A Guide to Maintaining Infection Disease Control in the Workplace

1/21/2021 (Permalink)

While work may look a lot different for some people amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, people returning to their workplace want to ensure it is a clean, safe place to be. 

There are several steps you can take to help maintain control over infectious diseases within your office. 

What is infectious disease control?

Very simply put, infectious disease prevention and control is a method of cleaning and minimizing the spread of contagious disease. 

Why is it important in the workplace? 

Ensuring that a workplace is safe and clean can contribute greatly to productivity and loyalty within you employees. Office spaces, especially smaller scaled, can be some of the easiest places for germs to spread. Everyone often touches the same high traffic touch points, visits the same break room, works in close corners, etc. and it is critical these places are kept clean to minimize the spread. 

The Plan

• Plan Accordingly. The first thing that you should do is to come up with an infection control plan. Involve a management team to work more closely with employees and enforce any established workplace policies and procedures for infection control.
• Remove Common-Use Items. Something as simple as removing common items like magazines, community snack baskets, pens, etc. can greatly help slow the spread of any germs.
• Encourage Basic Etiquette. Encourage employees to practice the basic etiquette of covering their mouths when they cough or sneeze. Provide boxes of tissues and disinfectant wipes in common rooms where they interact with more people. At the same time, discourage them from sharing personal items like cups, glasses, and cutleries where they can easily transfer their respiratory droplets to other people. Most importantly, encourage employees to stay home if they feel under the weather.
• Basic Sanitation. The way to prevent the spread of infection is to provide ways for your employees to rid themselves of germs by putting up clean handwashing facilities and sanitation stations equipped with alcohol or alcohol-based hand sanitizers.

SERVPRO of Queen Anne's, Kent & Caroline Counties offers commercial and residential COVID-19 cleaning services that range from expected exposure to preventative cleaning. Allow us to be part of your plan and ensure your work place is a safe and healthy environment! 443-737-8776

What are the Differences Between Janitorial Services and Commercial Cleaning for COVID-19?

6/22/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Queen Anne's, Kent & Caroline Counties is being called on by numerous business and community leaders to perform the necessary bio-remediation services to clean and sanitize their properties for COVID-19.  

SERVPRO of Queen Anne's, Kent & Caroline Counties professionals are uniquely prepared during this unprecedented time to clean and sanitize your business according to the protocols set forth by the CDC. We have the experience in dealing with biological contaminants and we go beyond the scope of work that regular janitorial staff perform on a daily basis. 

Here are 3 things that show how our cleaning is different than general janitorial cleaning: 

IICRC Certified. The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) is the non-profit certifying body for the cleaning and restoration industry. Not only is SERVPRO of Annapolis/Severna Park IICRC certified as a firm, but most members of our staff carry several IICRC certifications. 

Cleaning Experts. The CDC encourages cleaning of high-touch surfaces such as counters, tabletops, doorknobs, light switches, bathroom fixtures, toilets, phones, keyboards, tablets, and tables at a minimum. Most of our cleaning tactics will go beyond the scope of work that regular janitorial staff perform on a daily basis 

The CDC also recommends regular cleaning of the following areas/items: 

• Kitchen/Food Areas
• Bathrooms n Schools/Classrooms
• Offices
• Retail Spaces
• Water Fountains
• Shelving/Racks 
• Sales Counters
• Carpets and Rugs
• Stair Handrails
• Elevators and Escalators
• Playground Equipment
• Fitness Equipment

Cleaning Products. Multiple products in the SERVPRO product line meet this standard and carry the EPA-registered emerging pathogens claims. While there is currently no product tested against this particular strain of the Corona Virus, we are following all guidelines as provided by the CDC and local authorities.  

Our proprietary cleaning agents, Benefect and Shockwave, are EPA-certified, hospital-grade disinfectants that have demonstrated effectiveness against viruses similar to Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19) on hard, non-porus surfaces. 

We carry multiple hospital-grade disinfectants and provide our personnel with proper PPE. Not only does this protect everyone, but it also protects the building and people in it.   

Call today- 443-SERVPRO