Denise Hanson, Commercial Director at the British Institute of Cleaning Science, reports.
Protecting the operative:
This is the first line of the BICSc mission statement so as we move again into autumn and winter, which commonly sees an increase in illnesses as people spend more time together indoors, we thought it would be a good time to flag best practice on cleaning methodology to minimise the spread of infection.
Especially as the second line of the mission statement is:
Providing a clean and safe environment:
That first statement is so very key, because without our cleaning operatives where would we be? After all our workplaces, schools, hospitals, and retail spaces, to name a few of the public spaces a lot of us will be visiting, all depend on the cleaning operatives to deliver a clean and safe environment for us. But how do we protect them?
Firstly, we teach operatives to dilute and use cleaning products correctly. We reiterate that for the products to be effective they need to allow the manufacturer’s recommended contact or dwell time to both soften impacted soil and to kill the bacteria.
Ensuring the bacteria or viruses are successfully neutralised prior to the operative “cleaning” the area is key, or the bacteria is only going to be spread from one area to another rather than being contained within the area they are cleaning.
Secondly, look at the products you supply your operatives. Have the products you are supplying been independently accredited for their effectiveness? For example, a cleaner disinfectant should be independently tested to BS EN 1276 which is the European standard for the bactericidal activity of chemical disinfectants as proof of effective infection control against harmful micro-organisms such as MRSA, Salmonella, E.Coli, Flu Virus (H1N1) and Pseudomonas Aeruginosa.
If you are trying to stop a virus in its tracks BS EN 14476 certification means the cleaning product contains antiviral ingredients required to kill viruses including Poliovirus, Norovirus, Influenza A and Adenovirus.
EN 1276, 13704 and 13697 give specific standards that refer to sporicidal, bactericidal and fungicidal kill properties. But they don’t just need to be able to contain the germs involved, the cleaning operatives also need to ensure the products suitable for the areas, items, and surfaces they will be asked to clean.
Thirdly, having decided on the cleaning product ensure that the operative is provided with the relevant personal protective equipment (PPE) and that they are trained in its use and that they do actually use it! You would be surprised at the number of operatives who think that their prescription glasses are suitable ‘goggles’!
Remember MRSA came about due to incorrect dosage and contact time, allowing the bugs to become immune to the very products that should have made the areas safe following cleaning!
Finally consider a simple colour-coding system for the equipment and materials in use – proven to be a simple but effective way to control cross-contamination from one area to another. After all, would you want to eat at a table that had been cleaned with a cloth that was last used to clean a toilet?
As the winter nasties fast approach, Norovirus – commonly known as the winter vomiting bug – the common cold, and Influenza, it’s important to remember that your cleaning operative is not immune to these illnesses, but they are the first line of defence to Public Health so let’s remember to defend them too!
www.bics.org.uk
About the contributor
Denise Hanson
Commercial Director
BICSc