Sanitizing And Disinfecting Your Business During The Pandemic

May 24, 2022

Original Article Source Credits:   EHS Today , https://www.ehstoday.com/

Opening and operating a business during this pandemic presents problems few have been trained to address. The goal of our businesses is to earn a profit while keeping our employees and customers safe. Local, state and federal public health authorities have issued guidance that covers almost every conceivable situation. All include sanitizing and disinfecting the workplace and providing for frequent hand washing (sometimes called “hand hygiene”).

Few of the guidance documents tell you how to select or use disinfecting chemicals and methods. Few discuss the regulatory framework you must abide by. This article attempts to fill-in that gap.

While “sanitizing” and “disinfecting” have different definitions, the nuanced differences are irrelevant to operating a business. You want to do what is necessary to keep your employees and the public safe in as efficient a manner as possible. This article will use the word (or its derivatives) “sanitizing” to mean both sanitizing and disinfecting. It also will mean “employees and customers” when referring to “employees.”

SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is spread as a bio-aerosol. Depending on the mechanism of generation—breathing, talking, coughing, sneezing, etc.—the bio-aerosols settle out of the air column in less than 6 feet (2 meters) and 15 minutes. While exceptions to these values have been documented, they provide a good frame of reference for planning. The virus is quite fragile but does seem to persist on hard (porous and non-porous) surfaces for minutes to hours. This provides an opportunity for hand to body transfer, and thus infection. The lipid coat is easy to disrupt, making the virus easy to kill. So, how do you select a sanitizing product and apply it? How often? How do you properly wash your hands? All valid questions that a business operator should not need to spend inordinate time answering.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has published a guidance for Cleaning and Disinfecting Public Spaces. Many of the local and state protocols are based on this document.

Normal cleaning with hot, soapy water reduces the level of virus on surfaces. A regular janitorial program of cleaning will reduce the risk of infection.

Further cleaning of high contact surfaces, door handles, switches, countertops, etc., with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-approved agents further reduces the risk of infection. If possible, eliminate high contact areas by using self-opening doors and imposing controls to stop contact with countertops.

Outdoor surfaces such as sidewalks do not need sanitizing agents. Routine washing with soapy water is adequate. Railings do need sanitizing.

Here are some surfaces which are touched frequently and will need routine sanitizing (this list is not inclusive; there are many more):

● Tables

● Doorknobs

● Keyboards

● Toilets

● Light switches

● Countertops

● Handles

● Desks

● Phones

● Faucets and sinks

● Gas pump handles

● Touchscreens

● ATM machines.

Routine cleaning should be performed daily or once per shift. High contact area sanitizing should be done more frequently, based on the occupancy. A practical approach is to provide a sanitizing spray (aerosol) in restrooms and ask each person using the restroom to spray all surfaces touched as they leave the facility. Large public restrooms will require continual janitorial attention.

Hand washing is one of the most effective methods of reducing risk of infection. Washing with hot soapy water for at least 20 seconds is highly effective. Employees should wash their hands at least every two hours while at work. If this is not possible, frequent use of an alcohol (or alcohol-peroxide) sanitizer should be done.

Selecting a sanitizing product requires attention to its effectiveness and safety. There are many products being offered, but the EPA List N: Disinfectants for Use Against SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19)should be your starting point. Three classes of products are the most effective:

1. Products which contain bleach (sodium hypochlorite) will usually have the shortest contact time. They tend to be highly irritating to skin and proper handling, so using gloves is essential. They must be kept away from products that contain acids.

2. Products containing alcohol (either ethyl or isopropyl alcohol) at greater than 65% are effective. Such products often contain a second agent, such as hydrogen peroxide, which increases efficiency. Alcohol products are flammable and must be handled accordingly.

Hand-sanitizers are generally alcohol-based products. They may also contain a glycol to reduce skin irritation. There have been some fires reported associated with larger volumes than found in a personal sanitizer bottle.

3. Products containing quaternary amines (“quats”) are effective but require longer contact times. They tend to be less harmful to skin and usually are not flammable.

If you are using a cleaning service, review the sanitizing agents they use with them. At a minimum, obtain a Safety Data Sheet (SDS), verify the chemical composition and review the safety information.

The method of cleaning surfaces will depend on the size of the surfaces. Most can be well-cleaned using a rag or brush. Aerosol sprays from consumer-sized cans work well. Using larger aerosol or spray devices should be left to commercial custodial services. They require special training and procedures to avoid inhalation over-exposure to the agent or creating an ignitable atmosphere with a resulting fire.

Employees who use cleaning and sanitizing agents are included in the U.S. Occupational Health and Safety (OSHA) Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR § 1910.1200) and this imposes some requirements on the employer:

● An SDS must be available for each product.

● The product must be in its original container or a labeled day-use container.

● All employees must be trained regarding the hazards of the product and how to protect themselves from those hazards. Training must be documented.

If a fire hazard exists, then appropriate fire prevention procedures must be followed.

Remember, if an employee (not a customer) becomes ill with COVID-19, the illness is recordable on OSHA Illness and Injury Recordkeeping forms. If an employee is hospitalized, the illness is reportable, following the OSHA “timeliness” rules. If the employee/patient dies from COVID-19, the death must be reported to OSHA within eight hours

Sanitizing your business should not impose an undue burden on the business. Develop a plan for re-opening and operating. Be flexible and review your plan at least weekly. Keep your employees and customers safe. It is good business.

