Housekeeping Standard Operating Procedure
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Housekeeping Duties, Cleaning Standards & Infection Prevention
The Housekeeping Department is responsible for maintaining a clean, hygienic and safe Hospital environment for patients, visitors and staff. Housekeeping personnel shall perform cleaning, sanitation and waste management activities in accordance with applicable laws, Hospital policies, infection prevention protocols and NABH standards.
"Cleanliness is essential for patient safety, infection prevention and quality healthcare."
Applicable Laws & Standards
- Biomedical Waste Management Rules, 2016.
- Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 (where applicable).
- Clinical Establishments (Registration and Regulation) Act, 2010 (where applicable).
- NABH Hospital Infection Prevention & Control (HIC) Standards.
- NABH Facility Management & Safety (FMS) Standards.
- NABH Human Resource Management (HRM) Standards.
Core Responsibilities
- Maintain cleanliness of all patient care and non-patient care areas.
- Follow approved cleaning and disinfection schedules.
- Use only Hospital-approved cleaning chemicals and disinfectants.
- Segregate biomedical waste according to colour-coded waste management guidelines.
- Ensure washrooms, wards, corridors and common areas remain clean and hygienic.
- Wear appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) while performing duties.
- Immediately report spills, hazards or unsafe conditions.
- Assist in infection prevention and environmental hygiene programmes.
Waste Management
- Segregate biomedical and general waste correctly.
- Transport waste safely using designated containers.
- Never mix biomedical waste with general waste.
- Dispose of waste only through approved Hospital procedures.
Environmental Cleaning, Safety, Infection Prevention & Professional Responsibilities
"No patient care area shall be left unclean after the scheduled cleaning or disinfection process."
Cleaning & Disinfection
- Follow the approved cleaning schedule for all Hospital areas.
- Use only Hospital-approved cleaning agents and disinfectants.
- Clean high-touch surfaces frequently as per infection control protocols.
- Immediately clean blood spills and body fluid spills using approved spill management procedures.
- Ensure patient rooms are cleaned before admitting a new patient.
- Follow isolation room cleaning procedures as directed by the Infection Control Team.
Infection Prevention & Safety
- Wear appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) while performing assigned duties.
- Perform proper hand hygiene before and after cleaning activities.
- Follow biomedical waste segregation procedures without exception.
- Display caution signs when cleaning wet floors.
- Report any unsafe condition, spill or infection control concern immediately to the supervisor.
Documentation & Reporting
- Complete cleaning checklists accurately.
- Record completion of scheduled cleaning activities.
- Immediately report shortages of cleaning materials or damaged equipment.
- Inform the supervisor regarding maintenance issues noticed during cleaning.
Serious Violations
- Failure to clean assigned areas according to schedule.
- Improper segregation or disposal of biomedical waste.
- Failure to wear required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
- Ignoring blood or body fluid spills.
- Use of unauthorised cleaning chemicals.
- Falsification of cleaning records or checklists.
- Behaviour that compromises patient safety or infection prevention.
Non-Compliance
Failure to comply with this SOP, Hospital policies, infection prevention protocols or applicable laws may result in counselling, retraining, competency reassessment or disciplinary action depending upon the seriousness of the violation. Environmental hygiene and infection prevention are essential responsibilities of every Housekeeping employee.