Sluice Room Sins

The sluice room plays a vital role in infection control, serving as a dedicated space for safely disposing of human waste. However, its effectiveness hinges on strict adherence to protocols.

To ensure your sluice room is not a source of infection, here are five non-negotiable commandments every staff member should be following:

Thou shalt not store items that don’t belong in the sluice room

For a sluice room to remain effective in infection control, items that could be easily contaminated mustn’t be stored in there, including items such as clean bedding, equipment like wheelchairs or personal items such as food or drink. 

This is because they could be contaminated when staff are disposing of human waste from splashes or airborne bacteria. Therefore, you could be unknowingly spreading bacteria to residents throughout the facility. Keep the room clear and dedicated only to human waste disposal.  

You can find out more about what you should not be keeping in your sluice room here. 

Thou shalt not dispose of waste unsafely

Waste should be disposed of safely in a dedicated room using safe disposal methods such as a bedpan washer disinfector. 

Human waste could be contaminated, and therefore, it’s important that it is disposed of safely to stop the spread of infections. You can find out more about safe human waste disposal here. 

Thou shalt not mix clean and dirty 

Whether you’re using the sluice room to dispose of waste or retrieve clean utensils, the clean must always be kept away from the dirty. Maintaining clear separation is crucial in preventing cross-contamination. Never place contaminated items on the clean side, and never store clean items on the dirty side. 

You can find out more about the sluice room hygiene process below:

Thou shalt not leave the room without washing hands 

To stop cross-contamination after handling any items in the sluice room (clean or dirty), it is crucial that you wash your hands before you leave the room. If this procedure is not followed, you could be putting vulnerable patients at risk of infections by carrying bacteria onto door handles, equipment, etc. 

Thou shalt not put anything but reusable utensils in the bedpan washer 

When disposing of human waste using a bedpan washer disinfector, it is important to remember that only human bodily fluids and toilet paper can be placed in the machine. 

Items that should never be placed in the machine include: gloves, nappies, pads, wipes, and swabs. Placing these items in the machine can lead to blockages and breakdowns, which can affect the machine’s efficiency to decomtaminate the reusable utensils or the staff’s ability to use the machine whilst waiting for it to be fixed. Therefore, compromising your infection control. 

If you have any questions about infection control in your sluice room, contact us today on 01689 806 500 to speak with one of our experts.