Cleaning schedules, waste, spillages and incident reporting

Planned, recorded and reviewed cleaning reduces risk. Clear local procedures for waste and spillages prevent staff having to guess under pressure.

Cleaning schedules and logs

A useful cleaning schedule names the area or item, the frequency, the method, the product, the responsible role and the record to complete. Logs should be simple to use while showing that important tasks were completed.

Waste and sharps

Most optical support staff handle general waste, tissues, packaging and routine cleaning waste. Some practices also produce clinical waste, sharps or contact-lens related waste depending on services offered. Do not place sharps or contaminated items into ordinary bins if local policy prohibits it. If you find a loose sharp, an unknown contaminated item or a leaking waste bag, stop and escalate rather than picking it up without training.

Spillages and exposure incidents

Report body-fluid spillages, splash exposures, needlestick injuries, chemical splashes, cleaning-product misuse and missed decontamination promptly. Records should state what happened, where, when, who was informed, immediate actions taken and any required follow-up.

Manager and COSHH ownership

When waste, spillages or exposure incidents occur, stop guessing. Make the area safe, use the local procedure and report promptly.