Thus, these are the major policies taken at the local and organisational level for preventing and controlling infection. In this manner, appropriate support can be assured to employees and further effectual steps could be taken that complies with reducing the extent of infection.

Activity 230: Describe procedures and systems relevant to the prevention and control of infection.

In case there is an infection outbreak at that time it is important to nominate Infection control personnel within your workplace. The primary aim of Environmental Health Office complies with identifying the source of infection and ascertaining whether people have higher chances of developing infection or not. Further, they focus on providing advice regarding prevention so that further spread of infection could be managed. The procedure that requires to be followed in this case concerned with undertaking risk assessment and afterwards, steps are required to be taken for reducing the chances and spread of infection (Parker and Narayanan, 2023). The surveillance of disease through public health department is undertaken and organisational procedure has been followed. The training is conducted and safe working practices has been taught to employees. Significant monitoring requires to be done as it helps in analysing whether health and safety management system has been followed or not. Throughout this whole process, reporting is essential as it supports in witnessing whether the taken actions providing significant results or not. In this manner, effectual outcomes could be gained and risk related to spreading of infection can be managed. Thus, by complying with this procedure effective result could be get safety to employees can be ensured.

Activity 231: Explain the potential impact of an outbreak of infection on the individual and the organisation.

The potential impact of an outbreak of infection on individual associated with causing huge pain and discomfort, it further delays recovery procedure and disrupts family and individuals. Furthermore, it increases the risk related to severe illness and death. Moreover, unnecessary illness in certain cases can often lead to death. Hence, this clearly shows that drastic impact on the wellbeing of individual has been developed and this create huge issues for them. Therefore, it is pivotal to focus on this area so that corrective measures can be taken and support to individuals can be ensured (Ravalier et al, 2021). On the other hand, potential impact of an outbreak on the organisation are associated with chances of risk to other members and it also increases workload for employees which results in huge stress. Often, procedure and policies are not followed in appropriate manner due to shortage of staff and this creates significant issues within organisation and therefore, spread of infection needs to be managed so that appropriate actions can be taken and risks for individuals and organisations can be managed. This supports in reducing the risk of infection and further promotes health and safety at the workplace. Therefore, significant focus requires to be ensured on this area.

Activity 232: Define the term risk.

Risk can be determined as the extent of probability up-to which someone and something will be harmed due to uncertain events. This aligned with the likelihood of injury, harm and damage (Miller et al, 2021). Risk in any situation has the potential to cause spread of infection and therefore, it is important to take appropriate focus on this area so that effectual aspects can be gained and further support to individuals could be assured to greater extent.

Activity 233: Outline potential risks of infection within the workplace.

The potential risk of infection within workplace comprised with the risk of illness and death particularly related to vulnerable individuals who are very old and have poor immune system, young individuals who does not developed properly, pregnant women, people suffering from illness and health issues, people with severe burns. Further staff members who are engaging in high-risk activities also have potential risk of infection (Anderson et al, 2021). Therefore, risk assessment is essential as it supports in taking frequent decision which are important to consider and further reduces the drastic impact on individuals.

Activity 234: Describe the process of carrying out a risk assessment.

Risk assessment is explicated as the procedure of identifying hazards and taking appropriate precautions. The process of risk assessment is concerned with certain steps and those are-

• Identification of hazard- The first steps aligned with identification of the hazard; it is an essential step as all the further steps are based on this step.
• Assessing risk- Afterwards, it is essential to assess the risk, it supports in identifying the extent up-to which risk can create drastic impact on individuals. Based on the assessment rating to risk has been given (Gronholm et al, 2021).
• Eliminating risk- On the basis of rating, risks are eliminated via implementing appropriate measures.
• Reporting findings- The next step is to maintain recordkeeping and all the steps are mentioned in the document so this can be known whether appropriate steps are taken or not.
• Reviewing- Monitoring is an important aspect in whole procedure, after implementation of measure it is important to monitor the whole process so that this can be known whether risk has been reduced or not.

Activity 235: Explain the importance of carrying out a risk assessment.

It is important to undertake risk assessment as it complies with health and safety at work regulations and further supports in documenting all risks. It is an effective procedure that controls spread of infection at workplace and further supports in reducing the drastic impacts on individuals.

Activity 236: Identify different types of PPE.

Personal protective equipment [PPE] covers all those equipment which are needed to be held and worn by employees; this supports in protecting them from one or more risks. Different types of PPE are-

• Gloves- It needs to be worn for preventing self-contamination while dealing with body fluids or any type of chemical (Greene and Wilson, 2022).
• Aprons- Plastic aprons requires to be worn for decreasing the risk related to bacterial contamination that involves bed making and isolation nursing.
• Masks- Masks provide protection to staff members from spreading of respiratory infection.
• Eye protection- It needs to be worn during all types of activities when there is risk related to splashes or aerosol spray.

Hence, by using theses PPE risk related to infection can be reduced and practices can be performed while ensuring protection.

Activity 237: Explain the reasons for use of PPE.

PPE needs to be used for protecting individuals and other people from the potential risk related to harm. All the members at the workplace needs to use PPE so that risk can be reduces and further safety to workers can be ensured (Fatima et al, 2021). The PPE must be used while handling contaminated waste, preventing cross-contamination, protecting yourself and other from infectious disease and specifically for avoiding the disease illness and injury.

Activity 238: State current relevant regulations and legislation relating to PPE.

The current relevant legislation that are adhering with PPR are-

COSHH Regulations 2022

This regulation has been set for protecting workers while they are working with substance abuse and materials.

The Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999

This regulation emphasis on prioritising the health and safety of the workers and therefore, it is essential that employers must provide PPE to all employees.

