NHMRC Certified

NHMRC Guidelines for Medical Facility Cleaning in Victoria

Complete compliance guide for healthcare cleaning standards. TGA-approved products, infection control protocols, and regulatory requirements for Melbourne medical facilities.

15 min read
24 January 2025
Twenty Two Systems Team
Medical Audit: 1300 728 617 Get Compliance Assessment

Understanding NHMRC Authority

The National Health and Medical Research Council provides evidence-based guidelines that form the foundation of healthcare facility management across Australia

Key NHMRC Publications

  • Australian Guidelines for Prevention and Control of Infection in Healthcare (2019)
  • Guidelines for Prevention and Control of Multi-resistant Organisms
  • Hand Hygiene Australia Program guidelines
  • Environmental Cleaning and Disinfection Principles

Victoria Legal Framework

While NHMRC guidelines are not legally binding, they represent best practice standards referenced in:

  • • Victorian Department of Health regulations
  • • Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) requirements
  • • Australian Council on Healthcare Standards accreditation
  • • Professional indemnity insurance policies
  • • WorkSafe Victoria occupational health standards

Risk-Based Cleaning Approach

NHMRC guidelines categorize areas based on infection risk levels

Critical Areas (High Risk)

  • • Operating theaters
  • • Procedure rooms
  • • Intensive care units
  • • Sterile supply departments
  • • Isolation rooms for infectious patients

Semi-Critical Areas (Medium Risk)

  • • General patient rooms
  • • Emergency departments
  • • Outpatient clinics
  • • Diagnostic areas

Non-Critical Areas (Low Risk)

  • • Administrative offices
  • • Waiting areas
  • • Storage rooms
  • • Non-patient corridors

Area-Specific Requirements

Detailed cleaning protocols for different healthcare environments

Operating Theaters and Procedure Rooms

Daily Cleaning Requirements:

  • Terminal cleaning between cases with hospital-grade disinfectant
  • High-touch surface disinfection with each turnover
  • Floor cleaning with EPA-registered disinfectant
  • Equipment disinfection following manufacturer's instructions
  • Air handling system maintenance per engineering specifications

Weekly Deep Cleaning:

  • Complete room disinfection including walls and ceilings
  • Light fixture and air vent cleaning
  • Comprehensive equipment sanitization
  • Filter replacement as per HVAC maintenance schedule
  • Environmental culture testing (if required by facility policy)

NHMRC-Compliant Products & Equipment

TGA-registered products and specialized equipment for medical facility cleaning

TGA-Registered Disinfectants

Must be listed on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG)

  • • Quaternary ammonium compounds
  • • Alcohol-based solutions (60-80%)
  • • Sodium hypochlorite (bleach) solutions
  • • Hydrogen peroxide-based products
  • • Accelerated hydrogen peroxide formulations

Equipment Standards

Specialized cleaning equipment requirements:

  • • Color-coded systems to prevent cross-contamination
  • • HEPA-filtered vacuum systems
  • • Steam cleaning equipment
  • • Microfiber cloths and mops
  • • Automated dosing systems

Need NHMRC-Compliant Medical Cleaning?

Twenty Two Systems provides specialized NHMRC-compliant cleaning services for Melbourne healthcare facilities. Our certified teams ensure complete regulatory compliance with TGA-registered products and proven protocols.

Call 1300 728 617 Get Compliance Assessment

Free NHMRC compliance assessment with detailed report and improvement recommendations

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