Helicopter
Maintenance Inspection Authority
Maintenance Inspector 20
Other / Unknown; Situational Awareness
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Hazardous Material Violation; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Other / Unknown
General None Reported / Taken
Company Policy; Human Factors; Procedure
After performing maintenance on a helicopter Air Ambulance; I noticed an outbreak of a skin rash on my arms. Consequently; this was found to be caused by a shop issue. But; I inquired to the flight crew as to what cleaning agents are used to disinfect the interior after a patient transfer flight. The crew member responded by stating; they do not have any supplied cleaning agents and seldom will wipe down the medical interior. If they do; they will use the window cleaner or aircraft exterior cleaning soap.This practice puts the Maintenance personnel at risk for contamination. After researching general guidelines and several state requirements for Air Ambulance Operations; all were strongly in agreement as to post flight decontamination. Not so much from the actual patient; but the medical equipment such as gurneys; bags; attendants' shoes/garments as possible sources for biological contamination. Our Part 135 Manual states it is the medical team's responsibility to decontaminate the aircraft after use; but the team is usually busy with off-loading the patient while the aircraft remains running. The aircraft will depart with no medical interior cleaning performed. Recommendations: the cleaning should be part of the post flight operation and written into the operations specifications as such.
A Maintenance employee reported that the company's Air Ambulance Operations staff do not disinfect cabin interiors or medical equipment on their helicopters after each patient transfer; even though the requirement is in their Part 135 Manual. That practice puts Maintenance personnel at risk for contamination while working the aircraft.