Competency 2.1.1

Question 1

Key Points for Hygiene Compliance During Eye Exam

Answer 1

• Ensure when interacting with patients to wash and dry hands accordingly
• Put any clinical waste into a clinical waste bin, this includes drop minims or fluorescein strips
• Clean down equipment before use on patient, i.e. head and chin rests, using appropriate wipes
• Dispose of any solutions no longer than 3 months after opening, the bottle should be dated on the day that it is opened
• Check any drugs or any other object to ensure that it is within date

Question 2

College Guidance Relating to Health and Safety

Answer 2

• Must follow health and safety legislation at work
• Must maintain hygienic and safe practise environment
• Comply with workplace procedures
• Report adverse incidents
• Use standard infection control precautions including decontaminating surfaces/equipment

Question 3

College Guidance Relating to Drug Storage and Disposal

Answer 3

• Store all drugs according to manufacturers instructions
• Keep drugs out of patients reach
• Follow current legislation on disposal of hazardous waste

Question 4

College Guidance on Disposal of Waste in Practise

Answer 4

A. - Domestic type waste such as paper, used tissues and small quantities of waste items that patients would produce at home such as disposable contact lenses. Can be disposed of in normal black bag waste
B. - Sector specific non-hazardous waste such as tonometer heads and large numbers of time expired contact lenses/solutions which don’t pose infection risk. Can be disposed as ‘offensive waste’ disposed in tiger bags.
C. - Non-hazardous pharmaceutical waste e.g. used or expired minims need to be incinerated and should be discarded in a yellow medicine disposal box. Saline can be disposed down a foul sewer and contained placed in non-hazardous healthcare waste as detailed above in B
D. - Hazardous waste e.g chloramphenicol or batteries have special requirements for disposal
E. - Sharps e.g. hypodermic needles need disposed in a sharps box. Should be disposed in colour coded boxes dependent on whether they are infectious.

Question 5

What Do UK Workplaces Need to Provide?

Answer 5

• Adequate training of staff to ensure health and safety procedures are understood and adhered to
• Adequate welfare provisions for staff at work
• A safe working environment that is properly maintained and where operations within it are conducted safely
• Suitable provision of relevant information, instruction and supervision

Question 6

What Must a Workplace Do for Employees Who Work at a Computer

Answer 6

• Carry out a suitable DSE workstation assessment
• Reduce associated risks, including making sure workers take regular breaks from DSE work and provide ancillary equipment if required
• Provide an eye and eyesight test (free of charge) upon request from a DSE user
• Provide relevant training and information for DSE users
• It is the employee’s responsibility to ensure that they are working in accordance with the health and safety training that they have been provided. They must also utilise any controls and/or equipment provided in the interest of health and safety.