Draft Details

1.1 Cleaning and disinfecting of HCFs

This Standard applies to the cleaning and disinfecting of HCFs providing health care services including, but not limited to, inpatient services or outpatient services. It applies to all facilities, public or private, that provide health care treatments, health-related services, or diagnostic testing services, regardless of type, size, location, or range of services.

1.2 Cleaning and disinfecting practices in HCFs

This Standard is intended to address the cleaning and disinfecting of HCFs that includes both manual cleaning and disinfecting practices and automated environmental cleaning and disinfecting systems. This includes all environmental surfaces, and the air within the HCF.

1.3 Application to personnel performing cleaning and disinfecting in HCFs

This Standard applies to all personnel, regardless of their departmental affiliation or professional designation (whether directly employed by the HCF or out-sourced personnel) who perform cleaning and disinfecting functions in HCFs. This Standard also applies to all other parties involved in the cleaning and disinfecting process.

1.4 Exclusions to cleaning and disinfecting standard

This Standard does not apply to

a) cleaning and disinfecting of food services environments, except for the cleaning and disinfecting of food preparation areas (see Clause 5.3.11);

b) cleaning and disinfecting of critical or semi-critical medical devices (see CAN/CSA-Z314);

c) plumbing installation (see CSA Z317.1);

d) HVAC installation (see CSA Z317.2);

e) management of health care waste materials (see CSA Z317.10); and

f) laundering of reusable medical textiles (see CAN/CSA-Z314).

1.5 Terminology

In this Standard, “shall” is used to express a requirement, i.e., a provision that the user is obliged to satisfy in order to comply with the Standard; “should” is used to express a recommendation or that which is advised but not required; and “may” is used to express an option or that which is permissible within the limits of the Standard.

Notes accompanying clauses do not include requirements or alternative requirements; the purpose of a note accompanying a clause is to separate from the text explanatory or informative material.

Notes to tables and figures are considered part of the table or figure and may be written as requirements.

Annexes are designated normative (mandatory) or informative (non-mandatory) to define their application.