Return to the Office: Tips to Maintain Good Disinfection Habits?

Keep calm and keep disinfecting!

After two years of trying to keep COVID-19 under control, pandemic fatigue is becoming a real problem. News of another variant makes the return to normal life seem that much further off, which can make it difficult to stay motivated to keep up with the seemingly constant changes. Louise Taillon, Sani Marc’s director of training, has been helping clients clean for both health and appearance for more than 30 years. In this issue of ‘Your questions in good hands’, Louise answers some important questions about how to stay the course in the fight against COVID-19.

Q: What do new COVID-19 variants mean for building owners? 

A: As new variants emerge you have to keep being vigilant in your efforts to maintain a clean and healthy environment. Even before COVID-19, disinfecting has always been essential for breaking the chain of infection and preventing the spread of germs that make people sick. This includes influenza, noroviruses and E. coli, all of which can be transmitted by hands and high touch surfaces. According to a 2020 report published by Deloitte, 62% of hospitality customers consider cleaning surfaces between interactions as essential to customer safety. 73% of property management employees want to see cleaning taking place throughout the day in order to feel safe, and 83% of retail customers say their perception of a store’s hygiene practices greatly influences their decision to shop there.  During this time when people are fearful of entering facilities and interacting with others in close quarters, businesses must adopt new methods of cleaning. 

Q: Why is the added vigilance important?

A: It reassures clients, building users and employees that your building is safe, and it goes a long way towards building consumer confidence. Pandemic fatigue is real, but people still want to feel safe and they welcome any efforts made to protect them from contracting the virus.  

Q: What can be done to keep staff and visitors motivated to fight COVID-19?

A: Let your staff know that by taking extra care in disinfecting and allowing themselves to be seen doing so, they are becoming part of a much bigger solution. Their efforts will not only reflect well on them as employees, they are helping to protect themselves as well as their families, and they are contributing to the clients’ reasons to believe in the company and its values. On a more practical level, encourage good hand hygiene by providing disinfecting wipes and hand sanitizer and keeping restrooms well stocked with hand soap. Use infographic posters to demonstrate proper handwashing technique. Taking steps like these shows that your organization makes customer and staff health and safety a top priority.  

Q: What should we disinfect first?

A: Disinfect what matters. 80% of germs are spread by hands and viruses can live on hands for five minutes. Identify hand touch points (high touch points) and create a schedule to disinfect them several times during a day. There’s no need to disinfect all surfaces several times a day; only surfaces that are touched by multiple people. 

Q: When is the best time to disinfect?

A: Disinfect touch points during the day when building users are present. This helps to create a sense of security, that the building is safe. Clients and visitors who see this are more likely to return. 

Q: What is the most important thing to remember when disinfecting?

A: Respect the contact time or dwell time of the product you are using and make sure your surfaces stay wet with the disinfecting solution for the amount of time indicated on the label.  For information about products, tools and turnkey solutions you need to help with COVID-19, visit our web site.