Water safety
Resources to support the workforce in gaining knowledge and skills to prevent and control the potential risks posed by healthcare water systems and facilities and promote a culture of life-long learning, continuous improvement and improved patient safety.
This page contain the following resources:
Think sink, think splash, think safety!
Think sink, think splash, think safety! animation was developed by NES in collaboration with NHS Scotland Assure (ARHAI Clinical Assurance). This animation describes the do’s and don’ts of clinical wash hand basins (sinks) – their intended purpose, water associated infection risks and what we all can do together to reduce this risk. The animation promotes best practice for all staff within healthcare settings when using the clinical wash hand basins.
We all play a significant role in ensuring the safety of patients regardless of our role. The animation illustrates,
- the infection risks associated with the incorrect use of sinks in terms of patient harm
- what we can do together to reduce this risk to ensure safer healthcare-built environments for us and our patients
Duration: 05:45
The animation is supported by a poster developed by ARHAI Scotland for use beside clinical wash hand basins to locally promote good practice for health and care staff as well as the general public who may visit those settings.
For further information around water safety, please visit Chapter 4 - Infection Control in the Built Environment and Decontamination
Healthcare water and drainage systems
NES in partnership with NHS Scotland Assure (ARHAI Clinical Assurance) have developed a series of animations on healthcare water and drainage systems.
This animation was developed to support a specific target audience comprising of:
- Healthcare water system designers
- Construction teams
- Water engineers
- Plumbers/Installers
- Board estates teams
- Board construction project teams
- IPC teams (ICN/ICM/ICD)
We would like to acknowledge and give special thanks to our subject matter experts colleagues from NHS Scotland Assure and NHS Scotland Boards for their support in the development of these animations.
1. Healthcare water and drainage systems animation |
Infection prevention and control risks related to the design and construction of domestic water and above ground drainage systems |
This animation aims to:
- Improve knowledge of healthcare domestic water and above ground drainage systems
- Recognise the IPC risks associated with a healthcare water and drainage system
- Understand the health impact of the design risks on patients, visitors, staff and the wider community
- Recognise how and why these IPC risks commence during the design phase
2. Healthcare water and drainage systems animation |
Infection prevention and control design considerations of healthcare domestic water and above ground drainage |
This animation aims to:
- Improve knowledge of the design of healthcare domestic water and above ground drainage systems
- Recognise the IPC risks associated with a healthcare water and drainage system and why these IPC risks commence during the design phase
- Understand how these risks can be mitigated
- Understand the health impact of the design risks on patients, visitors, staff and the wider community
- Note specific guidance in relation to design of healthcare water systems and signpost to this guidance.
3. Healthcare water and drainage systems animation |
Infection prevention and control considerations for construction and maintenance of healthcare domestic water and above ground drainage systems |
This animation aims to:
- Improve knowledge of healthcare domestic water and above ground drainage systems
- Recognise the IPC risks associated with a healthcare water and drainage system during construction, maintenance and retrofit activities
- Understand why these risks emerge during on-site works and how they can develop if not properly managed
- Learn how to effectively prevent and control IPC risks during construction and maintenance
- Note and signpost to key NHS guidance relevant to construction and maintenance
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Alternative Formats
If you require this resource to be made available in alternative formats, please email HAI@nes.scot.nhs.uk or altformats@nes.scot.nhs.uk to discuss how we can best meet your requirements.