Unit of competency Outline
Date retreived
23/07/2026 1:56 AM AWST
23/07/2026 1:56 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.
Care for surgical instruments
Care for surgical instruments
Unit of competency
National Code
HLTSTE308B
HLTSTE308B
State Code
D8514
D8514
TGA Status
Replaced
Replaced
DTWD Status
Replaced
Replaced
State Implementation and Classification
Approved Date
02/08/2011
Field of Education
019909 - Laboratory Technology
Original Release Date
02/08/2011
Nominal Hours
30
Description
DescriptorThis unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to care for surgical instruments following relevant standards, guidelines, policies and procedures and manufacturer's instructions
Notes
Elements and Performance Criteria
1. Identify cleaning requirements of a range of surgical instruments
- 1.1 Select cleaning process appropriate to each surgical instrument in line with relevant legislative requirements and following manufacturer's recommendations
- 1.2 Take into account the composition and manufacturing process of surgical instruments
- 1.3 Take into account the risk of galvanic corrosion, factors that cause pitting and corrosion and the effect of treatment for the various metal surfaces
- 1.4 Identify surfaces requiring remedial processes
- 1.5 Identify faulty medical devices and report in line with relevant requirements, policies and procedures
- 1.6 Work with an understanding of the risk to clients and corrosion risk of debris retained on instruments with textured surfaces
- 1.7 Identify items requiring insulation testing
2. Prepare for cleaning of a range of surgical instruments
- 2.1 Prepare general surgical instruments for cleaning in line with current Australian/New Zealand Standards and associated guidelines
- 2.2 Disassemble instruments for cleaning as required in line with manufacturer's and organisation guidelines and using correct dismantling techniques
- 2.3 Select enzymatic detergents to soak instruments as required in line with manufacturer's instructions
- 2.4 Follow safe work practices to conduct insulation testing as required
- 2.5 Follow organisation guidelines, Australia/New Zealand Standards and manufacturer's instructions when receiving, disassembling and cleaning instruments on loan
- 2.6 Identify and differentiate between re-usable and single use items such as diathermy loops in order to process only reusables
3. Apply cleaning processes to a range of surgical instruments
- 3.1 Address particular requirements of a range of general surgical instruments
- 3.2 Soak instruments as required and rinse off gross debris in line with manufacturer's instructions for effective and safe use of enzymatic detergents
- 3.3 Brush instruments with textured surfaces in the direction against the design to remove the debris effectively and in line with safety requirements
- 3.4 Address requirements of instruments with tightly coiled structures such as flexible reamers
- 3.5 Flush instruments with tightly coiled structures with high pressured water and brush the cannulations, attaching to the ultrasonic's flushing mechanism ensuring that flexion opens the coil as much as possible
- 3.6 Check for retained debris by safely flushing with high pressure water and high pressure air
- 3.7 Safely process fine, delicate items, brushing gently with a suitable brush to remove adherent soil
- 3.8 Follow guidelines for safe and correct processing of instruments with specific processing requirements
4. Check quality of cleaning of surgical instruments
- 4.1 Inspect instruments during and after processing in line with identified requirements
- 4.2 Inspect instruments with textured surfaces for retained debris under lighted magnification
- 4.3 Inspect instruments for completeness and working function
- 4.4 Identify faults in the cleaning process and address in line with scope of own work role
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.
