This unit applies to funeral home staff who may or may not be embalmers. This unit is considered to be the basic body preparation requirement for all deceased persons and involves working autonomously with a reasonable level of responsibility.
This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to remove the wrapping and clothing from the deceased person, cleanse and disinfect the body and relieve rigor mortis.
You may want to include more information here about the target group and the purpose of the assessments (eg formative, summative, recognition)
Prerequisites
Nil
Employability Skills
This unit contains employability skills.
Evidence Required
List the assessment methods to be used and the context and resources required for assessment. Copy and paste the relevant sections from the evidence guide below and then re-write these in plain English.
The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
Evidence of the following is essential:
ability to remove the wrapping and clothing from the deceased person, cleanse and disinfect the body and relieve rigor mortis
ability to prepare mortuary area and select and use the required instruments and equipment
the cleaning, disinfecting and sterilising of the mortuary area, instruments and equipment at conclusion of the treatment
knowledge of infection control practices
cleansing and disinfecting deceased bodies on multiple occasions to ensure consistency of performance and ability to respond to different situations.
Context of and specific resources for assessment
Assessment must ensure:
demonstration of skills in a mortuary facility where deceased bodies may be safely prepared and appropriate mortuary lighting, plumbing and ventilation requirements can be monitored and maintained
access to deceased bodies
access to cleansing and disinfecting products
access to mortuary instruments and equipment
access to personal protective equipment.
Methods of assessment
A range of assessment methods should be used to assess practical skills and knowledge. The following examples are appropriate for this unit:
observation of candidate preparing mortuary area, instruments and equipment and applying body cleansing and disinfecting procedures
written or verbal questioning to assess knowledge and understanding of infection control practices and properties of disinfectant products
review of portfolios of evidence and third-party workplace reports of on-the-job performance by the candidate.
Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, for example:
SIFMWK003A Clean and sterilise mortuary items and equipment.
Employability skills embedded in this unit should be assessed holistically with other relevant units that make up the skill set or qualification and in the context of the job role.
Submission Requirements
List each assessment task's title, type (eg project, observation/demonstration, essay, assingnment, checklist) and due date here
Assessment task 1: [title] Due date:
(add new lines for each of the assessment tasks)
Assessment Tasks
Copy and paste from the following data to produce each assessment task. Write these in plain English and spell out how, when and where the task is to be carried out, under what conditions, and what resources are needed. Include guidelines about how well the candidate has to perform a task for it to be judged satisfactory.
Required skills
planning and organisational skills to identify and prepare required instruments and equipment
technology skills to identify and apply appropriate equipment
self-management and problem-solving skills to monitor own response to dealing with deceased bodies and take corrective action.
Required knowledge
infection control practices and procedures
workplace policies and procedures for cleansing and disinfecting deceased bodies
sterilisation procedures for mortuary instruments and equipment
properties and uses of germicidal sprays and disinfectants
range of social, cultural and religious requirements
funeral services industry parameters and protocols for dealing with the deceased
broad working knowledge of relevant federal, state or territory, and local government legislation and regulations relating to OHS, infection control and handling human remains.
The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.
Instruments and equipment must include:
personal protective equipment
positioning devices
sterilisation equipment
sterilisation chemicals and solutions
dressing table
disinfectant hand solution, paper towels and soap
body grooming equipment
pedestal lamps
linen
first aid kit
packs of padding
cotton packer
plastic sheeting for wrapping bodies
waterproof tape
capsules for transporting babies
aneurysm needle
scissors
forceps
nasal tube aspirator.
Workplace policies and procedures may include:
standard operating policies and procedures
standards and certification requirements
quality assurance procedures
OHS procedures, including:
infection control procedures
manual handling procedures
material handling procedures, including hazardous or infectious materials
emergency procedures, including fire and accident procedures
security procedures.
Relevant legislation, regulations and codes of practice may include:
OHS
Anatomy Act
Human Tissue Act
Skin Penetration Act
Coroner's Act
Public Health Act
Environment Protection Act
local government regulations
funeral services industry code of practice
Worksafe Australia certification and standards.
