Chapter 4: Sanitation and Environmental Health PDF

Unit 7 Sanitation and Health Lesson 1 Sanitation Standards and Environmental Health Lesson Goal You will be aware of common health hazards found in a correctional facility based on the guidelines of a sanitation plan and environmental health program. Think About This The sanitation standard...

Unit 7 Sanitation and Health Lesson 1 Sanitation Standards and Environmental Health Lesson Goal You will be aware of common health hazards found in a correctional facility based on the guidelines of a sanitation plan and environmental health program. Think About This The sanitation standards your facility complies with depend on accreditation guidelines from orga- nizations that govern those standards. Your facility’s sanitation plan should provide guidelines for applying sanitary measures to ensure cleanliness and protect the health of officers, visitors, and in- mates. Your knowledge of facility sanitation standards and the ability to follow those guidelines will ensure that the environment you work in, and inmates live in, is healthy, clean, and disease free. Sanitation Standards Sanitation standards are guided by s. 944.31, F.S., which refers to requirements for facilities to provide clean, orderly, and safe surroundings for inmates and staff. How sanitation needs are addressed is determined by each agency’s resources and is guided by professional standards, such as the FMJS or F.A.C., and through accreditation agencies. Institutional sanitation standards ensure that the facility environment is healthy, clean, and disease free. Maintaining good standards has a positive effect on the public, staff, and inmates. ✅ CO471.1. Know the elements of a facility sanitation plan A correctional facility’s sanitation plan outlines the standards and methods used to inspect and clean areas, including scheduled inspections and required documentation. One example of stan- dards is setting heat requirements for laundry and food service to control water temperature so that chemicals successfully destroy bacteria and germs. Sanitation equipment and supplies include soaps and cleaning compounds, detergent and scouring powders, mops, brooms, brushes, and cleaning cloths. Different levels of housing may have their own special sanitation considerations. Chapter 4 Facility and Equipment / 131 Part of a sanitation plan includes daily routines and schedules for: housekeeping, collecting trash, cleaning floors cleaning cells and housing areas cleaning and sanitizing toilets, sinks, and showers cleaning activity and service areas emptying and cleaning garbage cans cleaning special areas after use cleaning food service areas after each meal laundering inmate clothing and linens Simple safety habits, such as checking to see how many times the trash is discarded or imme- diately cleaning up spills in areas where people may slip and fall, can strengthen your facility’s sanitation plan. Follow safety standards for serving meals in a timely manner. You can cause your facility to receive a citation if you do not follow the facility’s sanitation plan. In general, look to see what needs to be done or cleaned up and see that it gets done. Environmental Health Program ✅ CO471.2. Know the elements of a facility environmental health program The components of a complete environmental health program should include: sanitary food preparation area effective elimination of rodents and pests sanitary, adequate water supply that prevents scalding and has either a water fountain or disposable drinking cups adequate amount of heat, cooling, electricity, and ventilation adequate lighting and space proper sewage and liquid waste disposal measures to prevent the spread of communicable diseases clean bedding and adequate laundry maintenance of the facility 132 / Florida Basic Recruit Training Program (CO): Volume 1  facilities designed and constructed for minimum noise, to accommodate disabled people, and to minimize dangers of explosion, fire, and spread of fire safe storage and accountability for drugs; poisons and flammable, caustic, or toxic mate- rials; and cleaning agents sanitation inspections by government health officials thoroughly trained inmates assigned to operate equipment in special cleaning tasks Become familiar with your facility’s environmental health program, including its requirements, methods, and schedule. Assign inmates to sanitation tasks fairly and consistently; rotate inmates through assignments so they learn all tasks. As the inmates perform cleanup duties, supervise and conduct regular and unpredictable inspections. Cleaning supplies and equipment should be issued, inventoried, and documented. Look for unsanitary conditions and enforce housekeeping standards for cells and activity areas. You may be able to independently resolve a sanitation deficiency if resources are available. For example, if an inmate overturns a bucket of dirty mop water, you can take care of that quickly. In other cases, more formal action may be required where trained personnel will be needed to resolve the deficiency, such as a hazardous materials (hazmat) spill. Take the necessary precau- tions, such as sanitizing your uniform and shoes, to avoid bringing communicable diseases home. Health Hazards ✅ CO471.3. Know the common health hazards found in a facility The environment may pose health hazards for all who enter a facility. These hazards can include parasitic outbreaks (scabies, lice) and viral and bacterial illnesses, such as tuberculosis (TB), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Inspections can result in identifying health hazards, such as plumbing that does not work properly, broken pipes, unsanitary areas, and wet floors. If the health hazard poses an immediate danger, notify your supervisor immediately. Follow the direction of your supervisor to correct the hazard. When inspecting for health hazards, evaluate the environment for cleanliness, the presence of unusual odors, the extent of clutter, ventilation, hazardous conditions, and possible contagion from inmates. Chapter 4 Facility and Equipment / 133