Objective: to characterize the moments when there is a need for hand hygiene (HH) by employees who work in Material and Sterilization Center (MSC).
Method: we conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study in the MSC of a large hospital, from July to November 2012, in Goiânia, state of Goiás, Brazil. Data obtained through observation of workers, following a previously evaluated and tested checklist.
Results: to the dirty area, standardized moments of HH were enough. In the clean area, "Extra moments with indication" for HH, resulting from the work process, such as: after disinfecting benches, after verification and inventory of consigned products, before assembling boxes/trays, before loading and unloading the autoclave, before handling and distributing health care products, among others, were necessary.
Conclusion: the moments of HH in the dirty area coincide with indications of the clinical practice; and, in the clean area, characteristic moments of the work process were captured.