Page 5 of 5
Title / Prepare for and clean up a trauma scene
Level / 4 / Credits / 15
Purpose / This unit standard is for people in the cleaning industry who specialise in trauma scene cleaning operations.
People credited with this standard are able to: prepare to clean up a trauma scene; clean up a trauma scene; and complete job-related tasks.
Classification / Cleaning and Caretaking > Cleaning Skills
Available grade / Achieved
Entry information
Critical health and safety prerequisites / Unit 25387, Follow safe work practices during and after trauma scene cleaning operations, or demonstrate equivalent knowledge and skills.
Explanatory notes
1 Competence demonstrated during assessment against this standard must comply with the requirements of:
Employment Relations Act 2000;
Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992;
Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996;
Resource Management Act 1991;
Territorial authority regulations concerning bio-hazardous waste;
Code of Practice for Manual Handling, Occupational Safety and Health, 2001;
Best practice guidelines for working at heights in New Zealand, Occupational Safety and Health, 2012.
2 Equipment and cleaning agents must be used in accordance with manufacturer’s recommendations.
3 Definitions
Industry best practice refers to any enterprise and/or establishment requirements, practices, policy procedures, methods and protocols which are in accordance with applicable legislation, regulations and New Zealand Standards.
Trauma scene means a scene of violent death (homicide/suicide/accidental) or ‘Decomp’ (a decomposing body either human or animal) or unattended death.
Human products, contaminated waste and waste products may also include human or animal body parts.
Bagged means that contaminated waste, waste products, human products, and/or biohazardous waste are placed in a biohazard bag and sealed. This bag is sent for destruction by a medical waste/biohazard waste certified company.
Personal protective equipment (PPE) is of the one-use only disposable type.
Flat mop is a type of microfibre mop and can be used in a wet or dry condition.
Mop refers to either a string/cotton, sponge or microfibre type, or a flat mop.
4 Trauma Scene Cleaning is also known as CTS Decon (Crime and Trauma Scene Decontamination).
Outcomes and evidence requirements
Outcome 1
Prepare for trauma scene clean up.
Evidence requirements
1.1 Clearance to enter the trauma scene is obtained from the CTS police team.
1.2 Warning signs are displayed in accordance with industry best practice.
Range at least one of – signs, cordons, barriers.
1.3 The space/area/situation is assessed to determine the cleaning methods to be used.
Range cleaning solutions to be used, any special requirements for the situation (eg, size of area/confined space), carpet cleaning.
1.4 PPE suitable for the task being undertaken is identified.
Range gloves (nitrile and/or medical exam grade), eye or face protection, respiratory protection, protective coveralls (non-porous, one-time-use coveralls), protective overboots, protective caps.
1.5 Walk-off and/or safe areas are established in accordance with organisational requirements and industry best practice.
1.6 Cleaning agents are selected according to special requirements of areas to be cleaned.
Range protein cleaning solutions, sodium hypochlorite cleaning solutions and/or hydrogen peroxide cleaning solutions.
1.7 Cleaning solutions are prepared in accordance with manufacturer’s recommendations.
1.8 Selected equipment is clean and in working condition.
Range vacuum cleaner (wet and dry), scrubbing brushes, cloths, paper towels, buckets, mops, scrapers, knives, shovels, brooms, carpet cleaning machine, ladders, carpentry tools, camera, sprayer, isolating transformer or residual current device (RCD).
1.9 Vacuum cleaner is safety checked and damaged and non-operational equipment reported in accordance with industry best practice.
1.10 Residual current device (RCD) or isolating transformer is safety checked for operation in accordance with industry best practice.
Outcome 2
Clean up a trauma scene.
Evidence requirements
2.1 PPE suitable for the task being undertaken is selected and used at all times during cleaning operations in accordance with industry best practice.
Range gloves (rubber and/or surgical), eye or face protection, respiratory protection, protective coveralls (one-use Tyvek coveralls), protective overboots, protective caps.
2.2 Contaminated waste, waste products and human products are bagged and sealed in accordance with industry best practice.
Range bio-hazard bags.
2.3 Handling practices which ensure non-infection of the cleaner are followed at all times.
Range waste products, human products, contaminated products.
2.4 Requirements relating to special areas are complied with in accordance with industry best practice.
Range the use of cleaning agents, cleaning methods, practices and activities of cleaner, wearing and use of PPE.
2.5 All reusable cleaning equipment is bagged and sealed for cleaning and de-contamination in accordance industry best practice.
2.6 All soiled and contaminated disposable cleaning equipment is bagged and sealed and sent for destruction in accordance with industry best practice.
Range PPE, mop heads, paper towels, cloths.
2.7 Soiled solutions are disposed of in accordance with the Resource Management Act 1991 industry best practice.
2.8 Hand washing technique is performed between all cleaning operations.
2.9 PPE is changed and bagged between areas where cleaning operations are taking place.
Outcome 3
Complete job-related tasks.
Evidence requirements
3.1 The cleaning process restores the area/space back, as near as possible, to its pre-existing condition.
3.2 Work area is cleared in accordance with industry best practice.
3.3 Biohazardous waste and products/items are bagged and sealed and sent for destruction.
Range Resource Management Act 1991, Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996, territorial authority regulations.
3.4 Cleaning equipment is cleaned and de-contaminated and stored in accordance with industry best practice.
3.5 Tasks are completed without risk or damage to cleaners.
3.6 Transportation of biohazardous waste is in accordance with legislation.
Range Land Transport Act 1998, Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996, territorial authority regulations.
3.7 Police are contacted and informed that the cleaning operation has been completed and that area is now fit for use.
3.8 A de-briefing session is conducted for team members.
Range de-briefing discussion is conducted with team and, if required/requested/necessary, additional de-briefing or counselling is obtained for the team members.
Replacement information / This unit standard, unit standard 1584 and unit standard 25387 were replaced by unit standard 29393.This unit standard is expiring. Assessment against the standard must take place by the last date for assessment set out below.
Status information and last date for assessment for superseded versions
Process / Version / Date / Last Date for Assessment /Registration / 1 / 21 November 2008 / 31 December 2014
Review / 2 / 18 October 2012 / 31 December 2018
Review / 3 / 21 April 2016 / 31 December 2018
Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR) reference / 0004
This CMR can be accessed at http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/framework/search/index.do.
Please note
Providers must be granted consent to assess against standards (accredited) by NZQA, before they can report credits from assessment against unit standards or deliver courses of study leading to that assessment.
Industry Training Organisations must be granted consent to assess against standards by NZQA before they can register credits from assessment against unit standards.
Providers and Industry Training Organisations, which have been granted consent and which are assessing against unit standards must engage with the moderation system that applies to those standards.
Requirements for consent to assess and an outline of the moderation system that applies to this standard are outlined in the Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMRs). The CMR also includes useful information about special requirements for organisations wishing to develop education and training programmes, such as minimum qualifications for tutors and assessors, and special resource requirements.
Community Support Services ITO LimitedSSB Code 101814 / Ó New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2017 / / New Zealand Qualifications Aut