CARRY OUT CLEANING FOR ANIMAL CARE WORK AND WASTE

MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES

LO 1: Prepare materials, tools and equipment

For cleaning activities
Identifying the requiring materials, tools and equipment for
Information Sheet-1
cleaning activities

1. Cleaning
Cleaning is the most important step in the disinfection process. If an item or material is not
adequately cleaned, the application of disinfectant is a waste of time and money because soil
(manure, dirt, secretions, and excretions) cannot be disinfected.
1.1 Tool: A tool can be any item that is used to achieve a goal.
1.2 Equipment: usually denotes a set of tools that are used to achieve a specific objective.
A tool can be non-mechanical as well. However, when one says equipment, there is a certain
mechanical aspect to it that cannot be ignored
1.3Basic tools and equipment’s for animal care and cleaning activities
Broom
 A broom is a cleaningtool consisting of stiff fibers attached to, and roughly parallel to, a
cylindricalhandle, the broomstick. It is commonly used in combination with a dustpan.

Dustpan
 A dustpan is a cleaning tool commonly used in combination with a broom. The dustpan
may appear to be a type of flat scoop. It is often hand held for home use, but industrial and
commercial enterprises often use a hinged variety on the end of a stick to prevent the user
from constantly stooping to use it.

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Bucket
 A bucket, also called a pail, is typically a watertight, vertical cylinder or truncatedcone,
with an open top and a flat bottom, usually attached to a semicircular carrying handle
called the bail. A pail can have an open top or can have a lid.

Mop
 Mop (such as a floor mop) is a mass or bundle of coarse strings or yarn, etc., or a piece of
cloth, sponge, or other absorbent material, attached to a pole or stick. It is used to soak up
liquid, forcleaning floors and other surfaces, or to mop up dust, or for other cleaning
purposes.
 Water
 High- and low-pressure sprayer,
 Power or fuel for sprayer
Vacuum cleaner:
 A device that uses an air pump to create a partial vacuum to suck up dust and dirt

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Water Hoses:
 Hollow tubes designed to carry fluids from one location to another.

Sponge
 Characterized by readily absorbing water and becoming soft when wet while retaining
toughness
Cleaning cloth
 Used to wipe the cleaning tools and equipment

Disposal pits
 A disposal pit is a way of disposing of household waste by burying it, after it has been
reduced or recycled as much as possible. This helps prevent contamination of water
supplies and breeding of flies and rats which may spread disease to people in the
community.

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2. Disinfectant
A disinfectant is a physical agent or chemical agent that destroys vegetative forms of harmful
micro-organisms, usually on inanimate objects but sometimes on the coat or hooves of animals.
It is important to note that not all agents work against all microorganisms and that most
disinfectants are likely to be less effective against spores.

2.1 What to Consider When Choosing Your Disinfectant .

There are four primary considerations you should evaluate when choosing a disinfectant to best
meet the needs of your facility.
Effectiveness:
 Does a disinfectant kill the microbes and pathogens that are of top concern in your
facility?
Kill Time:
 How quickly does a disinfectant product kill a specific pathogen? Does the product
keep surfaces visibly wet in order to comply with these kill times.
Safety
 Is the product safe to use for people and safe for the surfaces it is being applied to?
Ease of Use
 Are the steps required to use a given disinfectant practical for your facility?

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3. Detergents
Detergents are chemicals that are used to remove grease, dirt and food debris, such as soaps and
washing-up liquid. They help us to clean by helping to dissolve and remove the contamination
and hold it in solution. However, these are not designed to kill pathogens.
3.1. Different types of detergent
1. Powder detergents are more effective than liquid detergents but liquid ones are more gentle
on fabric and best for cleaning lightly soiled clothes. Detergents are also available in a cake
form.

2 Soaps
Soap is a biodegradable cleaning agent (fatty acid salts) made by combining fats (animal or
vegetable) with Lye (Sodium Hydroxide).

