Here is some information you could use if anyone is concerned with cleaning issues.
Swine Flu Preparedness Cleaning Procedure
What is Swine Flu?
Learn about Swine Flu and how it transmits at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_swine_flu_outbreak
What can you do as a cleaning contractor of a facility, custodian, facility manager, operation manager?
1: Encourage everyone to wash their hands frequently. The best way to prevent any germ causing sickness is to wash hands frequently. Also, providing waterless hand sanitizers should be an excellent suggestion for offices or high traffic public areas such as supermarkets, theaters, etc.
Make sure that your facility has ample soap in the restroom and other washing locations, such as kitchens and other sink locations and make sure to have clean paper towels to dry their hands.
2: If any of your employees show symptoms of swine flu, do not let him come to work. Instead, he should be checking with a doctor right away.
3: All of your cleaning crew must wear gloves to protect themselves when cleaning.
If you want your cleaning people to wear a mask and goggles, that is up to you (See instruction for scrub mode cleaning).
Do not rub eyes, nose, and mouth while doing the work.
4: Your facility should be cleaned with EPA registered disinfectant cleaner.
** See product list below from Spartan.
Give special attention to highly touched environmental surfaces such as public showers, bathtubs, sink fixtures, sink counter tops, light fixtures, doorknobs, door panels, restroom dispensers (soap, towel, tissue, sani-nap, hand, etc.), phones, elevator buttons, number pads, escalator handrails, computer key boards (if used by many) and hand rails, all gym equipment that are shared, counter tops of public offices, to just name a few.
Note: If it is for prevention mode: Use EPA Registered disinfectant cleaner and dilute in a bucket of clean water. Rinse your clean towel and thoroughly wipe the following items at least once a day. Option to mix disinfectant cleaner into a spray bottle and light mist the items you want to clean and wipe off (if time permits, leave it on the surface up to 7 minutes for kill time and wipe off) with clean towel.
Give special attention to highly touched environmental surfaces such as public showers, bathtubs, sink fixtures, sink counter tops, light fixtures, doorknobs, door panels, restroom dispensers (soap, towel, tissue, sani-nap, hand, etc.), phones*, elevator buttons*, number pads*, escalator handrails*, computer key boards* (if used by many) and handrails, all gym equipment that are shared, countertops of public offices, to just name a few.
Note: Kitchen will follow regular cleaning procedure of using sanitizer. Cafeteria will use sanitizer cleaner to clean tables, chairs, countertops, serving areas, register areas, etc.
Note: In small office settings, you may also use disinfectant wipes or sanitizing wipes to wipe off counter tops, doorknobs, door handles, handrails, phones, etc.
Note: Class rooms in schools can use sanitizer cleaner as an option.
*Note: Any electronic items such as phone key pads, elevator key pads, computer key boards, light switches, etc.: Do not spray any liquid cleaning solution directly into/onto it, it could cause damge.
If it is scrub mode (If there is a reported case of H1N1 A Flu): You must wear masks, gloves and goggle (If regular flu; wear gloves, mask is optional).
Use EPA registered disinfectant cleaner. Dilute solution into a spray bottle as recommended by the manufacturer. Spray (as mist) public shower, bathtubs, sink fixtures, sink countertops, light fixtures, doorknobs, door panels, restroom dispensers (soap, towel, tissue, sani-nap, hand, etc), phones, elevator buttons, number pads, escalator handrails, computer keyboards (if used by many) and handrails, all gym equipment that are shared, countertops of public offices, etc.
Note: Such as counter tops, sinks, bathtubs, faucets, and any other horizontal surfaces that are touched by humans must be cleaned with disinfectant cleaner and let it sit for 10 minutes, before wiping off with clean towel for complete kill time (if possible). (Do not spray liquid cleaning solution over wood or any electronic item. The surface could be damaged).
If it is a heavy traffic area such as shopping malls, large office building, schools, repeat every 3 to 4 hours, especially public restrooms, food court table and chairs, entrance doors and etc.
If it is a severe case, everything that is touched by humans should be wiped off as described in prevention mode. Such as schools and other places that have items which are shared with other people/kids on constant basis, these must be wiped off with disinfectant cleaner and repeat as needed.
Optional: Door handles, knobs, hand rails, sink faucets, restroom dispensers, can be sprayed lightly with aerosol disinfectant spray. This does not need to be wiped off. If you do, leave on for at least 7 minutes .
Although there are currently no EPA products registered for the specific viruses associated with swine flu, if any disinfectant cleaner has label claimed for the associated influenza A virus, this should be helpful.
Note: Do not spray liquid disinfectant directly into phone, key boards, and other electronic products, you could damage it. Instead , use disinfectant aerosol sprayer or damp wipe (not super wet towel- after rinsing, gently squeegee the towel enough so that no liquid should be coming out of the towel as you wipe the surface).
For disinfectant to be effective, it must stay on the surface for 7-10 minutes.
Phones
1: Spray aerosol disinfectant sprayer on a clean towel and wipe the phone thoroughly.
2: Spray aerosol disinfectant spray lightly over the mouth piece, ear piece, handle, and key pad.
3: If you are cleaning a public phone booth, clean the surface around the panel with disinfectant cleaner and wipe off after 7 to 10 minutes.
Elevator key pads
1: Spray mist the disinfectant cleaner on to a clean towel and wipe off the key pads gently and
clean.
** Do not spray directly on to the key pads. It could cause damage.
Escalator railings
1: Use disinfectant cleaner and dilute in a bucket of clean water. Rinse your clean towel and wipe the railing up and down two times. Do not use alcohol based cleaner for the rubber railing. It could damage the railing’s shine.
Computer key boards
In most cases, the office staff does not want the cleaners to touch their key boards. However, if you were asked to do it, do the following:
1: Spray aerosol disinfectant spray lightly over the key board and leave it.
(Note: Computer key boards are normally not cleaned by cleaning contractors).
After cleaning is done, make sure to wash your hand thoroughly with hand soap and wipe off with paper towels.
For individual protection, these are steps recommended by officials.
1: Wash hands often with hand soap or use hand sanitizer.
2: Dry your hands with clean paper towel, if you are using public restrooms.
3: Do not touch dispenser’s handles or door knobs. Use paper towel instead.
Please educate all of your employees on this proper cleaning procedure and make sure that they follow through. It is for their own protection.
Spartan Chemical Manufacturing company is ready to help with cleaning issues.
Swine Flu Associated Spartan Products
Cleaning of high touch hard surfaces with a good detergent or an EPA registered disinfectant is important. Cleaning actually aids in the physical removal of the virus from the surface. This is more important than the disinfection or deactivation of the virus.
Give special attention to high touch environmental surfaces such as bathtubs, sink fixtures, light fixtures, phones, and hand rails to just name a few. Although there are currently no EPA products registered for the specific virus(es) associated with Swine Flu, the Spartan products listed below do carry label claims for the associated influenza A virus.
To insure proper disinfection, all label directions and dilution rates should be followed. Spartan’s products that are effective against Influenza A virus include: CDC-10® Clean on the Go hdqC®2 Clean on the Go NABC® Concentrate Clean on the Go Super HDQ®L10 DMQ® Foamy Q & A® Green Solutions® Neutral Disinfectant Cleaner Green Solutions® High Dilution Disinfectant 256 Hepacide Quat® II HDQ Neutral® NABC® Sani-T-10® Sparquat 256 Steriphene II® Brand Disinfectant Deodorant Super HDQ Neutral® TB-Cide Plus® II TB-Cide Quat® TnT®
Please visit Spartan website at http://www.spartanchemical.com/.
For additional information about Swine Flu, visit http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/.
