The concept of workplace safety has changed drastically over the past few years. Not only are employers required to keep their employees safe from accidents and injuries, but now they must protect the workplace from COVID-19 outbreaks. Luckily, researchers and virus disinfection companies have learned a lot about how the deadly and highly transmissible virus spreads and the steps that can be taken to decontaminate workspaces.

Workplace Decontamination Procedures

Working with a virus disinfection company is one of the best ways that employers can help to stop the spread of the incredibly transmissible COVID-19 virus. They generally offer a wide range of services including surface decontamination, HVAC disinfection, and they can also offer ongoing solutions for safer workplaces. Not only can these companies ensure that the surfaces and indoor air is as safe as possible, but they can also give peace-of-mind to both employers and employees.

Workplace decontamination can be used either as a precautionary measure or after an active outbreak. When it is used as a routine precautionary measure, decontamination can help stop an outbreak before it starts. If active COVID-19 cases have been detected in the workspace, decontamination works well to stop the outbreak from affecting even more employees.

Five Step Decontamination Process

Virus disinfection companies generally follow a five-step process that includes the following steps:

1) Site Assessment

The first step that most virus disinfection companies will take is to assess the workplace in question. They must find out the extent of the cleaning required. If there was an active outbreak, the technician will investigate the number of people affected and the areas in which they work.

2) Pre-Disinfection and Cleaning

Once the scope of the cleaning has been determined, a highly trained team of disinfection technicians uses hospital grade cleaning agents that are approved by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). These cleaning agents are formulated specifically to thoroughly sanitize the area in question. This pre-disinfection and cleaning stage is generally completed using an electric sprayer gun.

3) Deep Cleaning

The virus disinfection company then focuses their efforts on the high traffic touch points in the space. These includes light switches, door handles, and walls. Generally, this step includes larger spaces within reach of most people.

4) Load Reduction and Disposal

Once the first three steps have been completed, it will be safe for technicians to remove items that are possibly contaminated but cannot be disinfected. Items like cloth materials, papers, and personal items may need to be safely disposed of. The best virus disinfection companies are well-versed in biohazard containment and disposal.

5) Detailed Forensic Cleaning

The last step in a complete disinfection process is detailed forensic cleaning done by hand. Technicians use spray bottles of disinfectant and microfibre towels to clean sensitive surfaces like keyboards, telephones, and drawer handles. They will also wipe down any excess disinfection spray that may have accumulated throughout the previous four steps.

Infection Control and HVAC

Another very important service that virus disinfection companies provide is to ensure that the ventilation system is thoroughly cleaned. Thorough cleaning as well as filter upgrades can help to stop dangerous viruses and other pathogens from settling within the HVAC system. The disinfection company should also be able to recommend additional air cleaning options that can neutralize harmful viruses and other pathogens.

Choosing the Best Virus Disinfection Companies

Working with full-service virus disinfection companies that provide thorough site cleaning as well as indoor air quality solutions will provide the best possible results. Taking all measures possible to make sure that everyone in the building is safe improves employee confidence in returning to work in-person.

The five-step process that includes assessment, pre-cleaning, deep cleaning, load reduction, and detailed forensic cleaning should only be performed by trained experts. Professional infection reduction companies have the right equipment, personal protective equipment, and sanitization products that keep their technicians as safe as possible.

Employers should work with virus disinfection companies that have a long history in biohazard cleanup (well before the current COVID-19 pandemic). They should also make sure that the company they work with uses hospital grade sanitizers that are certified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Virus disinfection companies play an important role in keeping workplaces safe and businesses running through these uncertain times.