Unit of competency Outline
Date retreived
22/07/2026 7:04 AM AWST
22/07/2026 7:04 AM AWST
Whilst all efforts are made to provide accurate and timely information from the relevant source/documentation, please be aware that the information supplied may not be the most current version. The accuracy of the detail has not been confirmed by the Department and therefore should not be relied upon without first confirming the contents.
Identify and move to maintain a sterile field
Identify and move to maintain a sterile field
Unit of competency
National Code
HLTTH303D
HLTTH303D
State Code
WD307
WD307
TGA Status
Deleted
Deleted
DTWD Status
Deleted
Deleted
State Implementation and Classification
Approved Date
06/08/2014
Field of Education
061301 - Occupational Health And Safety
Original Release Date
06/08/2014
Nominal Hours
15
Description
DescriptorThis unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to identify and move around a sterile environment and to ensure that infection control principles are maintained
Notes
Elements and Performance Criteria
1. Apply personal hygiene standards
- 1.1 Wear proper attire correctly and ensure that it conforms with hospital and enterprise policy and procedures
- 1.2 Follow standard infection control guidelines to reduce risk of infection
2. Move around a sterile field
- 2.1 Move and carry out activities that are consistent with duties being performed
- 2.2 Conform with aseptic principles when moving around a sterile field to ensure the sterile field is not contaminated
- 2.3 Report personal and other staff breaches of aseptic principles to the relevant staff
- 2.4 Wear personal protective attire as required
RANGE STATEMENT
The Range Statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Add any 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.
Attire may include:
Allocated theatre outfits
Boots
Dress shoes
Goggles
Lead aprons
Plastic aprons
Masks
Location may include but is not limited to:
Operating theatre
Private practice treatment room
Residential care settings
Community health settings
Factors affecting sterile field include:
Physical
Positive pressure
Air conditioning system
Temperature
Humidity
Clean equipment and environment
Personal
Attire
Personal hygiene including effective hand washing
Work and traffic flow processes
Aseptic conditions
Identification of breaches
Accountability for breaches of self and others
The Range Statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Add any 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.
Attire may include:
Allocated theatre outfits
Boots
Dress shoes
Goggles
Lead aprons
Plastic aprons
Masks
Location may include but is not limited to:
Operating theatre
Private practice treatment room
Residential care settings
Community health settings
Factors affecting sterile field include:
Physical
Positive pressure
Air conditioning system
Temperature
Humidity
Clean equipment and environment
Personal
Attire
Personal hygiene including effective hand washing
Work and traffic flow processes
Aseptic conditions
Identification of breaches
Accountability for breaches of self and others
EVIDENCE GUIDE
The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the Performance Criteria, Required Skills and Knowledge, the Range Statement and the Assessment Guidelines for this Training Package.
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate this competency unit:
The individual being assessed must provide evidence of specified essential knowledge as well as skills
Consistency of performance should be demonstrated over the required range of situations relevant to the workplace
Where, for reasons of safety, space, or access to equipment and resources, assessment takes place away from the workplace, the assessment environment should represent workplace conditions as closely as possible
Context of and specific resources for assessment:
Equipment
Infection control procedures
Workplace health and safety guidelines
Theatre policy and procedure guidelines
Other organisation policies and procedures
Duties statements and/or job descriptions
Method of assessment
Observation of work activities when identifying and moving to maintain a sterile field
Observation of simulation and/or role play when identifying and moving to maintain a sterile field
Discussion of physical and/or behavioural contingency scenarios involving duty of care
Authenticated transcripts of relevant education/training courses
Recognition of relevant life/work experience
Written assignments/projects or questioning should be used to assess knowledge
Authenticated reports of experience working in sterile environments(Documentation associated with performance reviews, supervisor/co-ordinator evaluations of work performance)
Training records associated with OH Safety training, Orientation/Induction Training, Safe Manual Handing, Universal infection control procedures
Case study and scenario as a basis for discussion of issues and strategies to contribute to best practice
Access and equity considerations:
All workers in the health industry should be aware of access and equity issues in relation to their own area of work
All workers should develop their ability to work in a culturally diverse environment
In recognition of particular health issues facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, workers should be aware of cultural, historical and current issues impacting on health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
Assessors and trainers must take into account relevant access and equity issues, in particular relating to factors impacting on health of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients and communities
The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the Performance Criteria, Required Skills and Knowledge, the Range Statement and the Assessment Guidelines for this Training Package.
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate this competency unit:
The individual being assessed must provide evidence of specified essential knowledge as well as skills
Consistency of performance should be demonstrated over the required range of situations relevant to the workplace
Where, for reasons of safety, space, or access to equipment and resources, assessment takes place away from the workplace, the assessment environment should represent workplace conditions as closely as possible
Context of and specific resources for assessment:
Equipment
Infection control procedures
Workplace health and safety guidelines
Theatre policy and procedure guidelines
Other organisation policies and procedures
Duties statements and/or job descriptions
Method of assessment
Observation of work activities when identifying and moving to maintain a sterile field
Observation of simulation and/or role play when identifying and moving to maintain a sterile field
Discussion of physical and/or behavioural contingency scenarios involving duty of care
Authenticated transcripts of relevant education/training courses
Recognition of relevant life/work experience
Written assignments/projects or questioning should be used to assess knowledge
Authenticated reports of experience working in sterile environments(Documentation associated with performance reviews, supervisor/co-ordinator evaluations of work performance)
Training records associated with OH Safety training, Orientation/Induction Training, Safe Manual Handing, Universal infection control procedures
Case study and scenario as a basis for discussion of issues and strategies to contribute to best practice
Access and equity considerations:
All workers in the health industry should be aware of access and equity issues in relation to their own area of work
All workers should develop their ability to work in a culturally diverse environment
In recognition of particular health issues facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, workers should be aware of cultural, historical and current issues impacting on health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
Assessors and trainers must take into account relevant access and equity issues, in particular relating to factors impacting on health of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients and communities
Replaces
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| D8534 | HLTTH303C | Identify and move to maintain a sterile field | Unit of competency |
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| J064 | HLT32412 | Certificate III in Allied Health Assistance | Qualification |
| J089 | HLT42612 | Certificate IV in Anaesthetic Technology | Qualification |
| J065 | HLT32512 | Certificate III in Health Services Assistance | Qualification |
| J103 | HLT50612 | Diploma of Paramedical Science (Anaesthesia) | Qualification |
| J055 | HLT31112 | Certificate III in Sterilisation Services | Qualification |