This document discusses infection control and illness prevention in early childhood education and care services. It covers several key areas: 1) Cleaning is important for personal hygiene, washing hands, cleaning surfaces and equipment, and body fluid spills to prevent the spread of germs. 2) Teaching includes educating staff, children, and families about good hygiene practices through information, posters, and notices. 3) Exclusion policies require that sick staff, children, and visitors stay home until they are well to avoid infecting others. Immunization is also important. 4) Planning incorporates good facility layout, separating high-risk areas, sufficient staffing for proper hygiene, and routine cleaning of

1. Participate in WHS processes

2. Section 2 Weeks 8 – 11
Supporting others in working safely

3. Recap Week 9
September 12th 2013
The role of the
Workcover Authority of
NSW
North Coast TAFE CHCO8 Community Services Training
Package HLTWHS300A
Learner Guide Version 1 Pp 59 - 65

4. The WorkCover Authority of NSW
The WorkCover Authority of NSW manages
workplace safety, injury management and
workers compensation systems. It is
responsible for ensuring compliance with
Work Health and Safety legislation and
ensures that worker compensation and
rehabilitation procedures are carried out
correctly.

5. The WorkCover Authority of NSW
The WorkCover Authority:
• Promotes the prevention of injury and diseases at the
workplace and the development of healthy and safe
workplaces
• Promotes the prompt, efficient and effective
management of injuries to people at work

6. The WorkCover Authority of NSW
The WorkCover Authority: (cont)
• Ensures the efficient operation of workers
compensation insurance arrangements
• Ensures the appropriate co-ordination of
arrangements for the administration of schemes to
which the workers compensation legislation or the
work health and safety legislation relates to.

7. The WorkCover Authority of NSW
WorkCover inspectors have the power to :
• Inspect the workplace to ascertain compliance with
the Work Health and Safety Act
• Issue notices and fines.

8. Grievances
Most conflicts are resolved with effective
consultation between management and workers.
There are times, however, when WHS disputes
between workers and employees will arise and will be
difficult to resolve. They may take some time and a
measure of compromise to find a solution.
• On occasion, mediators are necessary to give an
impartial judgement on the situation. Any complaints
need to be dealt with in an open, fair and effective
manner. All complaints should be regarded seriously,
documented and dealt with either formally or
informally.

9. Training
WHS training serves several purposes in the workplace.
• If employees are equipped with WHS knowledge
there are fewer accidents and incidents.
• Knowledge raises the level of awareness of risks and
hazards and creates a better understanding as to why
safety and health procedures must be followed.

10. Training
•
•
•
•
•
•
All new employees should undergo WHS training. This
includes:
All workplace health and safety procedures.
Reporting of hazards to management.
Manual handling training.
Recording and documenting accident and incident
information.
Where and how to access further WHS information.
Workers compensation issues and claims.

11. Standard operating procedures
Also known as Safe Work Procedures and Work Method
Statements, standard operating procedures outline
the PPE (personal protective equipment) required for
• The task at hand
• The correct sequence of steps
• The potential hazards or risks that could be
encountered at each step
• How to do it – the actual operating procedure.

12. Designated persons and hierarchy of
control
WHS legislation requires that hazards and risks be
controlled in a systematic manner.
If it is NOT practical to eliminate the risks, then the risk
needs to be reduced using control measures.
•
•
•
•
Substitution
Engineering controls
Administrative controls.
Refer to Hierarchy of Hazard/Control Chart (p63)

13. Week 10 and Week 11
September 19th and October 10th 2013
SECTION 1
Manual handling
Steps to safe lifting
Safe bending/stretching/standing
Carrying children
SECTION 2
Infection control and illness
Cleaning/Teaching/Planning
Contaminated waste control
Exposure to biological hazards
PPE
North Coast TAFE CHCO8 Community Services Training Package HLTWHS300A
Learner Guide Version 1 Pp 65 - 81

14. SECTION 1
Manual handling
Steps to safe lifting
Safe bending/stretching/standing
Carrying children

15. MANUAL HANDLING
What is manual handling?

16. MANUAL HANDLING
•
•
•
•
•
Manual handling means physically forceful
movement that ultimately requires the use of your
back:
Lifting
Pushing
Reaching
Pulling
and Carrying.
If these are not performed safely and correctly they
can cause a range of damage to your back/spine.