Personal protective equipment may include:
disposable gloves
heavy duty gloves
barrier gown or suit
waterproof overshoes
waterproof aprons
splash proof masks
eye goggles
face visor
hair cover.
Social, cultural and religious requirements may include:
dress standards
gender of embalming personnel
time required between death and burial or cremation
orientation of the deceased person
restrictions on methods of embalming permissible.
Infection control practices may include:
checking for infectious and transmittable disease
using personal protective equipment
sterilising apparatus and instruments
providing sterile storage areas for instruments
using disinfectants
safe removal and disposal of soiled and contaminated garments
safe ventilation
avoiding invasive procedures on bodies
immunisation
periodic X-rays
seeking medical advice
recording injury and incidence
reporting injury and incidence
providing first aid kit
performing first aid as necessary
labelling clothing.
External head and face inspection must include:
inspecting head hair for lice and mites
inspecting eyes, nose and mouth for maggots.
Copy and paste from the following performance criteria to create an observation checklist for each task. When you have finished writing your assessment tool every one of these must have been addressed, preferably several times in a variety of contexts. To ensure this occurs download the assessment matrix for the unit; enter each assessment task as a column header and place check marks against each performance criteria that task addresses.
Observation Checklist
Tasks to be observed according to workplace/college/TAFE policy and procedures, relevant legislation and Codes of Practice
Yes
No
Comments/feedback
Identify and prepare mortuary area and appropriate instruments and equipment according to workplace policies and procedures, and relevant legislation.
Prepare and use personal protective equipment according to workplace policies and procedures, and relevant legislation.
Identify and respect any social, cultural and religious requirements.
Disinfect body wrappings using appropriate droplet disinfectant according to infection control practices.
Open outer body wrappings and ensure containment of body fluids.
Disinfect inner wrappings or clothing using a droplet disinfectant as required and according to infection control practices.
Remove inner wrapping and ensure containment of body fluids.
Place a durable modesty cover on genital area if required.
Cover mouth and nose with cloth soaked in an appropriate disinfectant.
Place wrappings in an appropriate biowaste container and ensure containment of body fluids.
Package clothing separately according to given instructions.
Aspirate oral and nasal cavities if purge is present.
Remove cloth covering mouth and nose, and dispose of using appropriate biowaste container.
Relieve rigor mortis from lower jaw as required.
Open mouth to enable access and place disinfectant cloth deep inside using long forceps.
Spray all areas of body with appropriate disinfectant and allow to remain on body surface for five minutes.
Conduct external head and face inspection.
Wash, rinse and dry all body surfaces using appropriate washing materials according to workplace policies and procedures.
Access rectal and vaginal orifices and place disinfectant cloth deep inside using large forceps.
Shampoo and dry cranium hair using germicidal soaps and shampoos according to workplace policies and procedures.
Perform face shaves and trim beards and moustaches according to workplace policies and procedures.
Conduct final inspection of body and note anything unusual for further attention.
Note and document all jewellery according to workplace policies and procedures and remove if required.
Manipulate, move and rotate arms, hands, fingers, legs, ankles and toes carefully to relieve rigor mortis.
Identify and avoid weakened tissue areas which may become damaged through relieving.
Clean, disinfect or sterilise instruments and equipment according to workplace policies and procedures, and relevant legislation.
Dispose of waste materials according to workplace policies and procedures, and relevant legislation.
Store instruments and equipment according to workplace policies and procedures and report faults.
Clean and disinfect mortuary area according to workplace policies and procedures, and relevant legislation.
Remove personal protective equipment and process according to workplace policies and procedures and infection control practices.
Forms
Assessment Cover Sheet
SIFMWK006A - Cleanse and disinfect deceased bodies
Assessment task 1: [title]
Student name:
Student ID:
I declare that the assessment tasks submitted for this unit are my own work.
Student signature:
Result: Competent Not yet competent
Feedback to student
Assessor name:
Signature:
Date:
Assessment Record Sheet
SIFMWK006A - Cleanse and disinfect deceased bodies
Student name:
Student ID:
Assessment task 1: [title] Result: Competent Not yet competent
(add lines for each task)
Feedback to student:
Overall assessment result: Competent Not yet competent