Why is washing hands necessary?

Answer 1

Hands should be washed before and after any significant contact with clients/patients and after activities likely to cause contamination.

Hands must be washed:

· On the commencement and completion of duty

· Before and after using the toilet

· Before and after meal breaks

· Before working in a clean area

· After working in a dirty area

· After touching blood, body substances and contaminated items

· Immediately after gloves are removed

· Between client/patient contacts

· Between procedures on the same client/patient to prevent cross-contamination of different body sites

· Following any other activity that might cause contamination to hands.