Surgical and medical instrumentation and equipment may include:
General instruments
Flexible and rigid endoscopic equipment
Insulated instruments
Laparoscopic instruments
Microscopic instruments
Power tools
Fibre optic equipment
Cleaning may involve:
Disassembly
Solutions including:
soaking
enzymatic
lubrication
stainless steel stain remover
Brushing of lumen/cannulated items
Non-immersible items
Complex specialised instrumentation
Leak testing of flexible endoscope
Mechanical lubrication
Disassembling instruments for cleaning may include:
Opening ratcheted instruments for processing
Opening taps and valves
Disassembling and reassembling multipart instruments and stilettes to check for correct fit and function
Using correct dismantling technique for a variety of endoscopic instruments
Particular requirements for general surgical instruments may include:
Check scissors for correct set, sharpness and barbs
Correctly clean, inspect and check box-jointed forceps for stiffness or wear
Identify and correctly clean and inspect instruments with long shafts for example cup biopsy forceps, punches and rongeurs, checking the shaft for debris
Identify processes required for removal of dyes/ adhesives
Soak instruments used for Bonny's Blue to remove the dye
Identify and process blind-ended instruments such as spackmann's cannula by processes that may include soaking and flushing safely with high pressure water
Identify cannulated drills and process to remove impacted bone and other debris, inspecting for cleanliness prior to packaging
Identify very fine suckers and process to remove wax blood and other organic debris using a variety of stillettes and brushes that touch the sides of the cannulation
Identify difficult designs, follow manufacturer's instructions, dismantle for cleaning by brushing and flushing, and reassemble to check function for instruments such as Filshie clip applicators and Tonsil snares
Instruments with textured surfaces may include:
Acetabula graters
Reamers
ENT files
Requirements of instruments with tightly coiled structures include:
Soak appropriate enzymatic detergents
Rinse off gross debris
Follow the manufacturer's instructions for effective and safe use of enzymatic detergents
Importance of soaking as soon as possible as part of pre-cleaning in the operating theatre
Value of keeping the instrument moist prior to dispatch for cleaning
Selection and use of enzymatic detergents includes:
To soak instruments with soil impacted in textured surfaces
To soak instruments with tightly coiled structures
Follow manufacturer's instructions for effective and safe use
Instruments with specific processing requirements include:
Flexible illuminated instruments, for example:
cystoscopes
choledochoscope
brochoscope with channels
Power tools
Screw and implant caddies
Items requiring manual cleaning
Safe and correct processing of flexible endoscopes may include:
Wipe and suction with a solution immediately after the procedure, following the manufacturer's instructions
Follow instructions for leak testing, and soaking in enzymatic detergent solution
Follow instructions for disassembling, brushing, wiping and checking for cleanliness
Follow instructions for drying (eg. using alcohol to flush channels or dry under low pressure forced air)
Safe and correct processing of power tools may include:
Follow manufacturer's instructions to prevent water entering the motor
Identify and brush cannulation in power-tools
Remove debris between movable, close-fitting parts
Safe and correct processing of screw and implant caddies may include:
Identify instruments likely to contain organic soil, such as drill bits
Follow manufacturer's and organisation instructions to:
soak in mild detergent solution
rinse with flushing water
assist drying with low-pressure forced air (eg. leave lid on to prevent dislodging fine items)
Safe practices for manual cleaning include:
Safe and effective brushing:
selecting a suitable brush
reducing the creation of aerosols
removing debris off brush before retracting it up into a cannula.
Follow standards such as AS/NZS 4187 for safe and effective methods of manual cleaning.
Select agents and equipment for manual cleaning following AS/NZS 4187
Safe work practices to conduct insulation testing includes:
Follow safety requirements when operating insulation porosity testers
Follow appliance manufacturer instructions in applying devices such as the brush to identify defects
Follow organisation processes for the removal and replacement of defective items
Instruments on loan may include:
Complex instruments with instructions from a loan set company
Borrowed instruments from other hospitals
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.