3. Home remedies

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Baking soda, washing soda, Lime, Vinegar, Hydrogen Peroxide – there is many home remedies
that we regularly use to clean things. Most of them can be used for clothes too. Dishwashing
liquid is used as a spot stain remover, especially for oily stains.
4. Conventional Detergent
Conventional Laundry detergent, like any other household product, can contain toxic
chemicals and even carcinogens. The conventional detergents use chemicals to bring
fragrance, the cleaning agents to make the laundry cleaner, the stabilizers to stabilize their
shelf life, and bleach, brighteners and phosphates to make the detergents more

Liquid detergents work great with water, especially in cold water. Before washing the clothes,
they can easily be used to pre-treat stains also. However, the limitation with them is that being
liquid, they can easily be overused and their packaging also creates more waste.

Operation Sheet 1 Identifying the requiring materials, tools and equipment for cleaning
activities

Part 1
1. Prepare and identify cleaning materials for cleaning activities.
 Tools
 Equipment

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  Detergents and
 Disinfectants
Part 2

Basic Steps of a Cleaning and Disinfection Protocol

There are proper procedures to follow in order to increase the efficiency of the C&D process. If
surfaces are not properly cleaned, the disinfection process is ineffective. The basic steps of C&D
include:
1) Remove all visible gross contaminants from people, vehicles, and all equipment.
2) Apply detergent solution onto the surface and allow sufficient time for the detergent to
disperse. This allows for the breakdown of the different components of accumulated
grime such as fat, protein, and manure.
3) Thoroughly rinse the surface using a hose or pressure washer while preventing cross
contamination of clean surfaces. Residual detergent may interact unfavorably with the
applied disinfectant.
4) Apply a standard-registered disinfectant to inactivate disease agents. Follow all safety
precautions and use directions specified on the product label. The disinfectant must be
left on surfaces for the required contact time per the label instructions.
Selecting and checking suitable personal protective equipment
Information Sheet-4
(PPE) prior to use
4. How to select and check suitable PPE prior to use.

 Workers must alert supervisors of hazards in the workplace and must wear the appropriate
PPE to protect themselves from any hazards.
 Personal protective equipment (PPE) is used by workers in various work settings. Gloves,
hard hats, safety glasses, ear plugs, aprons, laboratory coats, safety shoes, and respirators are
all examples of PPE.
 When a hazard cannot be removed from the workplace, or when engineering controls are
insufficient to control the hazard, PPE must be considered. PPE does not eliminate hazards
from the workplace but places a barrier between the worker and the hazard. If the PPE fails
or is not used properly, the worker will be exposed.

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  There is a large variety of PPE available. It can range from simple safety glasses to full body
suits. The selection and proper use of PPE is vital to health and safety on the job. The
following is a current list of PPEs recommended for use
Identifying and reporting OHS hazards in the workplace to
Information Sheet- 5
supervisors.

1. Identifying Hazards and reporting to supervisors

 The hazards described here are commonly encountered in workplaces where animals are
housed and/or treated: these include veterinary practices, wildlife sanctuaries and parks, zoos,
animal shelters, stables, boarding facilities, pet shops.
 Working with animals can be dangerous business!
 Physical and chemical hazards
 Protocol related hazards
 Allergens
 Zoonotic diseases

Hazard Possible Harmful Possible Employer Preventative Action

Effects Action to Prevent Students Can Take
Injury / Illness

Animals Bites, mauling, scratches Allow only  Students must NOT

(smaller animals) experienced and trained handle animals
Even usually placid animals
staff to handle or unless the animal
may inflict injury if under and
restrain animals and the task have
stress or in pain.
Impact injuries such as been assessed by
Instruct staff in safe
Animal behaviour is difficult fractures, crushing, their supervisor
animal handling,
to predict and may change bruising (larger animals)  Don’t approach
including recognizing
without warning any animal unless
‘warning’ signs
assured by your
Label cages where an supervisor that it’s
animal’s behavior gives safe

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 reason for concern

Provide personal
protective clothing

Autoclaves / sterilizers Burns, scalding from Ensure that only  Students must NOT
steam trained and experienced be exposed to any
staff operate autoclaves dangerous plant or
equipment
Ensure regular plant
maintenance

Animal enclosures, stalls Cuts from metal edges, Ensure regular  Don’t open
and cages manual handling injury, cleaning and enclosures, stalls or
risk of infection and maintenance cages for any
disease if areas housing purpose unless the
Assess manual
animals are not task (and the
handling and redesign
frequently cleaned and animal) has been
cages to minimize risk
disinfected assessed by your
Provide wash-up supervisor
facilities, instruct staff  Wear gloves when
in personal hygiene cleaning