Neal Langerman, PhD, is CEO and principal scientist at Advanced Chemical Safety (www.chemical-safety.com), as well as a freelance chemist at Kolabtree (www.kolabtree.com).

6 reasons why office hygiene is important

May 24, 2022

Original Article Source Credits:   Get Hppy , https://gethppy.com/

Poor office hygiene can lead to both physical and mental health problems. The average office worker spends 8 hours a day in their workspace, therefore, it is critical these long lengths are spent in a clean, hygienic and comfortable environment.  GCC Facilities Management, providers of commercial and office cleaning, recently conducted a survey involving over 650 office workers to discover how often offices and office items were cleaned. You can see a full range of their commercial cleaning services here.

Data from The ONS has revealed a staggering increase of over 12 million sick days for preventable illness since 2011. This has cost businesses millions and shows the worrying statistics of how many employees are falling ill, even though these infections could have been avoided if proper action had been taken to ensure cleanliness.

GCCFM’s study exposed the shocking statistics behind how many common, germ-harbouring office items are left neglected when it comes to cleaning. 37% of computer mice, 31% of keyboards and 28% of telephones are never cleaned, considering we have such high contact with these items throughout our day, it is concerning how many of these are left to grow bacteria.

Below are 6 reasons why keeping on top of office hygiene is important for you and your workforce.

1. Employee Welfare

It has been proven that a clean and tidy workspace will increase morale and happiness within employees. In turn, this increases efficiency and productivity.

If unsanitary conditions are forced upon staff members, mental health can quickly deteriorate, and you could see a dramatic increase in resignations as this continues.

If you are not happy with your working conditions, it is unlikely your staff are satisfied with them. Ensuring a well-maintained office space shows your respect for employees and that you value their wellbeing when working.

2. Maintains A Positive Image

It is not just your workforce who will be left deflated from witnessing poor office hygiene. Visiting suppliers, clients and investors may also be visiting your building.

In business, first impressions really do count and presenting these visitors with a professional environment is crucial.

If you present them with a poor image of your business, you leave yourself at the risk of losing business. Negative words travel fast through industries and even if your service or product is exceptional, you can put yourself in danger of generating a bad reputation due to a sloppy environment.

3.  Employee Health

Catching colds and flu is a massive inconvenience to all those involved. Staff will need time off to recover, others will have to ‘pick up the slack’ and business owners miss out on precious work hours.

But, by maintaining proper hygiene practices, you can prevent these germs from spreading like wildfire throughout the workforce. These bacteria can live on hard surfaces for long periods, so even if those who have fallen ill are not in the office, others still run the risk of catching this.

“Surfaces and equipment can harbour dirt, viruses and bacteria that can remain active for months. Without regular office cleaning and good personal hygiene – e.g. antibacterial hand washing – there’s an increased chance of these surface germs transferring to you and giving you illnesses like flu, food poisoning and diarrhoea.”- Dr Arun Thiyagarajan, Health Clinics Medical Director, from Bupa UK.

With regular cleaning or workstations and shared spaces, you can dramatically reduce the risk of staff bringing a virus into the workplace and spreading it to team members.

4. Health & Safety

Preventing injuries such as slips trips and falls should be at the forefront of every employer’s mind and should be stopped at all costs.

Kitchens, bathrooms and other shared spaces can quickly become hazardous if not properly maintained. More traffic in these areas increases the risk of spillages can swiftly become a threat if not cleared.

Debris left on staircases and in corridors can endanger your workforce. If a serious injury occurs in your office, you may be faced with a lawsuit and if it is proven you did not take proper precaution to prevent this, you could end up paying compensation.

5. Increases Air Quality

Indoors, airborne pollutants can be up to one hundred times greater than outdoors.  This can cause problems for your staff if you do not maintain quality airflow throughout your building, especially if they suffer from asthma or other breathing-related conditions.

If you handle hazardous materials or even have workshops that collect lots of dust and debris, those located in other departments could suffer from these particles drifting into their areas. As this won’t be visible, they may not have taken the proper precautions to protect themselves that those who work closely with these materials do.

By keeping a clean environment, you can contain harmful pollutants and remove them before they spread throughout the workspace.

6. Saving Money

All workspaces will eventually require refurbishment after wear and tear and causes the area to look a bit lacklustre. This can come at a very high expense to your business.

Although you can never avoid a refurbishment, you can prolong it from proper upkeep.

Flooring, furniture, windows and soft furnishings can be preserved by being regularly cleaned and maintained.

Frequent cleaning is also more cost-effective than periodic deep-cleansing, it could also not be as effective as worked-in dirt and grime is harder to get out and may not be able to be removed. A deep-clean may be more disruptive to your staff and workload as you may have to displace team members while this is going on.

Of those surveyed, 23% stated they are using their own funds to supply their office with cleaning supplies as adequate products are not provided by the business. Do leave your staff suffering financially, physically and mentally by neglecting hygiene and ensure you maintain high standards to benefit every aspect of your business.