04 March 2024
OBJECTIVE :
The objective of this Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) is to ensure the safe, respectful, and efficient removal of corpses from both family homes and hospitals, while adhering to legal and ethical guidelines.
SCOPE:
This SOP applies to all personnel involved in the removal of corpses from family homes and hospitals, including medical professionals, mortuary staff, and emergency responders.
PROCEDURE :
1. Call from family/hospital will be received by Wisani Control Room staff who will inform the driver.
2. Driver must leave for Pick up within 15 minutes after the company receives the call.
3. Ensure that Pick up vehicle is clean and ready at all times:
a. Filled up with petrol
b. Protective clothing
i. Gloves
ii. Masks
iii. Protective coat
c. Stretcher
d. Body bag (plastic sheet)
e. Stretcher cover
4. Ensure to have Wisani Stamp, your designation number issued by Dept Home Affairs, and a valid Route Authorization.
5. Get pick up information from control room:
a. Name and Surname of Deceased
b. Contact person of family and telephone number
c. Address where pick up must be done (home address/hospital name)
6. Get TWO pick up sheets and TWO “toe tags” marked with BODY CODE and NAME AND SURNAME of deceased.
7. Drivers must be in FULL Wisani uniform according to Wisani Dress Code Policy.
8. Driver can phone the family to confirm the direction/address/place of meeting.
9. Complete an electronic checklist on the TMS system to obtain a route authorization number
10. HOME PICK UP
a. On arrival at the family, identify yourself and company as well as reason for visit.
b. Explain to the family the procedure that you will follow and give them the option if they want to be present throughout the process or just in those instances where their presence is required (see point h).
c. Observe area from entrance to room where deceased is for any obstructions.
d. Ask permission from the family to remove any obstructions and clear the path in order for the trolley to move freely from room back to vehicle.
e. Fetch trolley/stretcher from vehicle.
f. Wear gloves, mask and protective coat before moving trolley/stretcher into house.
g. Push the trolley/stretcher to room where deceased is.
h. Inspect body of deceased for:
i. Damage/sores/broken skin/bruises – note any abnormality on the pick up sheet and ask a family member to confirm and sign with you on the pickup sheet.
ii. Valuables e.g watches, rings, jewellery etc – request family to remove and note it in pick up sheet and let family member sign with you.
i. Open body bag on stretcher.
j. Place trolley/stretcher next to the deceased body.
k. Place the body on a stretcher and close the body bag.
l. Always ensure to work with the utmost respect.
m. Tie the body bag with toe tag rope at the head and foot end to cover the body totally.
n. Tag the body bag with the toe tags at head and foot end.
o. Fasten the body with the black belts of the trolley over the elbows and legs.
p. Cover corps with stretcher cover.
q. Hand pickup sheet to the family's contact person to sign the body over to Wisani for removal.
r. Check to ensure that the pickup sheet is filled in complete and according to Wisani Rules and regulations.
s. Push the trolley back to the vehicle, load and secure the stretcher and close doors.
t. Remove gloves, mask and protective coat – ask family if possible to wash your hands.
u. Give the family the following information:
i. Nearest Wisani branch to go to for funeral arrangements
ii. Inform them to bring deceased ID document as well as contact person’s ID document
iii. Inform them to bring Wisani Policy Document (book) if they are a society member of Wisani
v. Sympathize with the family on behalf of Wisani.
w. Ensure to travel safely and with dignified speed back from the family home/hospital after collecting the deceased body (80 – 100 km/h).
x. Off load corpse at Mortuary according to S O P – Off loading and storage of corps (SOP-MOR-3.0).
y. Take the vehicle back to base, complete the electronic checklist on the TMS system, hand in a pick-up sheet and BI form at the control room/branch.
11. HOSPITAL PICK UP
a. Ensure before leaving to get Ward number from hospital staff/family.
b. Complete an electronic checklist on the TMS system to obtain a route authorization number
c. On arrival at the hospital identify yourself at hospital security and your reason for visit.
d. Park at the hospital's designated parking area.
e. Remove trolley/stretcher from vehicle.
f. Wear gloves and protective coat and move the trolley/stretcher to the specified ward.
g. Identify yourself at the nurses’ station/mortuary staff if at hospital mortuary.
h. Give name and surname of deceased as received by contact person.
i. Accompany hospital staff to the room of the deceased and ensure privacy of other patients in the ward before entering the room with the trolley/stretcher by closing the other patients’ bed curtains.
j. Move the trolley/stretcher to the deceased bed.
k. Ensure that all medical equipment e.g catheters, drip tubes, etc. is removed from the deceased.
l. Check the body with hospital staff for any damage/skin lesions/sores/etc. and let hospital staff sign with you on the pickup sheet to confirm any damage.
m. Load the body on the trolley/stretcher and close the body bag at head and foot end with toe tag rope ensuring that body is covered properly.
n. Tie toe tags to head and foot end of body bag and cover body with stretcher cover.
o. Complete the BI form at the nurses’ station as “Undertaker”: i. If the BI form is completed by the Doctor and the Family, take copies of the BI form (these copies must be handed in with the pick up sheet at control room) ii. If the BI form is not completed by either the Doctor of the Family, leave the BI form at the hospital. The Family must bring the BI form with them when visiting Wisani to do funeral arrangements after it has been completed by the Doctor and the Family.
p. Hand pick up sheet to hospital/mortuary staff to sign the body over to Wisani for removal.
q. Get exit pass from the hospital staff (usually at nurses’ station).
r. Collect the stretcher with the body in the room and move to the vehicle with utmost respect towards the deceased.
s. Push the trolley back to the vehicle, load and secure the stretcher and close doors.
t. Remove gloves and protective coat.
u. Ensure to travel safely and with dignified speed back from the family home/hospital after collecting the deceased body (80 – 100 km/h).
v. Off load corpse at Mortuary according to S O P – Off loading and storage of corps (SOP-MOR-3.0).
w. Take the vehicle back to base, complete an electronic checklist on the TMS system, hand in a pick-up sheet and BI form at the control room/branch.
__________________________
Marietha Hall
HR Department
Wisani & NLA
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