If your business conducts higher risk personal appearance services you must maintain the following records:

• Client information:
  • name, address and date of birth of the client
  • date of the high risk personal appearance service procedure
  • site and type of high risk personal appearance service procedure
  • instruments used (including sterilising batch number)
  • name of the operator who provided the service/administered the procedure
• staff immunisation: it is recommended that staff undergo follow-up serological testing after immunisation course is complete.
• staff training and qualifications
• needlestick injuries in the workplace
• if cleaning reusable equipment using an autoclave:
  • sterilisation records:
    • date and cycle number
    • exposure time and temperature
    • list of items processed
    • most autoclaves can print records. If your autoclave does not have a printer or the printer breaks, you will need to use a chemical indicator (Class 4, 5 or 6) or manually record the results for every cycle (every 15-30 seconds depending on the type and cycle).
• maintenance records of the autoclave: showing any repair or service based on manufacturer’s instructions.
• validation certificates: provided by an on-site technician who must perform process validation annually and every time the autoclave is repaired or serviced. If you cannot find timely on-site technical support, you must use a chemical indicator (Class 5 or 6) or a process challenge device every cycle until the on-site technician can attend, validate and provide a certificate.

You can buy sterilisation record books; alternatively, you can make your own or use the templates:

• client details
• needle-stick incident
• staff training and immunisation
• steriliser maintenance
• steriliser monitoring
• steriliser validation

Remember that some autoclave printouts may fade over time - check them regularly and photocopy, photograph or scan as necessary.

All records should be kept for at least 7 years - they are important as they protect you and your customers. You are accountable for customer safety; documentation can be used as a defence against complaints.

For more information, read the Infection Control Guidelines for Personal Appearance Services