Companies are doing what they can to keep people safe by maintaining hygienic environments in the fight against COVID-19. Cleaning and sterilising the workplace, implementing strict hygiene practices and specialist solutions, such as fogging, are some of the ways that companies are fighting back.
Disinfection solutions for the workplace
A two-step sanitisation process, including a manual surface clean and surface sanitisation, in conjunction with fogging, or an ultra-low volume misting, is proving to be an effective joint approach for disinfecting the workplace.
These steps – combined with the correct selection of chemicals, proper methods and procedures –provide peace of mind to the business owner, employees and visitors to the site.
- Manual clean - physically removing dirt and grime from high touchpoints, such as sanitiser dispensers, door handles, handrails, push plates, light switches, remote controls, taps, desks, equipment and more.
- Manual sanitising - using regular sanitiser spraying and wiping of surfaces.
- No-touch technologies - such as fogging*, or ultra-low volume misting, in conjunction with manual cleaning and sanitising.
- Correct chemical selection and utilisation - ensuring that germs are killed effectively, while being safe for humans and the environment.
- Proper methods and procedures - accurate schedules and service management, certifies that offices, surfaces and contact points are cleaned and sanitised correctly, and at the right intervals.
*Fogging is not recommended as a primary form of sanitisation; but is a beneficial, supportive solution to manual cleaning and sanitising.
Benefits of fogging
Fogging, which uses an ultra-low volume chemical disinfectant mist that is safe for humans, effectively supports manual cleaning and sanitising against the build-up of bad bacteria in hard to reach places.
Some of the benefits of fogging include:
- Effective defence against the family groups of viruses, including COVID-19; bacteria; fungi; mould and mycoplasma.
- Cost effective
- May reduce downtime if used simultaneously with a cleaning-in-progress (CIP) system
- Re-entry is a mere 60-minutes after the activation period
- The spray plume is nearly invisible, but delivers peace of mind
- Effective at sanitising surfaces, equipment, floors and walls in combination with manual cleaning and sanitising
- Reaches inaccessible areas that traditional approaches do not
- A treatment certificate confirms legitimacy of the product and result
- SABS certified food safe
For these reasons, many companies are using fogging as part of their combined approach to keeping the workplace safe for people.
Applications where internal fogging may be effective
The application for internal fogging is broad and used predominantly when a positive case of COVID-19 has been identified and confirmed, or as a preventative treatment for peace of mind. These applications can include, but are not limited to:
- Offices
- Food production facilities
- Bakeries
- Shopping and retail centres
- Pre-schools, schools, universities and other educational facilities
- Residential units
- Correctional services facilities
- Restaurants and bars
- Taxis and busses
- And more…
What business owners should look for in a professional cleaning and sanitisation service provider
1. Health and safety considerations
The following points will help business owners select a professional cleaning service provider for indoor cleaning and sanitisation, whether manual, or with fogging, while ensuring the safety of their people.
- Product certification: The service provider can certify that their cleaning and sanitisation products are fit for purpose for the specific environment;
- SABS or similar: The service provider can offer a SABS certification confirming that their products are food safe. Equivalent certifications are those from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) in the US.
- Dilution rates: The service provider must be able to confirm that the dilution rate, application method and contact times are adhered to as per the chemical manufacturer’s guidelines.
- Area isolation: During fogging, the area must be sealed off before the treatment commences and isolated for the correct amount of time, usually one hour, before re-entry.
- Personal Protection Equipment (PPE): All cleaning staff should be correctly kitted with correct, clean PPE.
Download the data sheets of three of some of the leading sanitisation chemicals here:
2. Legal compliance and safe disposal of contaminated PPE
While there are no legal compliance requirements governing the sterilisation of internal workplaces, professional service providers that work with contaminated PPE (face masks, gloves, overalls), need to dispose of them responsibly and issue a certificate that they are qualified to do so. Where industrial strength PPE is used, separate laundering is required.
3. Qualified technicians
Technicians that conduct professional cleaning and sterilisation services should be properly trained and equipped with the necessary personal protective equipment (PPE), respiratory protective equipment and specialist disinfection equipment to work safely and effectively.
4. Performance guarantee – no contract required
At African Corporate Cleaning, we are so confident about solving all your needs that we will do so without any long-term contract in place. If we let you down, you just let us go. This ensures that we will always work hard at keeping you happy.
See how quickly we can help you
We have the right disinfection services for you to help keep your people safe. Contact us for fast assistance: https://www.africancorporatecleaning.co.za/contact.html
African Corporate Cleaning enables effective disinfection of large areas in a short time.
Download more information on fogging services here >>
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