Last week, the CDC issued a memo titled “Cleaning and Disinfecting Your Facility” with step-by-step instructions on how to maintain a safe workplace during the coronavirus. On page 3, they list out additional considerations for employers, which include:
- Developing policies for worker protection and provide training to all cleaning staff.
- Training should include when to use PPE, the necessary PPE, how to properly don, use & doff PPE, and how to properly dispose of PPE.
- Ensure workers are trained on the hazards of the cleaning chemicals used in the workplace.
What is PPE?
PPE stands for Personal Protective Equipment and is equipment worn to minimize exposure to hazards in the workplace. Depending on which industry you’re in, PPE may include gloves, safety glasses & shoes, respirators, full-body suits, masks, and gowns.
PPE Training
You may have PPE for your employees to use, but it’s imperative you provide proper training to show them how to use it, how to put it on, and how to properly take it off. Especially when dealing with hazardous materials or contaminated areas, your employees must be properly trained on how to don, use, and doff PPE, then dispose of any contaminated materials. All of this is crucial to ensure employee safety.
Clean and Disinfecting Your Facility
If you have had a positive COVID-19 case in your workplace, you want to confirm your facility is safe for reoccupation. When dealing with something as serious as the coronavirus, you can’t afford to treat the situation like any other contamination or with regular disinfecting methods. A Decontamination Scope of Work provides step-by-step instructions and procedures on how to properly and efficiently decontaminate all affected areas, surfaces, and items, specifically for COVID-19.
COVID-19 Swab Testing 
After decontamination is finished, you want to verify that all surfaces have been thoroughly cleaned and no microorganisms remain. To obtain post disinfection verification, COVID-19 swab tests use analysis to detect the RNA strain of COVID-19. Once the post-infection verification testing has been completed and the virus is not detected on the sample swabs collected, then you can confidently open your workspace for reoccupation.
How A-Tech Consulting Can Help
A-Tech Consulting provides PPE Training, Decontamination Training, as well as Decontamination Scopes of Work and Post-Disinfection Verification Testing to assist during the COVID-19 pandemic. We are the disinfectant consultants here to help you make your workplaces safe for you and your employees. We offer services throughout Southern California, including Orange County, Los Angeles, San Diego, Ventura, and Inland Empire area, as well as Las Vegas, Nevada and into Arizona. We are here to assist you during this time and we’re available to help with all of your environmental needs!
Contact us at: [email protected] or 1-800-434-1025.
