The COVID-19 pandemic has created an unprecedented situation for everyone. It is understandable you may have concerns about how to keep your teams and customers safe and ensure all WHS measures are achieved and exceeded. There are a number of practical steps you can take to manage the risk of exposure to COVID and meet your legal obligations. COVID-19 spreads through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. A person can acquire the virus by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose or eyes.
A key way you can protect workers and others from the risk of exposure to COVID-19 is by implementing appropriate cleaning and disinfecting measures for your workplace.
Workplaces should be cleaned daily, cleaning with detergent and water is usually sufficient. Once clean the surfaces should be disinfected, how often your workplace should be disinfected will depend on the likelihood of contaminated material being present. You should prioritise cleaning and disinfecting surfaces that people touch (touchpoints). Alternatively, you may be able to do a 2-in-1 clean and disinfection by using a combined detergent and disinfectant.
How to clean and disinfect in your workplace
Cleaning means to physically remove germs (bacteria and viruses), dirt and grime from surfaces using a detergent and water solution. A detergent is a surfactant that is designed to break up oil and grease with the use of water. Anything labelled as a detergent will work.
Disinfecting means using chemicals to kill germs on surfaces. It’s important to clean before disinfecting because dirt and grime can reduce the ability of disinfectants to kill germs. Chemicals will be labelled as ‘disinfectant’ on the packaging and must be diluted or used following the instructions on the packaging to be effective. Cleaning should start with the cleanest surface first, progressively moving towards the dirtiest surface. When surfaces are cleaned, they should be left as dry as long as possible to reduce the risk of slips and falls, as well as spreading of viruses and bacteria through droplets. Before a surface is disinfected, it is important it is cleaned first because dirt and grime can reduce the ability of disinfectants to kill germs. Disinfectant may not kill the virus if the surface has not been cleaned with a detergent first. The packaging or manufacturer’s instructions will outline the correct way to use disinfectant. Disinfectants require time to be effective at killing viruses. If no time is specified, the disinfectant should be left for a minimum of ten minutes before removing.
Which areas should be cleaned and disinfected, and how often?
Any surfaces that are frequently touched (touchpoints) should be prioritised for cleaning, such as door handles, counters, phones, EFTPOS machines and workplace amenities. Any surfaces that are visibly dirty should be cleaned as soon as they are identified, regardless of when they were last cleaned. If your workplace has large volumes of customers or others entering each day, more frequent cleaning and disinfection is recommended. If your workplace is only attended by the same small work crew each day and involves little interaction with other people, routine disinfection in addition to daily cleaning may not be needed.
Which areas should be prioritised for cleaning?
Any surfaces that are frequently touched should be prioritised for cleaning and disinfection. These include tabletops, door handles, light switches, desks, toilets, taps, TV remotes, kitchen surfaces and cupboard handles. You should also prioritise cleaning and disinfecting surfaces which are visibly soiled (dirty) and which are used by multiple people (e.g. trolleys, checkouts, EFTPOS machines).
How often should areas be cleaned clean?
Regular cleaning is key to minimising the build-up of dust and dirt and allows for effective disinfecting when required. Cleaning should be more frequent if surfaces become visibly dirty, there is a spill, or if they are touched by a different people. If your workplace operates in shifts, it should be cleaned between shifts. If equipment is shared between workers, it may also be cleaned between uses, where practicable.
How often should areas be disinfected?
You should regularly clean and disinfect surfaces all touchpoints in the workplace. You should consider disinfecting frequently touched surfaces at least once daily. All surfaces should be cleaned with detergent prior to disinfection. Alternatively, you may be able to do a 2-in-1 clean and disinfection by using a combined detergent and disinfectant.
Does every surface need to be cleaned?
You don’t need to clean every surface. The virus is transmitted by breathing in droplets produced by an infected person coughing or sneezing, or contact with contaminated surfaces, so you only need to clean surfaces that are touched. This is true whether the touching is deliberate (e.g. a door knob) or incidental (e.g. brushing a door when reaching for the door knob). There are some surfaces that are never touched (e.g. ceilings and cracks and crevices in machinery) and these do not need to be cleaned and disinfected.
Is a sanitiser a disinfectant?
A sanitiser is a chemical that is designed to kill some bacteria and some viruses that can cause disease in humans or animals. These chemicals are not as strong as disinfectants, which makes them safe to use on skin. If you’re disinfecting a hard surface or inanimate object, a disinfectant is the best option.
Can I use a product that claims to clean and disinfect at the same time?
Yes, some products can be used for both cleaning and disinfecting, which can save time and effort. If using these products, make sure that you read and follow the instructions on the label to ensure they work effectively.
Will an antibacterial product kill COVID-19?
Antibacterial products are designed to kill bacteria. However, COVID-19 is caused by a virus rather than by bacteria, so an antibacterial product is not necessary. Detergent and warm water are suitable for cleaning surfaces and should be used prior to using a disinfectant. For cleaning hands, regular soap and warm water is effective.
Should we be using hospital grade disinfectant for normal cleaning in the workplace?
No. The Department of Health only recommends the use of hospital grade disinfectant when cleaning in a hospital or healthcare setting if an infectious patient has been present.
What is the difference between household grade disinfectant and hospital grade disinfectant?
Hospital grade disinfectants must meet government standards for use in health care, beauty and allied health settings. A household or commercial grade disinfectant must also meet government standards, but the testing is not as comprehensive as it is for hospital grade disinfectants and the standards to be met are lower. Household or commercial grade disinfectant are suitable for use in workplaces that are not health care settings.
Are there any cleaning methods that shouldn’t be used?
The best cleaning method is to use warm water and detergent. You should avoid any cleaning methods that may disperse the virus or create droplets, such as using pressurised water, pressurised air (including canned air cleaners), dry cloth and dusters. Fumigation or wide-area spraying (known as ‘disinfectant fogging’) is not recommended for general use against COVID-19. Additionally, if not done correctly it can expose workers and others to hazardous chemicals.
For more information on how RapidClean can help you provide a safe work environment for your staff and customers to return to visit our Website
www.rapidclean.com.au