17. MANUAL HANDLING
This can impact not only on your ability to work, but
your lifestyle as well.
Some jobs require more physical work than others;
however all jobs require some degree of back/spine
involvement. Back injury can have far reaching and
long lasting effects, therefore, to protect your spine is
vitally important.
• In the area of children's services the manual handling
requirements are large.

18. MANUAL HANDLING
• Simple passive activities such as sitting, if done in the
wrong sized chair, over a period of time, will cause
back damage to occur.
• Just because children are small, constant lifting and
bending, if undertaken in the wrong manner is still
extremely hazardous on the spine.
• All jobs in all services require back care to be taken
seriously and manual handling is to be done correctly
at all times.

19. MANUAL HANDLING
• The function of your spine is to support your skeleton
and encase the spinal cord containing your nerves.
• Damage to your back can cause a range of symptoms
from dull aching pain to acute crippling pain.
• It can affect the spinal bones, the discs between the
bones, the muscles attached to the spine and the
nerves that travel down the spinal column.

20. MANUAL HANDLING
• Damage to your back can cause headaches, neck,
shoulder, lower back and leg pain. If nerve damage
occurs then often there is tingling, loss of sensation
or numbness.
• Any damage done can be extremely painful, takes a
long time to improve and has a nasty habit of
reoccurring. You have only one spine and in some
cases damage done cannot be fully repaired.
• Therefore it is extremely important that you take
great care of your back.

21. LIFTING
Lifting may include • Picking up toys
• Helping a person up from a chair
• Picking up a baby, toddler or preschool aged child.
• It does not matter how heavy the object – what is
important is that when you are lifting it must be
done in the correct manner.

22. LIFTING
• The best way to avoid a lifting injury is to avoid
lifting where ever possible.
• If an object can be wheeled, left in place or dealt
with without it being moved – it is preferable.

23. LIFTING
• Students are to complete Activity 1 (2.7) p 67.

24. LIFTING
• Now lets have a look at the following DVD which is
from Kindergarten Parents Victoria and relates to
lifting children in a children's centre.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDxQMy7RLLY

25. LIFTING
• Information fact sheet Looking after your back
Kids Health Westmead Hospital and use it as a guide to
safe lifting.
• In a simulated situation, using equipment in the
playroom, let us demonstrate some safe lifting
techniques.

26. STEPS TO SAFE LIFTING
BEFORE YOU LIFT
• 1)Assess the weight – if the object is too heavy or
awkward do not try and move it on your own
• 2)Communicate your lift – if you are lifting a child, let
them know you are doing so. If you are attempting to
lift an object, let those around you know so they can
stay out of your way. If you are lifting with an
assistant, the co-ordination and planning requires you
to communicate together.
• 3)Get close to what you are lifting. Place it as close as
possible to your body. Do not stretch or reach.

27. STEPS TO SAFE LIFTING
DURING THE LIFT
• 1) Bend your knees – the strongest muscles in your
body should be used for lifting. This is not your back,
but your leg, buttocks and stomach muscles. By
bending your knees and bracing/tightening these
muscles, stress is placed on these and NOT your back.
• 2) Keep your back straight
• 3) Collect and keep the load close - when you are
lifting and carrying it is important to keep the load as
close as possible to your body. This ensures you are
using the correct muscles.

28. STEPS TO SAFE LIFTING
DURING THE LIFT
• 4) Never ever twist when you carry. Use your feet to
change direction.
• 5) Lift for as short a time as possible.

29. STEPS TO SAFE LIFTING
AGAIN DURING THE LIFT
• Never ever twist – TWISTING WHEN YOU LIFT IS THE
PRIME WAY TO DAMAGE YOUR SPINE AND INCREASE
THE CHANCE OF TRAPPING AND SQUASHING NERVES
IN YOUR VERTEBRAE.
• Always use your feet to change direction – never,
ever lift and twist.

30. STEPS TO SAFE LIFTING
DURING THE LIFT –
WAYS TO ELIMINATE BENDING AND TWISTING
After the set up of a work area …
• Adjust shelving to appropriate heights
• Where possible provide adjustable
work/bench/change tables
• Replace manual operations with automated ones...

31. STEPS TO SAFE LIFTING
AFTER THE LIFT • Put the load down carefully. The replacement of the
object is just as important as the lift.
So, to lower an object - reverse the safe lifting
procedure.
• 1) Communicate.
• 2) Bend your knees.
• 3) Keep your back straight.
• 4) Keep the load close to your body. Until you reach
as near as possible to it's final destination.

