Which hygiene requirements apply to cleaning in healthcare facilities?
Stricter hygiene requirements apply in healthcare facilities than in a regular office. An infection here has immediate consequences for people who are often already vulnerable. That is why cleaning follows fixed protocols, national guidelines and a clear separation between cleaning and disinfection. Extra requirements also apply to the staff.
In this article you will read exactly what those requirements are, which guidelines apply and how we at Reino approach cleaning in healthcare.
Contents of this article
- Why the requirements in healthcare are stricter
- Which guidelines apply to cleaning in healthcare
- Cleaning and disinfection are not the same
- Colour coding and correct use of materials
- Risk classification: not every space is the same
- Requirements for cleaning staff
- Measuring and demonstrating quality
- How Reino approaches cleaning in healthcare
Why the requirements in healthcare are stricter
The requirements are stricter because the risk of infection is higher and the consequences more serious. In a general practitioner’s surgery, dental practice, care home or hospital, people with a weakened immune system come and go every day. Micro-organisms that are harmless to a healthy person can lead to a healthcare-associated infection in them.
Cleaning in healthcare is therefore not just about a clean appearance. It is about reducing the number of micro-organisms to a safe level. That requires knowledge, fixed working methods and verifiable results.
Which guidelines apply to cleaning in healthcare
The most important guidelines are the WIP guidelines, the newer SRI guidelines and HACCP for spaces where food is handled.
-
WIP and SRI guidelines: the Working Group on Infection Prevention (WIP) drew up the national guidelines for infection prevention for many years. Since 2021, the Collaboration on Infection Prevention Guidelines (SRI) has been revising these guidelines. Existing WIP guidelines remain valid until a new SRI guideline takes over the topic. Among other things, they describe how to clean and disinfect spaces.
-
HACCP: in kitchens and pantries, food safety rules apply. Think of a strict separation between clean and dirty and fixed cleaning schedules.
-
Certifications: a certification such as SIEV! (Schoonmaak Is Een Vak, meaning ‘Cleaning Is a Profession’) shows that a cleaning company works according to established quality standards.
Please note: cleaning covers the space, not the medical equipment. Medical equipment is cleaned exclusively by the healthcare staff. That separation prevents mistakes and keeps responsibilities clear.
Cleaning and disinfection are not the same
Cleaning and disinfection are two separate steps. Disinfection always comes after cleaning.
-
Cleaning is the removal of visible dirt and invisible organic material. That way micro-organisms have no chance to spread.
-
Disinfection kills or inactivates the remaining micro-organisms. This is done only where necessary, for example in the case of contamination with blood or other bodily fluids.
You therefore do not simply disinfect everything. Unnecessary disinfection costs money, burdens the environment and has no additional effect if the surface has not first been properly cleaned. In the Netherlands, surfaces may only be disinfected with products that are authorised for this purpose (CTGB-authorised).m accordingly often achieves comparable results without the investment.
Colour coding and correct use of materials
To prevent cross-contamination, cleaning in healthcare works with colour coding. Each colour of cloth or material belongs to its own type of space.
-
Red: toilets and contaminated spaces
-
Blue: general spaces and furniture
-
Green: kitchen and spaces containing food
This way you never use the same cloth in a toilet and on a desk. Microfibre cloths also pick up more micro-organisms than regular cloths, which further improves hygiene.
Risk classification: not every space is the same
Not every space requires the same approach. Spaces are classified by risk, and that determines the frequency and method of cleaning.
Risk category | Example spaces | Approach |
Low risk | Waiting room, corridor, office | Daily cleaning, focused on visible cleanliness |
Medium risk | Treatment room, sanitary facilities | Daily cleaning, extra attention to contact points |
High risk | Treatment rooms with open wounds, cleanroom | Cleaning plus disinfection following strict protocol |
Contact points such as door handles, light switches and handrails receive extra attention, because that is where most transmission takes place.
Requirements for cleaning staff
The requirements apply not only to the working method, but also to the people who do the work.
-
VOG: for staff working in healthcare, we request a Certificate of Good Conduct (VOG). That way you can be sure you are working with reliable people in a sensitive environment.
-
Personal hygiene: staff do not wear rings, watches or bracelets during work and keep their nails short and free of nail polish. That prevents dirt and micro-organisms from building up.
-
Familiar faces: we deploy dedicated cleaners per location. A familiar face knows the spaces, the protocols and the agreements. That provides consistency and improves quality.
-
Recognisable clothing: our staff are always identifiably dressed, so it is clear who is present in the building.
Measuring and demonstrating quality
Hygiene requirements mean little if you cannot verify the result. That is why we record the cleaning digitally.
With the Appreo app and digital logbooks, we keep track of what has been done and when. Is something not right or is there an urgent job? Then the staff member communicates directly with the supervisor via the app. This way quality remains measurable and you can adjust quickly. For a healthcare facility that is important, because during an audit
How Reino approaches cleaning in healthcare
At Reino we combine these requirements into one clear working method. Our staff are trained for healthcare and know the disinfection protocols. We work with environmentally friendly cleaning products, dedicated cleaners per location and digital quality control via Appreo. For controlled environments such as cleanrooms, we have specialist expertise in-house.
From waiting room to treatment room: we take care of a clean and safe environment, so you can focus on care.
Would you like to know what this approach would look like? Request a no-obligation quotation.
