The coronavirus (COVID-19) has made its way across the globe and has touched nearly every country and city in the world. A great concern for business owners is keeping their employees safe therefore it is important for building management to learn the proactive steps they can take to prevent the spread of illness.
High-touch areas of buildings can harbor millions of bacteria, which is why it is encouraged to regularly clean and disinfect the areas. The surfaces in buildings that are most likely to harbor germs to help your cleaning team are the following:
Appliances ⋅ Chairs ⋅ Coffee stations ⋅ Computers ⋅ Desks ⋅ Diaper changing stations ⋅ Door handles/knobs ⋅ Elevator buttons ⋅ Keyboards ⋅ Surfaces in breakrooms ⋅ Light switches ⋅ Railings ⋅ Reception areas ⋅ Sinks ⋅ Tables ⋅ Telephones ⋅ Bathrooms ⋅ TV remotes ⋅ Furniture ⋅ Water coolers
The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) informs us that there is a difference between cleaning and disinfecting areas. Simple cleaning solutions are good for removing dirt while disinfecting solutions work to kill germs and bacteria. If you’re looking to properly sanitize contaminated surfaces in your building, you’ll need to use a combination of cleaning products and sanitizing products or find a cleaning solution that specifically performs both functions.
Coronavirus is no harder to kill than any other virus in our environment. Different sanitation products have different kill times, so it’s essential to read the label and follow the manufacturer’s directions. Spending time and money to clean is useless if the cleaning isn’t effective.
“How Can Businesses Help Keep Their Employees Safe from COVID-19”?
The workplace should be kept clean and sanitary, by utilizing professional cleaners that are regularly scheduled to clean the high touched surfaces mentioned above. Pro-Force Facility Services uses state-of-the-art electrostatic disinfectant equipment and traditional cleaning methods to provide comprehensive cleaning solutions for all types of facilities. Electrostatic disinfecting is a fast and cost-effective supplement to standard cleaning regimens as a way of thoroughly applying sanitizers and disinfectants to surfaces, regardless of the shape or angle of the surface in question.
“Is there any kind of product or application process that will kill COVID-19 for an extended period”?
Unfortunately, there is not a product that can be applied to kill COVID-19 for an extended period of time. While there are products (antimicrobial coatings) on the market making claims about “keeping surfaces clear of human coronavirus for up to 90 days with just one application”, there is no evidence that these products or applications actually work.
“Once a surface is disinfected, how long will it remain free from contamination”?
A surface can be re-contaminated immediately if someone with a virus touches the surface. As mentioned in the previous question, there is no product or process that, when applied, will kill any coronavirus for an extended period. However, the good news is that COVID-19 is thought to spread mainly from person to person, mainly through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks. So, if an infected person touches a surface, yet doesn’t sneeze or cough, on it, the surface should not be contaminated.
“How can I be sure my commercial cleaning company is using a disinfectant that is effective against COVID-19?”
The disinfecting chemicals should be included on the EPA’s List N. This is a list of registered disinfectants that have been proven effective against Human Coronavirus. The EPA has not established any effectiveness protocols for surface disinfectants. However, most in the scientific community believe that when the EPA establishes protocols, the results will show that if surface disinfectants are effective for other Coronaviruses, they will also be effective for COVID-19.
What does Pro-Force Facility Services Offer?
The service we offer covers everything required to meet all guidelines in place. We do not only cover disinfecting in full-face and half-face respirators but also deal with properly disposing of all contaminated PPE and debris from the cleaning. No matter the industry you are in that’s reopening; you can trust Pro-Force Facility Services to professionally clean everything from schools to residential buildings and offices to warehouses.
All the products we utilize are on the EPA’s N-List, meaning that they are effective against the human coronavirus strain. They either kill on contact or typically require a dwell/contact time of 10 minutes.
Misinformation can be dangerous in a health crisis, especially in the early stages of a pandemic. Remember to seek information only from credible organizations. For the most current information on the latest health and safety precautions, turn to the following organizations as a starting point.
- The World Health Organization
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Our services help:
- Reduce the risk of infection or illness
- Reduce the risk of cross-contamination
- Reduce operations downtime
Request a FREE estimate today by contacting us at 631.951.7753 or send us a message through our contact form.
