The Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital CSSD - Case Study

At a glance – outcomes for staff

• Height-adjustable sinks to support staff comfort and reduce physical strain
  
  
• Custom wrap stations and packing benches aligned to real CSSD workflows
  
  
• Durable, easy-to-clean stainless steel surfaces that support infection control and fast turnaround
  
  

Background

As part of a major redevelopment, the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital upgraded both new and existing facilities, including eight operating rooms, expanded recovery areas and improved patient accommodation.

With increased surgical activity, the hospital’s Central Sterile Services Department (CSSD) needed more than just new equipment. It needed a fitout designed around the people responsible for decontaminating, packing and supplying sterile instruments every day.

Emery Industries partnered with Atherton to deliver a specialist CSSD fitout that put staff safety, comfort and workflow efficiency at the centre of the design.

The staff challenge

CSSD work is highly repetitive, time-sensitive and physically demanding. Staff were facing:

• Long periods standing at sinks performing manual cleaning
  
  
• Reaching, bending and twisting to access instruments and consumables
  
  
• The pressure of maintaining strict infection control while keeping up with high case volumes
  
  

The redevelopment provided an opportunity to:

• Reduce physical strain during repetitive tasks
  
  
• Streamline workflows to keep instruments moving smoothly through the sterile cycle
  
  
• Give staff a workspace that was easy to clean, intuitive to use and built to last
  
  

The Emery solution – built around how staff actually work

Working closely with Atherton and the hospital project team, Emery Industries designed, manufactured and installed a suite of custom stainless steel equipment for the CSSD:

Height-adjustable sinks

• Ergonomic design allows staff to set the working height that suits them
  
  
• Helps reduce bending, shoulder lift and awkward postures during manual cleaning
  
  
• Supports staff comfort and wellbeing over long shifts
  
  

Custom wrap stations

• Manufactured to precise clinical specifications and CSSD processes
  
  
• Keeps instruments, wraps and consumables organised and within easy reach
  
  
• Provides a clear, dedicated space for inspection and sterile packaging
  
  

Packing benches

• Premium-grade stainless steel for durability and infection control
  
  
• Smooth, easy-to-clean surfaces support rapid turnaround between trays
  
  
• Engineered for high-use hospital environments and heavy daily loads
  
  

By combining custom manufacturing capability with infection-control–ready stainless steel, the CSSD fitout was tailored to real-world staff workflows, not just a generic equipment list.

Everyday impact on CSSD staff

The new CSSD environment now helps staff to:

• Work more comfortably
  
  
  • Adjustable sinks give each technician control over their working position.
    
    
  • Better bench and station layout reduces unnecessary steps and repetitive strain.
    
    
• Keep workflows moving
  
  
  • Clearly defined zones for decontamination, packing and wrapping reduce bottlenecks.
    
    
  • Equipment is configured to match the hospital’s sterile cycle, helping staff stay organised during peak periods.
    
    
• Maintain high infection control standards with confidence
  
  
  • Stainless steel construction supports thorough cleaning and disinfection.
    
    
  • Robust, Australian-made equipment provides reliability in a high-demand service.
    
    

A partnership that supports people as well as performance

This project highlights Emery Industries’ ability to work collaboratively with builders and hospital teams to deliver tailored, Australian-made CSSD equipment for specialised healthcare environments.

By focusing on ergonomics, workflow and infection control, the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital now has a CSSD fitout that not only meets redevelopment requirements – it provides a safer, more supportive and more efficient workspace for the staff who keep every procedure running.