32. STEPS TO SAFE LIFTING
Do not carry things when you do not need to.
Carry them (if necessary) the shortest, safest distance.
If it is a large or awkward object, lift in small stages.
Avoid lifting for long periods and over large distances.

33. STEPS TO SAFE LIFTING
• Students to complete Activity 2 (2.8) p70.

34. PRACTISING THE 12 STEPS
Activity 3 (2.9) p72.
• Now, using equipment to assist you, write down
those 12 steps until they are clear in your mind.
Remember that there is a safe lift assessment
associated with this unit which you are required to
complete competently in order to pass this unit.

35. THE TEAM LIFT
• The same rules for a team lift apply (as above).
However, there are a few extra precautions when
lifting large and difficult objects.
• A larger and heavier load requires the area that it is
moving - to and from – to be clear of any hazards.
• Hazards include TRIP HAZARDS such as small children,
rugs, toys etc and SNAG HAZARDS such as table edges
or doorways.

36. THE TEAM LIFT
• The lift needs to be planned ahead, with room to
manoeuvre and the pathways cleared.
• Communication is obviously extremely important. The
person who has the best view will take charge of the
lift. Usually this is the person moving in the forward
direction.
• This person will count (usually to 3) to pick up and put
down the load and will take steps to communicate
the action necessary in order to prevent accidents.

37. THE TEAM LIFT
ALWAYS try to lift with someone who is roughly the
same height. If one handler is vastly taller than the
other then the smaller person will end up taking the
majority of the load.
• There is also less chance of twisting if you are both
heading in the same direction.
• The use of a side step motion is more stable than one
person walking backwards.

38. SAFE BENDING AND STRETCHING
• This is another area that can cause back damage.
• It is something we do all the time – however, when
weight is added to this activity it is very easy to do
damage to your back.
• Reaching and bending incorrectly puts strain on the
spine.
• Not only are you twisting your spine and compressing
the vertebra, but there is also the possibility of
dropping the item upon yourself.

39. SAFE BENDING AND STRETCHING
• All objects that you are required to lift MUST BE
WITHIN CORRECT REACHING RANGE.
• The reach of each person is different, so the safe
reach range is different for everyone.

40. SAFE BENDING AND STRETCHING
• The safe reach range is between your shoulders and
your hips.
• To reach higher than your shoulder level – you need a
small step ladder.
• If the object is below hip height you will need to bend
your knees, keeping your back straight until you can
reach in the correct range.
• Always use two hands to lift a heavy/awkward object
towards you.

41. SAFE BENDING AND STRETCHING
• All surfaces that you work on, or at, should be around
the average hip height. There should also be ways to
adjust this height – if necessary – using step
ladders/small foot stools etc
• Shelving and storage – items used frequently should
always be stored at waist level. Why?
• 1) It assists you when you are in a hurry and do not
take the time to get steps. You can collect the item
without dropping or damaging it.
• 2) It makes the working process faster and more
efficient.

42. SAFE BENDINGSTORAGE
SAFE AND STRETCHING
• Light, infrequently used items should be housed on
the top shelves, and heavy, infrequently used items
should be ideally housed on the bottom shelves.

43. SAFE BENDING AND STRETCHING
• Activity 4 (2.11) p 74. Bending and stretching in the
workplace.

44. SAFE BENDING AND STRETCHING
SAFE STANDING
• Standing for long periods can also affect your back.
• It is important to move around and if standing, ensure
your knees are slightly bent and that you keep your
leg, stomach and buttock muscles braced for strength.
Some ways to assist are:
• Using a stool to lean on and have your weight
supported;
• Have a foot rest to enable shifting of your posture;
• Have breaks so you can sit.

45. CARRYING CHILDREN
• Always carry children with care and for short
distances only.
• You should never carry children on hips as it twists
the spine.
• Always ensure children are well supported by placing
one hand under their buttocks and one hand behind
their back.

46. OTHER HAZARDS
• SLIPPING AND FALLING. To avoid accidents always:
• 1. Clear high pedestrian areas such as doorways,
stairs and areas where people stand and work so
there are no trip hazards;

47. OTHER HAZARDS
• 2. Use signage on moveable equipment to indicate
how many staff are required to lift e.g 2 people for a
table;
• 3. Dry wet floors as soon as possible and ensure
hazard signs and/or barriers are put in place
immediately.

