How Safe is Your Sink?

Get the entire team trained! Click here to purchase group access. 

CBSPD approved through August 31, 2028.

HSPA approved through August 10, 2026.

Sterile processing technicians handle medical instruments contaminated with potentially pathogenic microorganisms. Many instruments include sharp edges and points that could cut or puncture technicians. Staying safe when manually cleaning requires attention to potential safety hazards both in and out of the sink.

Objectives: 

1. List six types of safety hazards.
2. List common hazards found when manually cleaning.
3. Define hazard controls commonly used to reduce injuries 

About the Authors
Janet Strong RN, BSN, CNOR, CRCST was an operating room nurse for over 20 years. Janet has held various positions at IU Health. She was the Total Joint Coordinator, Ortho Trauma Coordinator, the OR educator and manager of a surgery center. During this time, she also worked in the SPD wrapping ortho instruments for the next day. She learned to clean and decontaminate instruments when taking call on the evening and weekends. Janet is a member of HSPA, AORN, APIC and SGNA.

Heide Ames, BS, CCSVP, CSPDT is a product manager with 28 years of healthcare and/or laboratory experience in various roles, including as a researcher, author, instructor, tutor, and presenter. Her areas of expertise include biology, microbiology, sterilization validations, medical device processing, sterility assurance uses and applications, and process failure investigations.