Hazardous substances Cytotoxic (cancer Follow strict  Students must not

(drugs used in treatment, treating) and other drugs handling, labelling and medicate animals or
anaesthetics, cleaning can cause illness. Short- storage procedures for handle any drugs
chemicals) term effects can include all hazardous used in animal
nausea, headaches substances treatment
 Wear rubber gloves
Provide protective
when using cleaning
clothing (such as
chemicals
gloves) for staff

Hazardous waste (soiled Infectious diseases, cuts  Wear rubber gloves

towels, swabs, syringes etc.) or ‘needle stick’ injuries; when handling

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 irritation to skin, eyes, hazardous soiled material
nose or throat  Don’t handle
Arrange for safe
syringes
disposal into labelled
 Adopt good hygiene
containers
practices
Provide gloves where
needed

Housekeeping Slips, trips and falls as a Ensure that spills are  Follow procedures
result of slippery cleaned immediately for cleaning up
surfaces or things left on spills
Keep work areas clear
the floor or on the  Report any spills or
of items that could
ground obstacles
present impact hazards

X-rays (radiation) Significant health risks, Minimize potential  Students must NOT
including cancers for exposure to be exposed to
radiography
X-rays during
processes
radiography

Zoonoses Diseases including Minimize potential  Always wash up

hydatid disease, for zoonotic infections after contact with
(diseases caught from
ringworm, Q fever – training, safe work animals
animals)
practices, vaccination  Students must NOT
enter any workplace
where Q fever has
been reported
Cuts Infection Ensure tasks with  Wear protective
potential risk of cuts are gloves
assessed  Wash hands
immediately
Provide protective
 Seek first aid
immediately if

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 gloves needed

Provide appropriate
washing facilities

Allergies to animals or Allergic reactions: Document any known  Follow safe working
insects (or to animal feeds asthma or other allergies among staff procedures
such as grasses) respiratory illness, skin members  Report any
reactions suspected allergic
Prevent or minimize
reaction to your
exposure – procedures
supervisor, without
must be established and
delay
followed by all workers

Provide protective
clothing

Sexual harassment, Emotional stress, fear Establish work place  Report any
and anxiety, physical policy concerns
work place bullying
illness immediately
Provide staff briefings
or training

LO 2: Undertake cleaning activities as directed

undertaking cleaning activities in safe and environmentally
Information Sheet- 2
appropriate manner
2. Cleaning procedures in animal care cleaning activities
2.1 Basic Steps of a Cleaning and Disinfection Protocol
There are proper procedures to follow in order to increase the efficiency of the C&D process. If
surfaces are not properly cleaned, the disinfection process is ineffective. The basic steps of C&D
include:
 Remove all visible gross contaminants from people, vehicles, and all equipment.

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  Apply detergent solution onto the surface and allow sufficient time for the detergent to
disperse. This allows for the breakdown of the different components of accumulated grime
such as fat, protein, and manure.
 Thoroughly rinse the surface using a hose or pressure washer while preventing cross
contamination of clean surfaces. Residual detergent may interact unfavorably with the
applied disinfectant.
 Apply a standard-registered disinfectant to inactivate disease agents. Follow all safety
precautions and use directions specified on the product label. The disinfectant must be left
on surfaces for the required contact time per the label instructions.
Cleaning is the most important step in the disinfection process. If an item or material is not
adequately cleaned, the application of disinfectant is a waste of time and money because soil
(manure, dirt, secretions, and excretions) cannot be disinfected. The cleaning process can be
broken down into four basic steps:
1) Dry clean
2) Wet wash
3) Rinse and
4) Dry.
Dry Clean— the area to be disinfected should be dry cleaned with a shovel and broom. This step
will remove all gross contamination with manure, debris, loose straw, and feed. Any material
that cannot be burned should be buried. Scrap wood, wooden gates, wooden feed bunks, and
items that are of limited financial value compared to the time and effort required to clean them
should be gathered together to be appraised and burned. Ropes, halters, and other items of
minimal value that are difficult to clean and disinfect should be appraised and burned.
Begin the process by hauling the manure to a predetermined site for disposal. This may involve
moving a number of tons of manure and require considerable time. Stalls, barns, and stanchions
that cannot be cleaned out with tractors must be cleaned with manure fork, shovel and broom.
When the dry-cleaning step is finished, there will be no loose dirt, dust, feed, bedding, manure,
hay, straw or any other loose organic material left within the structure. The surfaces will not
necessarily be visibly clean when this step is complete because of organic matter which is tightly
adhered to the surface.

