Standard precautions can break the chain of infection and were therefore introduced into practice to ensure protection of person- nel from the transmission of pathogens . These include hand hygiene, personal protective equipment , safe handling and disposal of sharps, safe handling and disposal of waste, spillage management and decontamination of equipment . Despite the risk of infection, many HCWs do not adhere to all the standard precautions ; assur- ance that the standard precautions are com- plied with can be measured by undertaking clinical audit .