48. LIFTING
• Finally, before we start lifting, let's have a look at the
following 6 part DVD which is from Kindergarten
Parents Victoria and relates to ALL AREAS of lifting
children in a children's centre.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDxQMy7RLLY

49. LIFTING
Activity 5
• Down in the playroom, we will be practising some
safe lifting – using the techniques that we have
studied in class today.
• Students will be required to practise
• 1) an individual lift and
• 2) a team lift.
• Remember your 12 steps!

50. SECTION 2
Infection control and illness
Cleaning/Teaching/Planning
Contaminated waste control
Exposure to biological hazards
PPE

51. early childhood education
and care services
5
http:// www.nhmrc.gov
.au/_files_nhmrc/ publications/attachments/ch55_staying_healthy_childcare_5th_e
pdf
Staying Healthy in Child Care
5th edition
Staying Healthy in Child Care
5th edition

52. INFECTION CONTROL AND ILLNESS
To prevent germ spread and maintain a safe
environment the service MUST ensure the following
areas are attended to:
 Cleaning – this refers to your personal hygiene, the
washing of all hands and all areas, equipment, and
surfaces in the service.
 Teaching – this includes teaching staff and clients
and providing information, posters and notices to
encourage good hygiene practices.

53. INFECTION CONTROL AND ILLNESS
 Exclusion – Exclusion means that all staff, clients
and visitors with infections must stay away from the
service till they are better and all who attend the
service should be immunised.
 Planning – Planning includes a good layout of the
service, the separation of areas of high contamination
such as toilets away from food preparation areas and
areas accessed by small, ill or elderly clients. Ensuring
sufficient staff numbers will ensure good hygiene
practices occur.

54. CLEANING
This includes personal hygiene, cleaning of body fluid
spills, using specific cloths to avoid cross
contamination between areas and routine cleaning of
the service.
 Good personal hygiene will not only reduce the
chances of you spreading infection but also reduces
the chances of you catching one!

55. CLEANING
Activity 6
 Students to list all the personal hygiene practices
you must follow when in the workplace.

56. PERSONAL HYGIENE PRACTICES
This should have included  Hand washing
Wearing of clean clothing
Showering daily
Care of skin abrasions or cuts
Clean nails and hair.

57. WASHING HANDS
Hand washing is the primary means of reducing the
risk of spreading germ infection.
It is important that you wash your hands frequently
and thoroughly.
Hands should be washed BEFORE you touch anything
that might be susceptible to infection such as food,
small babies, wounds etc.
Hands should be washed AFTER you touch anything
that may contain germs, such as body fluids, cleaning
fluids, cleaning agents, dirty laundry etc

58. GLOVES
GLOVES MUST BE PROVIDED BY THE
SERVICE YOU ARE WORKING IN.
WHEN DO WE USE GLOVES?

59. GLOVES
You need to wear gloves when your hands come into
contact with bodily fluids;
For example nose wiping;
Cleaning up a spill;
Dealing with blood;
Changing soiled sheets.
ALWAYS REMEMBER TO WASH YOUR HANDS AFTER
WEARING GLOVES.

60. WASHING HANDS AND GLOVES
Using your iPads, look up the book listed below
Staying Healthy in Child Care
5th edition
– PART 3 Personal Hygiene – in particular 3.1.1 Pp 41 to 43
And read first before we practice!
 1 HOW TO WASH HANDS WITH SOAP AND WATER
 2 HOW TO WASH HANDS WITH AN ALCOHOL BASED
HAND RUB
 3 DISPOSABLE GLOVES

61. WASHING HANDS AND GLOVES
Activity 7
LET US GO DOWN TO THE PLAYROOM TO PRACTISE!
 Group 1 = hand washing with soap
 Group 2 = cleaning hands with alcohol based hand
rub
 Group 3 = putting on gloves and removing them.
Each group is to complete this task and rotate so
everyone has a practise. We will be practising hand
washing every week from now on!

62. WASHING HANDS AND GLOVES
Activity 8 (2.13) p 78
Q. When dealing with bodily fluids in the workplace,
what steps should you take to reduce/prevent
infection and what protective clothing must be used?
A. ???

63. CLEANING
CLEANING OF THE SERVICE THOROUGHLY WILL ALSO
REDUCE INFECTION.
 This should be done regularly and as a matter of
routine, on a daily/weekly basis.
 Particularly when an infection has occurred or,
A body spill has happened.
Each service will have their own cleaning routine and
specific agents to use.

