Dear Valued Business Partner:
In response to the developing situation regarding coronavirus/COVID-19, we have received a number of inquiries from clients regarding what steps can be taken from a cleaning standpoint to help prevent the spread of infection.
T
he effectiveness of any cleaning program as a preventive measure against the spread of this or any other viral illness is somewhat limited. A simple illustration of the limitations of preventive cleaning measures is this: if an FCS employee fully disinfects and sanitizes a door handle, and then the next person who opens that door is a carrier of an illness, then the door handle is no longer sanitary. Therefore, unless a surface is sanitized after each and every use, cleaning alone can not promise to stop the spread of the disease.
These types of concerns come up every few years (Ebola, Swine Flu, Bird Flu, etc.), and are always followed by worries over how to best clean. The reality is that cleaning is only one part of a solid preventative plan.
We understand that you are concerned for the health and safety of your staff, customers, vendors, and other visitors. One measure you may take in this effort would be to install extra hand sanitizer stations in all areas where it is possible to do so. Personal hygiene is far and away the best way to fight this type of virus and its spread.
It is important to emphasize to all individuals in your facility the need for regular, thorough hand washing and other basic personal hygiene tasks, both while at work and elsewhere. Should you wish to go a step further, there are companies that produce antimicrobial surface coatings that can be applied to door handles and various other high-touch surfaces. These coatings provide continuous "cleaning," meaning that the surfaces can kill any bacteria that may touch them after the coatings have been applied. You should also encourage employees to stay at home if they have a fever or other flu-like symptoms.
In the event an individual who has recently been in your facility tests positive for COVID-19, FCS can offer emergency deep cleaning services to disinfect the facility
. After a known exposure, a professional decontamination effort is recommended before opening back up for business. This should be handled by a firm with specialized training and equipment. It should not be handled like a “normal” cleaning for your business. FCS has the certified personnel, equipment, and chemicals needed to provide emergency response in such a situation. Please do not hesitate to contact us for more information on services or to put a contingency plan in place, as many of our clients have done already.
Otherwise – keep calm, carry on, and wash your hands!
Thank you,
Conrad Smith
President FCS, Inc.
