Minimizing infections that originate from facility surfaces and air requires a combination of high-impact cleaning and disinfection services with updated ventilation systems.
Promoting Facility Hygiene to Minimize the Spread of Infection
Promoting high-quality facility hygiene can eliminate the spread of infection in the workplace and classroom by more than 90 percent through a combination of:
- Handwashing.
- Increased surface cleaning and touchpoint disinfection, and;
- Technologically advanced application methods.
Studies have shown that the average worker misses three to four days per year due to illness, but will go to work sick an additional four weeks per year--resulting in a cycle of continued illness and reduced work quality.
Implementing specific facility sanitation methods stops the cycle by eliminating the presence of illness-causing pathogens, bacteria, mold, and fungi on surfaces and in the air throughout the day, significantly minimizing occupant exposure.
Hands and Health
Where you put your hands throughout the day has a direct impact on your health and the wellbeing of those around you.
A recent study identified hundreds of thousands of bacteria on the human hand belonging to thousands of different species.
According to a study done at the University of Colorado and posted on Bacteriality, there are nearly 332,000 genetically distinct bacteria on the human hand.
These bacteria belong to 4,742 different species.
[...] the results of the study came from a test that was preformed on 51 undergraduates.
The species of bacteria that live on each person's hands differs greatly. During this test, only five species of bacteria were found on all the students' hands.
Even two hands belonging to the same person only had around 13 percent of the same bacterial species in common.
Additionally, most diseases are spread and enter our bodies via hand-to-surface contact--either we're contaminating a surface or picking up germs for a contaminated surface.
Bacteria and viruses can enter our bodies in a number of ways.
Most of the time, we inadvertently collect germs by touching a tainted surface.
We then transmit these germs to ourselves by eating with our hands or by touching our noses, ears, eyes or mouths. On the other hand, some germs also have the ability to spread from one person into the air, where they may be inhaled through our noses and mouths.
It may seem pretty basic; however, countless myths persist about how and why we get sick.
Washing your hands well and often is a proven method for removing germs, bacteria, and dangerous chemicals from your skin that hand sanitizers have no effect on.
The current scientific evidence for handwashing suggests that following the five steps to washing hands the right way can remove at least 99% of germs on hands.
For hand sanitizers, many studies have found that sanitizers with an alcohol concentration between 60–95% kill at least 99% of germs.
Sanitizers with 60-95% alcohol are more effective at killing germs than those with a lower alcohol concentration or non-alcohol-based hand sanitizers. H
However, alcohol-based hand sanitizers don’t kill all types of germs, such as norovirus, some parasites, and Clostridium difficile.
Hand sanitizers also do not work as well when hands are soiled and may not remove harmful chemicals, such as pesticides and heavy metals like lead.
Increasing Frequencies is Beneficial During Outbreaks
Increasing the frequency of cleaning and targeted disinfection significantly improves facility health and occupant safety during outbreaks by reducing the spread of viruses by as much as 80%.
Cleaning every day has several documented benefits, including:
- Improved employee health and reduced sick days.
- Preservation of facility assets, and;
- Increased marketability.
Disinfecting high-touch surfaces--commonly referred to as touchpoint disinfection--several times per day has become the norm in the fight against COVID-19, but has long been the standard for custodial teams during cold and flu season.
During normal operations--not during an outbreak or pandemic--wiping down touchpoints a few times per day with a disinfectant wipe is more than satisfactory.
During an outbreak, especially in a high-traffic facility, such as a classroom or busy restroom, the frequency should be increased to once every few hours, depending on occupant foot traffic.
Improved Application Methods Increases Efficacy
Technologically advanced application methods have demonstrated superior efficiency and efficacy in the application and management of disinfectant chemicals and the reduction of surface and airborne microbes and pathogens.
Chief among the emerged technologies are:
- Electrostatic disinfection appliances, and;
- UV-C disinfection lighting.
ESD appliances have demonstrated superior efficacy against viral pathogens and surface-resident bacteria when compared to conventional manual spray application methods.
Traditional disinfection methods can leave a large percentage of surfaces untouched.
However, when electrostatics are used in place of—or in addition to—wipes, trigger sprayers, or mops, a single team member can disinfect the same area that normally required a staff of five.
This newfound efficiency enables facilities to increase disinfection frequency, which is crucial to preventing the spread of emerging viral pathogens.
Electrostatic sprayers also achieve three times the coverage of a traditional spray bottle due to positively charged disinfectant droplets, which magnetically attract to and wrap around target surfaces.
Not only can users expedite the disinfection processes, they also can eliminate virtually all infectious fungi, viral particles, and bacteria from every surface.
Improving Disinfection Outcomes with Electrostatic Technologies
UV-C lighting has proven especially effective against the SARS-CoV-2 virus and other airborne pathogens, specifically when placed in strategic locations within HVAC ventilation ducts where the light can achieve maximum unimpeded exposure while avoiding any potential harm to humans due to direct exposure.
UVC radiation has been shown to destroy the outer protein coating of the SARS-Coronavirus, which is a different virus from the current SARS-CoV-2 virus.
The destruction ultimately leads to the inactivation of the virus.
UVC radiation may also be effective in inactivating the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which is the virus that causes the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).
UVC radiation is commonly used inside air ducts to disinfect the air.
This is the safest way to employ UVC radiation because direct UVC exposure to human skin or eyes may cause injuries, and installation of UVC within an air duct is less likely to cause exposure to skin and eyes.
UV Lights and Lamps: Ultraviolet-C Radiation, Disinfection, and Coronavirus
References & Resources
- Promoting Hygiene To Minimize Infections
- Cold And Flu Viruses Require Frequent Disinfecting
- Advantages To Maintaining A Clean Workplace
Takeaway
Minimizing facility infections requires ongoing commitments from stakeholders at multiple levels.
At a minimum, investments in new technologies and infrastructure will need to be met with enhanced training and safety protocols.
Outsourcing is a proven method for ensuring the highest standards of cleanliness, safety, and training while controlling costs and eliminating management overhead.
If you would like more information regarding the effectiveness of high-performance infection prevention and control measures, or if you would like to schedule a free, no-obligation onsite assessment of your facility's custodial needs, contact us today for a free quote!
In Bakersfield, CA, call (661) 437-3253
In Fresno, CA, call (559) 206-1059
In Valencia CA, or Santa Clarita CA, call (661) 437-3253
In Palmdale, CA or Lancaster, CA, call (661) 371-4756