The Control of Noise at Work Regulation 2005

In accordance with this regulation employers at the workplace must take action for protecting employees from the noise at workplace (de Bienassis et al, 2021).

The Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1999

It guides about the preventive measures and ethics requires to adopted at setting while using PPE.

The Construction (head protection) Regulations 1989.

This regulation emphasis on the provision of suitable head protection for workers while working at the construction site (Brooks et al, 2021).

The Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992

In accordance with this regulation PPE is mandatory at workplace and without this no workers should be allowed to do such activities that are concerned with huge risk. Furthermore, training should be given to workers regarding the ways in which PPE should be used.

Thus, by adhering with these legislations, organisation should focus on maintaining health and safety of workers while providing them PPE.

Activity 239: Describe employees’ responsibilities regarding the use of PPE.

The responsibilities of employees while using PPE comprehends with using it appropriately as instructed by employer. Further, they must check PPE prior to use and after as well (Alhumaid et al, 2021). In case there is any damage witnessed in the PPE then it should be immediately reported. These are the major responsibilities that should be focused out by employees while using PPE.

Activity 240: Describe employers’ responsibilities regarding the use of PPE.

Employers are accountable for providing PPE to employees on free of cost. Furthermore, they are responsible for organising training at the workplace so employees can learn about the ways in which PPE requires to be used (Brooks et al, 2021). Major emphasis requires to be made on using PPE, correct application of PPE, correct removal of PPE, appropriate PPE for work activity and correct preparations for using it.

Activity 241: Describe the correct practice in the application and removal of PPE.

In order to prevent the risk related to infection, re-contamination and cross-contamination it is essential that staff must be aware about the ways in which PPE should be used, application of PPE, appropriate removal, using suitable PPE as per activity and undertaking correct preparations for using PPE (Calderwood et al, 2023). For the disposal of PPE, it should be disposed when there is interaction made with clinical hazard substance. Whereas, if the item is reusable then it should be sent to laundry so it can be labelled in correct colour-coded.

Activity 242: Describe the correct procedure for disposal of used PPE.

The correct procedure for the disposal of used PPE entails with two types; in case worker has worked in an area that contains clinical hazardous waste then PPE must be disposed in single use (World Health Organization, 2022). On the other hand, preparation of the re-usable items for reusing can be done by sending it to laundry and labelling it as a colour coded bag.

Activity 243: Describe the key principles of good personal hygiene.

Personal hygiene proves to be crucial domain in reducing the risk of infection at workplace and the key principles of good personal hygiene associates with focusing on oral hygiene and mouth care, clothing, keeping nails and hair clean, keeping shoes clean, covering hair, undertaking health checks and vaccination and washing hands.

Activity 244: Identify the correct sequence for hand washing.

• Step 1- It is important to wash hand in running warn water while using liquid soap that is anti-bacterial.
• Step 2- The next step associates with Ribbing palm together for making a leather.
• Step 3-During this step one palm must be hand against back and finger of other hand and this must be repeated with other hand as well (Tartari et al, 2021).
• Step 4- Fingers should be interlocked through fingers and it must be rub around the thumbs on each hand and afterwards, fingertips should be rub against palms.
• Step 5- The soap must be rinse in clear and warm water (Tartari et al, 2021).
• Step 6- The hand should be dry with clean towel [ a disposable paper towel should be used as it reduces risk related to infection].

The above-mentioned steps are important to be followed as these are complying with appropriate mechanism that comprised with hand wash practices. By following these steps handwash can be done in appropriate manner.

Activity 245: Explain when and why hand washing should be carried out.

Washing hands lead to keep you healthy and this further preventing spread of respiratory and diarrheal infections. The handwashing should be carried out while using toilet, handling laundry or waste, after handling patient, before and after giving medication, before and after removing of the gloves, after bed making, after touching contaminated surface, after handling equipment which might be soiled and after preparing, handling and eating food (Puro et al, 2022). Hand washing reduces the risk related to spread of infection and therefore, it is considered as important. While washing hand it is important to undertake correct method for handwashing so that protection from the spread of infection can be ensured. Hence, there is no doubt in stating that handwashing is important and this must be changed in regular habit. By focusing on this area risk related to infection can be reduced and appropriate focus could be implied on maintaining an effectual habit.

Activity 246: Describe the types of products that should be used for hand washing.

There are varied products which can be used for hand washing; this includes hand gels and antibacterial soaps. However, gel cannot replace handwashing but it can be used when both the soap and water is not available and there is need to wash hands (Puro et al, 2022). Antibacterial products should be considered for handwashing as it kills bacteria and germs that are responsible spreading infection.

Activity 247: Describe correct procedures that relate to skincare.

Frequent hand washing can lead to skin problems specially in such condition when hands have not been dried properly or the skin is not moisturised. This can result in making hands chapped, grazed open wounds and further lead to develop allergies. Therefore, it is important to follow appropriate procedure for washing hands and it must be dried appropriately and moisturiser or hand cream should be used afterwards as this reduces the chance related to skin infection (Park et al, 2024). In case of cuts and grazes it should be adequately covered with the waterproof dressing and further, advise requires to be taken from managers in case of psoriasis, eczema and other type of skin lesions. Based on the guideline’s handwashing procedure should be undertaken so that risk related to skin infection could be reduced.

Conclusion

Unit 15 reinforces the importance of maintaining high standards of infection prevention and control within care settings. Understanding legislation, correct use of PPE, effective hygiene practices, and the role of risk assessments helps ensure safety for individuals, staff, and the wider community. These assignment answers demonstrate key knowledge required for safe practice and compliance with workplace expectations, supporting the delivery of high-quality care.

References

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