A guide for Cleaning and disinfecting common areas, such as offices, facilities and workplaces .
Maintaining a clean environment is the most important factor to prevent Covid - 19 and generally all bacteria. To do so a routine schedule should be in place which will include cleaning of frequently touched surfaces and minimal touched surfaces.
Our Cleaning Plan as Cleaning Business....
⦁ Qualified cleaning personnel.
⦁ disinfectants, tools and equipment.
⦁ Validated method of disinfection.
⦁ Processes for ensuring cleaning equipment is clean.
⦁ Storage and accessibility of cleaning equipment.
⦁ Availability of personal protective equipment (PPE).
⦁ Education and training of cleaning personnel which should include the following:
⦁ hand hygiene
⦁ how to safely put on and remove PPE.
Environmental Cleaning is very important because when an infected person transmits Covi-19 via respiratory droplets onto surfaces Covid can survive for a long time depending on the surface and temperature.
The right way to clean is always to use a detergent with hot water before using disinfectant on surface.
After each clean wash and allow cloth to dry and then reuse.
Example CHECKLIST for workplaces (Page 1)
Personal Protective Equipment Mark box with: / x/ NA
⦁ Hand Hygiene (HH) is available
⦁ Handwashing facilities or hand sanitiser
⦁ Gloves
⦁ (May be reusable or disposable)—must perform HH before putting on and taking off
⦁ Disposable face mask
⦁ Before removing perform HH. Do not touch the front. Use the ties or ear loops to remove.
⦁ Protective eyewear or Face shield (May be reusable or disposable)
⦁ Prescription glasses are not protective
⦁ Plastic apron or full-length disposable gown. Coveralls may be used if trained in donning and doffing.
⦁ This is precautionary to protect clothing from the chemicals used.
Cleaning equipment
⦁ Large supply of disposable cleaning cloths
⦁ Reusable cloths may be used if the site has a process for laundering them.
⦁ This maybe a site-based washing machine & dryer or a pre-existing contract with a commercial laundry.
⦁ Mop & bucket
⦁ Reusable mop heads may be used if the site or the cleaning contractor has a process for laundering them.
⦁ Disposable mop heads should be discarded in general waste.
⦁ Extension pole for high level cleaning
⦁ 2 Step clean
Step 1: Neutral detergent
Step 2: Bleach Solution or TGA approved disinfectant with virucidal activity
⦁ Read the product label to see if it is effective against viruses
⦁ Follow the directions for preparation
⦁ Strictly follow dilution requirements
⦁ Read the label for contact time
⦁ Wipe off residual disinfectant after contact time completed.
OR
⦁ 2-in-1 clean
⦁ Use a TGA approved 2-in-1 detergent/disinfectant product
⦁ Read the product label to see if it is effective against viruses
⦁ Follow the directions for preparation
⦁ Read the label for contact time
⦁ Steam cleaner (basic requirement-- release steam at a minimum of 70°C under pressure)
⦁ For soft furnishings or fabric items that cannot be washed in a washing machine or withstand bleach
⦁ Large supply of plastic waste bags
⦁ Check with site manager where these will go.
Example CHECKLIST for workplaces (Page2)
Area preparation
⦁ Define the area to be cleaned.
⦁ This will be determined in discussion with the DHHS outbreak team and the senior manager of the workplace.
⦁ They will include areas within the workplace used/visited by the COVID-19 positive case such as offices, bathrooms and common areas.
⦁ Close off area to be cleaned
⦁ Use signage to prevent accidental entry by others
⦁ If possible, open outside doors and windows to increase air circulation just prior to cleaning and disinfection.
⦁ Remove clutter and discard disposable items/waste into general waste bags, seal and dispose
⦁ Quarantine items that need to be kept.
⦁ Place items in a clear plastic bag and store for 72 hours (e.g. paper documents).
⦁ Items that require laundering.
⦁ Do not shake laundry
⦁ Arrange for these to be sent to commercial laundry or washed in an on-site washing machine (if available). In workplaces where there are children i.e. schools or childcare centres, this may include dress up clothing.
⦁ Remove crockery and cutlery
⦁ Place in an on-site dishwasher (if available) or wash in warm soapy water.
⦁ Identify soft furnishings which need to be cleaned with the steam cleaner
Cleaning and Disinfection
⦁ Using detergent and water, clean the furniture from cleanest to dirtiest (e.g. toilets are cleaned last) and high to low.
⦁ Walls and ceilings may not need to be cleaned unless there is evidence of gross contamination of respiratory secretions. Walls may only need to be cleaned to touch height and frequently touched areas. This should be discussed with the DHHS outbreak team.
⦁ Using TGA listed/bleach disinfectant solution, clean the furniture from high to low (as above)
⦁ Allow for contact time of disinfectant (refer to product information)
⦁ Wipe off residual disinfectant.
⦁ Steam clean soft furnishings
After
⦁ Clean all re-usable cleaning equipment with disinfectant solution
⦁ Wipe down mop handles, buckets and steam cleaner
⦁ Bag cleaning items that need to be laundered in a plastic bag and arrange to be laundered
⦁ Remove all waste into general waste
⦁ Site inspection with facility manager and DHHS outbreak team representative