Cleaning and disinfection of health care facilities

Note: The scope of this Notice of Intent (originally published on April 4, 2024) was updated by the responsible SDO on August 6, 2024.

1 Scope

1.1 Cleaning and disinfecting of HCFs

This Standard applies to the cleaning and disinfecting of HCFs providing health care services including, but not limited to, inpatient services or outpatient services. It applies to all facilities, public or private, that provide health care treatments, health-related services, or diagnostic testing services, regardless of type, size, location, or range of services.

1.2 Cleaning and disinfecting practices in HCFs

This Standard is intended to address the cleaning and disinfecting of HCFs,  that include both manual cleaning and disinfecting practices and automated environmental cleaning and disinfecting systems. This includes all environmental surfaces, and the air within the healthcare facility.

1.3 Application to personnel performing cleaning and disinfecting in healthcare facilities

This Standard applies to all personnel, regardless of their departmental affiliation (whether directly employed by the HCF or out-sourced personnel) who perform cleaning and disinfecting functions in HCFs. This Standard also applies to all other parties involved in the cleaning and disinfecting process.

1.4 Exclusions to cleaning and disinfecting standard

This Standard does not apply to

a) cleaning and disinfecting of food services environments, except for the cleaning and disinfecting of food preparation and eating areas (see Clause 10.1.1);

b) cleaning and disinfecting of critical or semi-critical medical devices (see CAN/CSA-Z314);

c) plumbing installation (see CSA Z317.1);

d) HVAC installation (see CSA Z317.2);

e) management of health care waste materials (see CSA Z317.10); and

f) laundering of reusable medical textiles (see CAN/CSA-Z314).