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Wet Wash— all exposed surfaces, cracks, junctions, joints and mechanical items should be wet
washed with a soap solution or detergent. During the wet wash it is necessary to scrub, scrape, or
wire brush all surfaces vigorously to break down any biofilm which may be present. Scrubbing
can be done with rags on smooth surfaces although commercially available plastic or metal scrub
pads are much more efficient. Rough surfaces should be scrubbed with a wire brush to ensure
that they are cleaned as completely as possible. Deep cracks, crevices, pits, pores, or other
surface irregularities should be given special attention to dislodge accumulated grime. When the
wet wash step is completed, the surfaces will be visibly clean. The moisture on surfaces will
spread evenly, wetting the surface completely. There will be no beading of moisture which
would indicate the presence of oil or grease.
Rinse: Rinse washed surfaces thoroughly to remove all traces of soap or detergent. Residue of
soap or detergent should not be left on the surface because it may react in an unfavorable manner
with the disinfectant. When this step is complete, the water film will still “wet” the surfaces in
the absence of soap or detergent, and there will be no beading
Dry: The rinsed surfaces should be dried to remove all of the moisture. Removing the moisture
promptly will protect equipment and surfaces from deterioration. If left in place, excess moisture
will dilute the disinfectant which is to be applied to the surfaces and there is no practical way to
compensate for the dilution when mixing the disinfectant. In cool or cold weather, drying can be
accomplished by heating the building and circulating the air with auxiliary blowers. In hot
weather, drying can be accomplished with blowers or fans alone. In confined areas or on
equipment where air circulation from fans is not enough, the use of high-pressure air from a
compressor or high volume “leaf blowers” will remove excess moisture so drying can take place.
Inspect
All surfaces, junctions, cracks, and mechanical devices in the building should be carefully
inspected to assure that the cleaning process has removed all of the organic matter. Rewash any
areas that may require further attention in order to pass inspection.

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 Observing organisational policies, procedures in relation to
Information Sheet- 4
workplace practices and handling disposal of materials.

4. Workplace practices and the handling

 Effective animal housekeeping can eliminate some workplace hazards and help get a job
done easily and properly. Poor animal housekeeping can frequently contribute to
accidents by hiding hazards that can cause injuries

 Replace any worn, ripped or damaged flooring that poses a tripping hazard. Repair all
trap doors and railings.

 Trap doors, cages or railing should be present at hay chutes to prevent anyone
from accidentally falling into them. Cut down and remove weeds and brush
from around buildings the orderly storage and movement of materials from
point of entry to exit.

 Workers need to know how to protect other workers such a posting signs and reporting
any unusual
Tools and equipment

 Tool and equipment for animal housekeeping is very important, whether in the tool room,
on the rack, in the yard, or on the bench.
 Returning of tools prompotly after uses reduces the chance of being misplaced and lost
 Worker should regularly inspect, clean and repair all tools and and take any damaged or
worn tools out of service
Maintain light fixtures
 All building and yard should be adequately lighted. Light fixtures should be free of dirt as
dirty light fixtures reduce essential light levels.
 Clean light fixtures can improve lighting efficiency significantly light fixtures in storage
areas containing combustible materials should be protected against breaking (i.e.
explosion proof fixtures).
 Maintain lighting evenly, shadows mixed with light spots inside animal handling
facilities will increase the animal’s fear and tension.

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Floors and other areas
 Clean up oils and spills on floors immediately.
 Maintain floors free of debris and accumulations of dust.
 Areas that cannot be cleaned continuously, such as entranceways should have anti-slip
flooring.
Spill control
 The best way to control spills is to stop them before they happen.
 Regularly cleaning and maintaining machines and equipment is one way to; another is to
use drip pans and guards where possible spills might occur.