Surgical and medical instrumentation and equipment may include:
General instruments
Flexible and rigid endoscopic equipment
Insulated instruments
Laparoscopic instruments
Microscopic instruments
Power tools
Fibre optic equipment
Cleaning may involve:
Disassembly
Solutions including:
soaking
enzymatic
lubrication
stainless steel stain remover
Brushing of lumen/cannulated items
Non-immersible items
Complex specialised instrumentation
Leak testing of flexible endoscope
Mechanical lubrication
Disassembling instruments for cleaning may include:
Opening ratcheted instruments for processing
Opening taps and valves
Disassembling and reassembling multipart instruments and stilettes to check for correct fit and function
Using correct dismantling technique for a variety of endoscopic instruments
Particular requirements for general surgical instruments may include:
Check scissors for correct set, sharpness and barbs
Correctly clean, inspect and check box-jointed forceps for stiffness or wear
Identify and correctly clean and inspect instruments with long shafts for example cup biopsy forceps, punches and rongeurs, checking the shaft for debris
Identify processes required for removal of dyes/ adhesives
Soak instruments used for Bonny's Blue to remove the dye
Identify and process blind-ended instruments such as spackmann's cannula by processes that may include soaking and flushing safely with high pressure water
Identify cannulated drills and process to remove impacted bone and other debris, inspecting for cleanliness prior to packaging
Identify very fine suckers and process to remove wax blood and other organic debris using a variety of stillettes and brushes that touch the sides of the cannulation
Identify difficult designs, follow manufacturer's instructions, dismantle for cleaning by brushing and flushing, and reassemble to check function for instruments such as Filshie clip applicators and Tonsil snares
Instruments with textured surfaces may include:
Acetabula graters
Reamers
ENT files
Requirements of instruments with tightly coiled structures include:
Soak appropriate enzymatic detergents
Rinse off gross debris
Follow the manufacturer's instructions for effective and safe use of enzymatic detergents
Importance of soaking as soon as possible as part of pre-cleaning in the operating theatre
Value of keeping the instrument moist prior to dispatch for cleaning
Selection and use of enzymatic detergents includes:
To soak instruments with soil impacted in textured surfaces
To soak instruments with tightly coiled structures
Follow manufacturer's instructions for effective and safe use
Instruments with specific processing requirements include:
Flexible illuminated instruments, for example:
cystoscopes
choledochoscope
brochoscope with channels
Power tools
Screw and implant caddies
Items requiring manual cleaning
Safe and correct processing of flexible endoscopes may include:
Wipe and suction with a solution immediately after the procedure, following the manufacturer's instructions
Follow instructions for leak testing, and soaking in enzymatic detergent solution
Follow instructions for disassembling, brushing, wiping and checking for cleanliness
Follow instructions for drying (eg. using alcohol to flush channels or dry under low pressure forced air)
Safe and correct processing of power tools may include:
Follow manufacturer's instructions to prevent water entering the motor
Identify and brush cannulation in power-tools
Remove debris between movable, close-fitting parts
Safe and correct processing of screw and implant caddies may include:
Identify instruments likely to contain organic soil, such as drill bits
Follow manufacturer's and organisation instructions to:
soak in mild detergent solution
rinse with flushing water
assist drying with low-pressure forced air (eg. leave lid on to prevent dislodging fine items)
Safe practices for manual cleaning include:
Safe and effective brushing:
selecting a suitable brush
reducing the creation of aerosols
removing debris off brush before retracting it up into a cannula.
Follow standards such as AS/NZS 4187 for safe and effective methods of manual cleaning.
Select agents and equipment for manual cleaning following AS/NZS 4187
Safe work practices to conduct insulation testing includes:
Follow safety requirements when operating insulation porosity testers
Follow appliance manufacturer instructions in applying devices such as the brush to identify defects
Follow organisation processes for the removal and replacement of defective items
Instruments on loan may include:
Complex instruments with instructions from a loan set company
Borrowed instruments from other hospitals
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
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
Consistency of performance should be demonstrated over the required range of situations relevant to the workplace
Context of and specific resources for assessment:
Assessment should replicate workplace conditions as far as possible
Simulations may be used to represent workplace conditions as closely as possible
Resources essential for assessment include access to:
relevant workplace or appropriately simulated environment where assessment can take place
Australian Standards, government and organisation policies and procedures
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
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
Consistency of performance should be demonstrated over the required range of situations relevant to the workplace
Context of and specific resources for assessment:
Assessment should replicate workplace conditions as far as possible
Simulations may be used to represent workplace conditions as closely as possible
Resources essential for assessment include access to:
relevant workplace or appropriately simulated environment where assessment can take place
Australian Standards, government and organisation policies and procedures
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| C9514 | HLTSTE308A | Care for surgical instruments | Unit of competency |
Replaced By
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| WD295 | HLTSTE308C | Care for surgical instruments | Unit of competency |
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| D040 | HLT31107 | Certificate III in Sterilisation Services | Qualification |