64. CLEANING
REMEMBER ALWAYS KEEP CLEANING
AGENTS IN AN ADULT HEIGHT
LOCKED CUPBOARD AND MINIMISE
THE USE OF HARMFUL PRODUCTS
WHEN CHILDREN ARE PRESENT.

65. TEACHING
Services should provide information in the form of
posters, videos and leaflets etc to both parents and
staff to assist with teaching an increased awareness
for infection control measures, as well as disease
prevention.
If a transmittable disease occurs in a service, then the
staff and clients attending need to be made aware of
that disease, its mode of transmission and symptoms.

66. EXCLUSION POLICY
In any workplace with a volume of persons, either staff
or clients, diseases will inevitably be spread by air,
touch or body fluid contact. Those who are unwell particularly at the onset of any illness, should remain
at home.
Those who have been infected must comply with the
exclusion policy of the service and remain at home
until the disease is deemed non-infectious.
The public health office must be informed if a
notifiable disease occurs. They will give advice about
exclusion/isolation requirements.

67. EXCLUSION POLICY
Activity 9 Pp 73 - 170
Let us refer to PART 5 in Staying Healthy in Child Care
– FACT SHEETS referring to infectious diseases and
exclusion periods..Find an infectious disease that you
HAVE NOT HEARD OF BEFORE and read about it.

68. PLANNING
All services need to plan for infection control
measures, as well as for manual handling, safety and
stress reduction.
For infection control, this includes situating all areas
of high micro-organism activities such as toilets,
waste bins, laundry or sick bays away from kitchens,
areas where the elderly, very young or immune
deficient attend or where any medical procedures are
taking place.
Information about immunisation/infectious
diseases/exclusion periods/notifiable diseases can be
found at www.health.nsw.gov.au

69. CONTAMINATED WASTE DISPOSAL
Any biological hazards must be treated with
extreme care. Biological hazards include:
 Body fluids
 Needles and syringes
 Dressings and bandages
 Nappies and soiled linen

70. CONTAMINATED WASTE DISPOSAL
All bins and buckets for contaminated waste
purposes should be specifically marked with
biohazard symbols, kept sealed and away from all
persons/clients.
Bags used must be strong, leak-proof and NEVER over
filled. Gloves must be provided and used when
dealing with such waste.
These containers require particular care
when using and storing.

71. CONTAMINATED WASTE DISPOSAL
Sharps must be placed in designated containers.
Theses containers require particular care when using &
storing. Sharps include razors, syringes, needles etc.
These must be in sealed, strong, leak-proof
containers with hazard symbols apparent to all.
Do not overfill these containers or put hands inside the
container when disposing of sharps.

72. EXPOSURE TO BIOLOGICAL HAZARDS
If you are exposed to a biological hazard, the following
steps should be taken:
 If a puncture wound, wash under running water;
If bleeding allow free flow of blood;
 If eye splash, rinse under flowing water;
 Remove any contaminated clothing;
 Inform the director/manager;
 Complete an incident form;
 Seek medical advice.

73. EXPOSURE TO BIOLOGICAL HAZARDS
If you are exposed to a biological hazard, the following
steps should be taken:
 There is a 24 hour injury hotline in NSW for workers in
health care, education and emergency services.
 It is purely a support and referral service.
If you sustain a needle stick injury whilst at work, YOU
NEED TO SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION IMMEDIATELY.
1800 804 823

74. PERSONAL PROTECTIVE CLOTHING
We have looked at the use of gloves in a service,
however, there are other times when further PPE is
required. These include ?
Activity 10 p81
Students to hazard a guess.

75. PERSONAL PROTECTIVE CLOTHING
These PPE would include  Sunscreen;
 Protective eye glasses/goggles;
 Gowns;
 Masks;
 Plastic aprons;
 Helmets;
 Ear muffs/plugs;
 Reflective wear.

76. PERSONAL PROTECTIVE CLOTHING
Section 4 of the NSW Work, Health and Safety
Regulation 2011 refers to the provision of workers
and use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
Where the health and safety of the staff is at risk, all
staff must be provided with adequate and sufficient
PPE.
The equipment must be well stored, maintained and
marked so it can be located by all.
Staff must be trained in its use and its limitations.
The PPE must reflect the activities of the service.