 When spil do occur; it is important to follow cleanup procedures as indicated on the

Material Safety Data Sheet.
 Spills must be cleaned up immediately. Absorbency material is useful for wiping up
greasy, oily or other liquid spills. Used absorbents must be disposed of properly and
safely.
4.1. Methods of waste disposal
a) Bury
 Burial site should have no risk of:
 Pollution to surface water or groundwater.
 Should buried to 1-meter depth
 The area should have fence and warning signs (fig. 1)
 Keep the record of burial date and material buried

Fig. 1- fence and warning sign where chemical wastes are buried

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b) Burn of wastes
 Burning should takes place in an open space at least 15 metres from any public or
livestock area.
 All containers are opened and placed on a very hot fire, a few at a time.
 Supervise the fire constantly.
 Avoid breathing any smoke produced.
 Extinguish the fire after use
4.2 Medical waste disposal
The Medical Waste: any solid waste that is generated in the diagnosis, treatment, researching or
immunization of human beings or animals.
4.2.1 Types of Medical Waste
1. Infectious waste: describes waste that has the possibility of causing infections to humans. It
can include
 Human or animal tissue (blood or other body parts),
 blood soaked bandages,
 discarded surgical gloves,
 Cultures or swabs to inoculate cultures. Much of this category, including human or
animal tissue, can also be labeled as pathological waste, which can only be treated
using specific methods
2. Hazardous waste: describes waste that has the possibility to affect humans in non-infectious
ways. This type of waste includes
 Sharps instruments such as
 Needles, syringes, scalpels lancets, culture dishes and other glassware.
 Hazardous waste can also include chemicals, both medical and industrial.
 Some hazardous waste can also be considered infectious waste, depending on its usage
and exposure to human or animal tissue prior to discard.
3. Radioactive waste describes waste resulting from nuclear medicine treatments, cancer
therapies and medical equipment that uses radioactive isotopes. Pathological waste that is
contaminated with radioactive material is treated as radioactive waste rather than infectious
waste.

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General waste makes up at least 85% of all waste generated at medical facilities, and is no
different from general household or office waste, and includes paper, plastics, liquids and any
other materials that do not fit into the previous three categories.
4.3 Treatment and disposal of medical waste
The primary methods of treatment and disposal of medical waste are:
 Incineration
 Autoclaves
 Mechanical/Chemical Disinfection
 Microwave
 Irradiation

Information Sheet- 5 Reporting problems or difficulties in completing work

5. Reporting Problems or difficulties to supervisors

 Abide by statutory regulations and all health and safety rules, policies, procedures and
practices.
 Work in a manner that will not endanger themselves or others at work.
 Actively participate in all training programs and report to a supervisor
 Any lack of understanding or knowledge to perform the work activities safely.
 Participate with the employer to promote health and safety.
 Report unsafe acts or conditions to a manager/supervisor/researcher.
 Report all injuries and incidents.
 Assist with incident/injury investigations and comply with the recommended corrective
action(s).
 Report the following illnesses to a supervisor:
 Generalized rash or skin lesions that are vesicular, pustular or weeping,
 Jaundice, or
 Illness that does not resolve within a reasonable period of time (e.g. cough persisting for
more than 2 weeks, gastrointestinal symptoms for more than 3-4 days, fever > 103°F
(39.5°C) for more than 2 days). Workers should also report:
 Pregnancy

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  Illness or medication that may compromise the immune system (e.g. corticosteroids)
 Open wounds, burns, fresh tattoos or piercings on exposed body surfaces
 Reporting can be daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly or yearly basis.
Storing waste material produced during cleaning activities
Information Sheet- 6
designated area.

Storing Waste material

 Stored materials should allow at least one meter (or about 3 feet) of clear space under
sprinkler heads. Stacking cartons and drums on a firm foundation and cross tying them,
where necessary reduces the chance of their movement.
 Stored materials should not be obstructing aisles, stairs, exits, fire equipment, emergency
eyewash fountains, emergency showers, or first aid stations
 All storage areas should be clearly marked.
 Manure should be stored outside confinement buildings above ground, uncovered and
enclosed by an adequate fence.

 Store away hay ropes and pitchforks to avoid accidental hangings and puncture wounds
 Storage equipment, as the name suggests is used to store materials, components and
assemblies.
 The level of complexity of this type of equipment is wide ranging, from a welded
Cantilever steel rack to hold lengths of stock materials to a powered vertical carousel system.
Also, within this category are pallet racks, mobile shelf units, and plastic, wood and steel
containers.

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