What would you do after being made aware of a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19 at your workplace?
While there are a number of requirements, one of the most critical aspects is getting the site cleaned and disinfected. As part of this process the following cleaning principles are recommended;
- All areas, known or suspected, of being used by the person(s) should be closed off and secured until declared safe by a responsible authority
- All areas, known or suspected, of being used by the person(s) should be cleaned and disinfected
- Where possible, outside doors and windows should be opened to increase air circulation to the affected area(s)
- Persons responsible for cleaning an area of suspected or confirmed contamination should be equipped with appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
- Once cleaning and disinfection is complete, disposable cloths, PPE and covers should be placed in a plastic rubbish bag, and placed inside another rubbish bag (double-bagging) and disposed of in the general waste. Staff who have touched used PPE should clean their hands using soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or where this is not possible, hand sanitiser (made up of at least 60% ethanol or 70% isopropanol (as the active ingredient)) after removing PPE
- Cleaning equipment, including mop heads and cloths, should be laundered using hot water and completely dried before re-use. Cleaning equipment, such as buckets should be emptied and cleaned with a new batch of disinfectant and allowed to dry completely before re-use
Where possible, you should try to sustain partial operations and not close the whole site while cleaning and disinfection takes place, particularly if the person infected, or suspected to be infected, has only visited parts of the site. However, the cleaning and disinfection must occur before any staff or customers return to affected areas.
While you can employ a professional and authorised cleaning company to support the cleaning and disinfecting of your site, you must still have a good understanding about what is required and the appropriate safety measures that must be followed.
