New South Wales Repealed Regulations New South Wales Repealed RegulationsThis legislation has been repealed.
(Clause 21)
(1) In this Schedule:
"body substance" includes any human bodily secretion or substance.
"invasive procedure" means any one or more of the following:(a) surgical entry into body tissue, cavities or organs,(b) surgical repair of injuries,(c) the manipulation, cutting or removal of any oral or peri-oral tissue during which bleeding may occur."patient" includes (but is not limited to) a person who is accessing medical or health services or who is undergoing any dental treatment.
"sharps" means any object capable of inflicting penetrating injury, and includes hollow bore needles, suture needles, scalpel blades, orthodontic wires, root canal therapy (or RCT) instruments, and stitch cutters.
(2) The requirements set out in this Schedule apply to a person engaged in the practice of dentistry who is assisting in performing a procedure in the same way as they apply to a person who is actually performing the procedure.
(1) Precautions must be taken to avoid direct exposure to a patient’s blood or other body substances. This requirement applies regardless of whether there is any perceived risk of infection.
(2) Recognised techniques in controlling the risk of cross-infection must be used in the course of complying with the requirements of this Schedule.
(1) Hands must be cleaned immediately before and after any direct patient care.
(2) Hands may be cleaned by:(a) using washing facilities involving water and a soap or antiseptic, or(b) if any of the items specified in paragraph (a) are unavailable, using non-water cleansers or antiseptics.
(3) Hands or other skin surfaces that are contaminated with a patient’s blood or other body substance must be cleaned as soon as it is practicable to clean them.
(4) The requirement to clean hands applies regardless of whether gloves are also required to be worn.
A clinical protective gown or apron (or other similar clothing) must be worn while performing any procedure where there is a likelihood of clothing being splashed or contaminated with blood or other body substances.
(1) Gloves must be worn while handling blood or other body substances.
(2) In particular, gloves must be worn:(a) while performing any procedure where direct contact is anticipated with a patient’s blood or other body substances, mucous membranes or non-intact skin, and(b) while suctioning a patient, and(c) while handling items or surfaces that have come into contact with blood or other body substances, and(d) while performing an invasive procedure, venipuncture, or a finger or heel stick.
(3) Gloves must be changed and discarded:(a) as soon as they are torn or punctured, and(b) after contact with each patient.
(4) Sterile gloves must be worn if the procedure involves contact with tissue that would be sterile under normal circumstances.
(1) A mask and protective eye wear must be worn while performing any procedure where there is a likelihood of splashing or splattering of blood or other body substances.
(2) In cases where a mask is required to be worn, it must be worn and fitted in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
(3) A mask must be discarded once it has been worn and it must not be used again.
(4) In cases where protective eye wear is required to be worn, it must be worn and fitted in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
(5) Protective eye wear must be discarded once it has been worn and not used again unless it is reusable in which case it is to be cleaned in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
(1) When handling sharps, recognised techniques for minimising the risk of needle stick or other penetrating injury must be followed.
(1A) The person who uses a sharp, in the practice of dentistry, is responsible for the proper management and disposal of the sharp.
(2) A needle must not be broken or otherwise manipulated by hand unless:(a) it is necessary to remove the needle for technical reasons, or(b) the person is performing a procedure where a needle is required to be bent.
(3) A needle must not be bent after it is contaminated with blood or body substances.
(4) In any case where resheathing of a needle is required:(a) the needle must be properly recapped, and(b) the sheath must not be held in the fingers to recap, and(c) either a single handed technique or forceps, or a suitable protective guard designed for the purpose, must be used.
(5) Reusable sharps must, immediately after completion of the dental procedure, be placed in a puncture resistant container specially kept for that purpose and labelled as such.
(6) Non-reusable sharps must, immediately after completion of the dental procedure, be disposed of in a puncture resistant container.
(1) Clinical waste must be properly packaged to protect against potential exposure to infectious agents and to facilitate the proper handling, storage and treatment or disposal of the waste.
(2) Splashing or contamination of skin while disposing of blood must be avoided as far as practicable.
Except as provided by clause 13, multi-dose vials or ampoules must not be used to obtain sterile medications or solutions for injection or ingestion.
In cases where it is technically feasible, retractors (and not fingers) must be used for exposure and access during an invasive procedure where there is a risk of penetrating injury.
The requirements set out in this Part are additional to the other requirements of this Schedule and apply when procedures are performed in an operating theatre.
(1) A gown or apron made of impervious material must be worn while performing any procedure where there is a likelihood of clothing being splashed or contaminated with blood or other body substances.
(2) Gloves must be changed if separate procedures are being performed on the one patient and there is a risk of infection from one part of the body to another.
(1) A medication or solution may be taken from a multi-dose vial or ampoule (or other similar container) only if the medication or solution is not readily available in another form.
(2) If any medication or solution is taken from a multi-dose vial or ampoule, a sterile needle and syringe must be used to withdraw the contents.
(3) The needle and syringe must be discarded once the needle and syringe have been used.
(4) Precautions must be taken to ensure that the injection of contaminated material or fluid into a multi-dose vial or ampoule (or other similar container) does not happen.
(1) Any prosthetic appliance or material that is intended to be sent to a laboratory for processing must be rinsed clear of any debris and be disinfected before it is sent.
(2) The prosthetic appliance or material must be cleaned and disinfected on its return from the laboratory before it is inserted into the mouth of a patient.
(1) Any instrument or equipment that comes into contact with intact skin must be cleaned before it is used.
(2) Any instrument or equipment that is required under this Part to be sterilised or disinfected must be cleaned before it is sterilised or disinfected.
(3) The process of cleaning must involve water and mechanical or physical action (such as a washing machine or ultrasonic cleaner) and a cleaning agent.
(4) All cleaning agents must be removed from instruments and equipment by rinsing before further processing.
(5) In this clause, "cleaning agent" means a detergent and includes a proteolytic enzyme substance.
(1) Any instrument or equipment that comes into contact with non-sterile tissue (other than intact skin) must be disinfected before it is used with a disinfectant specified in the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods, and the relevant manufacturer’s instructions must be followed.
(2) The process of disinfection must involve either thermal or chemical methods. Chemical disinfection may be used only in cases where thermal methods are unsuitable.
(1) Any instrument or equipment used to enter, or that is capable of entering, tissue that would be sterile under normal circumstances must be sterilised before it is used.
(2) All dental hand pieces must be sterilised between patients.
(3) The method of sterilisation must be compatible with the particular type of instrument or equipment.
(4) If a steriliser is used (whether it is a benchtop/portable steriliser or a permanently plumbed or wired steriliser), the following criteria must be met:(a) the relevant manufacturer’s instructions must be followed,(b) an ongoing monitoring program must be followed which reflects the requirements of Table 7.1 “STERILISER TESTS AND TEST FREQUENCIES” of Australian Standard AS 4187-1998 .