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Clean and disinfect your workplace
You can protect yourself and your co-workers from coronavirus disease (COVID-19) by cleaning and disinfecting your workplace.
Thorough and proper cleaning and disinfection of surfaces in work places (for example, offices, stores, and publicly accessible areas) is important for preventing the spread of viruses. Below you will find a set of guidelines, which can be followed and adopted into existing cleaning practices.
Many work places have contracts that provide cleaning services after hours. It is important employers and employees understand the cleaning services that are provided.
Cleaning versus disinfection
The terms cleaning and disinfection are 2 terms that are often mixed up and interpreted to mean the same thing. However, they are actually separate and describe 2 important steps in sanitation.
Cleaning
Cleaning is the act of removing dirt, soil, and other impurities from all types of surfaces: For example, wiping spilled food off a counter with detergent (soap) and water.
Disinfection
Disinfection is the act of destroying harmful micro-organisms, such as bacteria and viruses. For example, wiping the counter with bleach. Cleaning alone will not be effective for the control of the virus that causes COVID-19.
Disinfection must also be done and, since dirt and soil interfere with disinfectants (for example, bleach), cleaning must be done before you disinfect.
However, if surfaces are not soiled, disinfection alone may be satisfactory. Use your good judgement as to when cleaning is and is not necessary.
In addition, many products available today combine a cleaner with a disinfectant. Read the label carefully to ensure it contains a recognized disinfectant in a sufficient quantity.
Be sure to take appropriate precautions when using chemicals for cleaning and disinfecting. Consult the product Safety Data Sheets.
Areas to focus on
Cleaning practices for the control of respiratory infections should include areas where people commonly gather, are publicly accessible, and where you meet with clients indoors. These would include:
reception areas;
meeting and conference rooms;
waiting rooms;
exam rooms;
lunch and staff rooms;
bathrooms;
doorways;
offices; and
hallways.
Surfaces and objects in these areas are commonly touched and should be identified, cleaned and disinfected on a scheduled basis. These would include:
hand rails;
door knobs;
phones;
light switches;
desk tops;
computer keyboards;
computer "mice";
table tops;
arm rests on chairs, top and bottom;
counter tops;
bathroom stall latches;
toilet paper dispensers;
toilet flush handles;
liquid soap dispensers;
hot air hand dryers; and
paper towel dispensers.
Other areas and surfaces
Other areas and surfaces which are not commonly used, accessible, or touched (for example, storage rooms, closets, floors, walls), should also be cleaned and disinfected, but less frequently.
USD 10 / hr 