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What is the most important thing that you can do to prevent the spread of infection from surfaces in the workplace and public spaces? Regularly wash your hands or use a hand sanitizer.
Another highly effective way to reduce the risk of infection from germs, bacteria, and other viruses is to clean and disinfect the surfaces in your place of business. Whether you are charged with ensuring the cleanliness and safety of a restaurant, childcare center, school, fitness center, or medical facility, it is crucial to employ strategies to clean and disinfect surfaces in your space.
Create a Plan
A number of factors need to be considered when developing a plan for properly cleaning and/or disinfecting the surfaces in your business or institution. It is important to assess the surfaces within the space to determine the most effective protocol for preventing the spread of bacteria, germs and viruses.
DETERMINE HOW OFTEN CLEANING IS REQUIRED:
How often are the surfaces touched? Surfaces that are frequently touched, such as light switches and doorknobs will require more attention, more often. High-touch surfaces should be cleaned at least once a day, and sometimes, more frequent cleaning may be necessary.
Who most often occupies the space? If the surfaces are frequently used and/or touched by people who may be at a higher risk of infection, such as the elderly or people with compromised immune systems, then your cleaning regime may need to be more frequent or more stringent and could potentially require disinfection protocols.
Similarly, if the space is a school or childcare facility, occupied by young children who may not consistently wash hands properly or cover their coughs or sneezes, it may be necessary to clean more frequently or establish disinfection processes.
IS ROUTINE CLEANING ENOUGH?
There are many situations where a regular, routine cleaning with soap and water is enough to keep the germs causing viruses or bacteria at bay. In these instances, it may be sufficient to use soap and water applications to decrease the germ levels on surfaces and objects, which will reduce the risk of exposure to illness.
WHAT REQUIRES ROUTINE DISINFECTION?
Every business or facility will consist of different surfaces or equipment that are frequently touched by workers or by multiple people. It will be important to routinely disinfect these surfaces and objects.
Surfaces such as door handles, desks, light switches, phones and faucets in public restrooms, will need to be cleaned and disinfected at least twice daily and more depending upon level of use.
Other instances where objects in public spaces will required diligent cleaning and disinfection would be shopping cards and keypads at self-check-out areas. These objects should be cleaned and disinfected between each use.
WHAT KINDS OF SURFACES ARE YOU CLEANING AND/OR DISINFECTING?
Depending upon the type of surface, you may need to consider the most effective method of cleaning and disinfection.
Hard and non-porous surfaces like glass, metal or plastic will require specific products and methods to properly clean and disinfect. Soft and porous materials and surfaces, such as carpet, rugs or seating and cushions are not generally as easy to disinfect as hard and non-porous surfaces. Products used to clean and disinfect these items will need to be specially vetted to make sure that they are safe to use.
It will be important to consult the CDC’s website on effective cleaning methods and resources to clean and disinfect all surfaces. Pay particular attention to the personal protective equipment (PPE) that may be required in order to safely apply disinfectants and cleaners.
Putting the Plan into Action
You’ve got a plan. Now what? It’s time to implement the protocols that were determined to be necessary for the most effective cleaning and disinfection of all surfaces and equipment in your business or facility. Keep in mind that consistency is key when implementing your plan to protect against the spread of germs and viruses in your space.
CLEAN FREQUENTLY TOUCHED SURFACES WITH SOAP AND WATER
Surfaces and objects that are frequently handled by workers or customers will need to be cleaned at least once a day. It will be essential to maintain a routine for cleaning these surfaces and to keep a daily log of when these surfaces are cleaned to stay on top of the established protocols.
If disinfection is required, then it will be essential to clean surfaces with soap and water before applying a disinfectant. Wear gloves or appropriate PPE to protect against chemicals getting on the skin or in the eyes. Be sure to properly clean your hands with soap and water after handling disinfectants to remove any chemicals.
USE APPROPRIATE CLEANING AND DISINFECTANT PRODUCT
It is essential to consult the list of approved cleaners and disinfectants on the EPA approved lists. Be sure to follow all instructions on the manufacturer’s label to ensure the highest level of effectiveness, concentration, dilution, application methods, contact time, and any other special instructions for effective application.
Allow DIS.IN.FX to Reduce the Risk in Your Business
When you are considering how best to effectively disinfect the surfaces in your facility, it is a good idea to rely on experts in the field of disinfection and sanitation. Why do it yourself and worry if you’re doing all that you can to protect your workers and customers when the professionals are specially trained to establish and maintain proper protocols and have all of the best products, equipment, application methods, and know-how to get the job done? Focus on your core business and allow a professional service such as DIS.IN.FX to get the job done.
With over a decade of experience in the disinfection industry, you can count on the expertise of DIS.IN.FX to come into your space to analyze the surfaces and areas needing attention, make a plan that will consider the specific needs of your business or facility and those who frequently use your services, and execute the disinfection procedures without any downtime for your business. We work around your business schedule and provide a level of protection to keep workers and customers safe. We also offer certification reports, decals for display, and other marketing materials businesses can use to give customers and patrons peace of mind you are doing everything possible to ensure their safety.
Contact DIS.IN.FX today to learn how our expert staff can help you with a plan to disinfect your facility with EPA registered Hospital Grade disinfectants approved to kill bacteria like staph, MRSA, viruses like the seasonal flu, and more harmful microbes.
