The most recent pandemic has altered the world, and business would never be the same again. As the nations plan to restore their economies, people are excited to reopen their facilities.
However, are they fully equipped to focus on their businesses without any threat of viral outbreaks?
As we get back into the swing of things, let's take stock and make a strategy to get your facility ready for reopening, focusing on cleaning and disinfection to reduce the danger of the virus reappears.
Here are some tips to outline an effective disinfection and cleaning plan for your facility:
1. Identification of the high traffic areas and touchpoints.
A person can contract a virus by touching a virus-infected object or surface and then touching their eyes, nose, or mouth. It is why identifying the common touch spots (i.e., high difficult points and surfaces) around your facility is so important.
Doorknobs, stair handles, telephones, light switches, photocopying machines, biometric machines, and faucets are all common touchpoints. Regular disinfecting of these areas prevents the infection from spreading.
No matter how hard you try to focus on your employees' health and appropriate hygiene, you will never regulate how people from outside your facility practice proper hygiene before entering.
Therefore, keep the high traffic areas like reception, entrance, exits, and restrooms on top of frequent cleaning and disinfecting lists.
2. Locating porous and non-porous surfaces
According to the studies, the virus can be infectious for up to 72 hours or three days on non-porous surfaces (plastic, steel, etc.) and up to 24 hours on porous surfaces (such as wood, paper, etc.).
Identifying porous and non-porous surfaces and touchpoints will give you a clearer idea of how often each location should be cleaned and disinfected within your facility.
3. Planning a cleaning schedule
Now the next step is to plan your cleaning routine to get your facility ready for reopening. For best results, include the frequency of treatment by area and surface type in this schedule. Some places may only require disinfecting and cleaning once a day, while others may need it twice or three times a day, depending on the surface type and traffic.
The types of facility and surface, soil levels, and traffic determine the cleaning intervals.
4. Outline a cleaning map for your building.
It's a good idea to have a printed map, drawing, or layout of the floor, office, or facility to make sure that all areas are cleaned according to the schedule.
For more efficient cleaning and ensuring proper coverage, you can label that map with the cleaning routes. Besides, you can also color-code the facility map to indicate touchpoints and high-traffic locations.
5. Recognizing the needful resources and equipment
Having the proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), supplies, cleansers, and disinfectants are crucial to preparing your facility for reopening, whether you have an internal cleaning staff or hire a professional commercial cleaning firm.
Look at the list of basic cleaning essentials:
PPE
Disposable Gloves
Eye protection glasses
Surgical Face masks where social distancing is not possible
EPA-approved cleaning and disinfecting solutions (Note the surface time and usage instructions) besides soaps and detergents
Microfiber cleaning cloths absorb more dust, germs, and grease as compared to other materials.
6. Ensuring a skilled staff at work
Develop a training plan to ensure that the cleaning crew is well-trained in the use of disinfectants, detergents, personal protective equipment (PPE). Ensure the placement of safety, work practice controls, and cross-contamination prevention practices.
Frequency of handwashing and disposing of used gloves, chemical handling, and use of microfiber towels are all examples of work practice restrictions.
Also, it's crucial that the cleaning crew understands how to read and comprehend a Safety Data Sheet (SDS). The SDS offers information that will assist you in securely using the product.
To conclude, if you already have commercial cleaning services hired, ask them to review your facility's cleaning and disinfecting scope as per the changing environment.
Or if you are looking for a building management cleaning company to look after your property, we can be your best helping hand. We are a company of like-minded cleaning experts with years of experience in assisting clients with our supreme quality cleaning services. Connect with our experts, if you need any help.
Play your role in mitigating the virus spread risk with the tips discussed here!