COVID-19

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We can work with you to:

• Carry out an assessment for all sites, or parts of sites, that have been closed, before restarting work
• Create a daily cleaning schedule to ensure that your premises are cleaned to a high standard and as often as required. This will include particular focus on frequent touchpoints and the use of specialist disinfectant products
• Help keep the workplace clean and help prevent transmission by touching contaminated surfaces.
• Provide a full range of consumable products for purchase, subject to availability, including hand sanitisers, sanitising wipes (for use on keyboards, phones and desk areas), cleaning products for application after contact with commonly touched areas and paper towels

Covid-19 Risk Assessments.

You are required to carry out your own Covid-19 risk assessment prior to re-opening your premises. We will also carry out our own COVID-19 risk assessment to assess any potential risk to our cleaning operatives.

Personal protective equipment (PPE)

The minimum PPE to be worn for cleaning an area after a person with symptoms of COVID-19, or confirmed COVID-19, has left the setting, is disposable gloves and an apron. Wash hands with soap and water for 20 seconds after all PPE has been removed.

If a risk assessment of the setting indicates that a higher level of virus may be present (for example, where someone unwell has spent the night such as in a hotel room or boarding school dormitory) then additional PPE to protect the cleaner’s eyes, mouth and nose may be necessary. The local Public Health England (PHE) Health Protection Team can advise on this.

Cleaning and disinfection

Public areas where a symptomatic person has passed through and spent minimal time but which are not visibly contaminated with body fluids, such as corridors, can be cleaned thoroughly as normal.

All surfaces that the symptomatic person has come into contact with should be cleaned and disinfected, including all potentially contaminated and frequently touched areas such as bathrooms, door handles, telephones, grab rails in corridors and stairwells

Use disposable cloths or paper roll and disposable mop heads, to clean all hard surfaces, floors, chairs, door handles and sanitary fittings – think one site, one wipe, in one direction.

Use one of the options below:

• a combined detergent disinfectant solution at a dilution of 1,000 parts per million available chlorine (ppm av.cl.)

or

• a household detergent followed by disinfection (1000 ppm av.cl.). Follow manufacturer’s instructions for dilution, application and contact times for all detergents and disinfectants

or

• if an alternative disinfectant is used within the organisation ensure that it is effective against enveloped viruses

Avoid mixing cleaning products together as this can create toxic fumes. Avoid creating splashes and spray when cleaning.

Any cloths and mop heads used must be disposed of and should be put into waste bags as outlined below.

 When items cannot be cleaned using detergents or laundered, for example, upholstered furniture and mattresses, steam cleaning should be used. 

Waste

Personal waste from individuals with symptoms of COVID-19 and waste from cleaning of areas where they have been (including PPE, disposable cloths and used tissues):

1. Should be put in a plastic rubbish bag and tied when full
2. The plastic bag should then be placed in a second bin bag and tied
3. This should be put in a suitable and secure place and marked for storage until the individual’s test results are known.

This waste should be stored safely and kept away from children. It should not be placed in communal waste areas until negative test results are known, or the waste has been stored for at least 72 hours.

If the individual tests negative, this can be disposed of immediately with the normal waste.

If COVID-19 is confirmed this waste should be stored for at least 72 hours before disposal with normal waste.

If during an emergency you need to remove the waste before 72 hours, it must be treated as Category B infectious waste. You must:

• keep it separate from your other waste
• arrange for collection by a specialist contractor as hazardous waste

There will be a charge for this service.

Other household waste can be disposed of as normal mattresses, steam cleaning should be used.