The Covid-19 crisis woke up the world to a new type of global threat from an invisible micro-organism. It altered routine business and disrupted daily lives of people on a global scale. By April 2020, as many as 15% of Americans were out of work. This wasn’t so much because of businesses closing, but because people were too afraid to go to work.
With states lifting lockdowns as vaccines became available, businesses, and public places started opening up again. Now it has become more important than ever for facility managers to pay attention to maintaining high hygiene standards. One of the most effective ways of curbing and preventing the spread of infection is through disinfection and sanitization. Let us look at the various aspects of cleaning and disinfection and why they are important in commercial facilities.
Why Is Disinfection of Office and Public Spaces Important?
The World Health Organization has released updates claiming coronavirus to live on certain surfaces for days and weeks. According to a study performed by environmental microbiologist Kelly Reynolds at the University of Arizona, pathogens can infect 50% surfaces in a regular office within 4 hours. The study involved the artificial inoculation of 10 out of 80 workers in a workplace.
Viruses are known to spread like wildfire in an office space or a commercial facility, and SARS-CoV-2 is no different. The only way to mitigate the spread of illness is by practicing personal hygiene and taking adequate steps to disinfect the facility.
Isn’t Surface Cleaning Enough?
Surface cleaning refers to the removal of visible dirt, dust and grime from objects and surfaces. Unfortunately, viruses work at the microscopic level that is naked to the eye. A clean doorknob may not have any dust on it, but may still carry dozens of pathogens capable of making your workforce sick. The same holds true for other high-touch surfaces, such as countertops, kitchen slabs, keyboards, mouse, faucets, and phones, among other objects.
Disinfection involves the use of special chemicals and substances that effectively inactivates the viruses, bacteria, and other pathogens. Disinfection and sanitization are not the same, even though the two terms are used interchangeably. Sanitization makes use of typical cleaning products that reduces bacteria or lowers it to acceptable levels whereas disinfection is targeted at 99.999% destruction of pathogens.
The CDC Guidelines for Disinfection of Commercial Spaces
Several helpful guidelines have been released by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC)Â for properly disinfecting commercial spaces. It is recommended for businesses to work with a cleaning company that knows these guidelines and follows them. Anything that is potentially less can place facilities at a risk of spread of infections.
These are a few CDC guidelines for commercial disinfection of business spaces:
- Wear proper personal protective equipment, such as a face mask and gloves while disinfecting.
- Clean with regular detergent and water to remove visible dust and debris before disinfecting.
- Read manufacturer’s instructions on the label for appropriate kill time.
- Follow a regular and frequent disinfection schedule for high-touch surfaces, such as phones, desks, handles, toilets, kitchen areas, and light switches among others.
- Use an EPA registered disinfectant. Approved covid combating disinfectants are mentioned in EPA N List.
Choosing a Disinfectant
Disinfectants are of several types. Few of them are targeted at killing a specific set of pathogens, but there are many that are broad spectrum. It is best to read the manufacturer label about the effectiveness of the disinfectant. It is vital that you follow instructions on the label regarding the kill time and dilution to ensure effective culling of pathogens.
Right Equipment and Training
Disinfection is a science and has become more important than ever. A majority of commercial facilities were forced to shut down during the pandemic era. This has led to reduced revenue and lower budgets for cleanliness and facility maintenance. However, maintaining high standards of hygiene and disinfection is more important than ever.
It can be difficult for facility managers to develop an in-house disinfection and cleanliness plan. You may not have the adequate resources to train your in-house cleaning crew. In fact, you may not have the budget to invest in advanced cleaning equipment. This is where a commercial cleaning and disinfection service provider can come in helpful.
Advanced Disinfection Technologies Make a Difference
Reliable cleaning companies have all the necessary tools, equipment, cleaning solutions, and resources to perform a thorough job. Few industry leaders have invested in state-of-the-art technologies for disinfection as well, such as electrostatic spraying systems. These allow for a more complete disinfection without damaging equipment. Professional cleaners that have been around for a long time in the business have a fair idea of high-touch surfaces making them better adept for the job.
