COVID-19 Infection Prevention Cleaning and Disinfecting Protocols
Purpose:
The following protocols were developed following CDC, OHA, and ODE guidance to prevent potential spread of COVID-19 within our schools when there is known transmission within the community. These protocols will be regularly reviewed and updated as new guidance from the regulatory agencies is provided.
PPE Needs:
Gloves – Custodians will wear nitrile or vinyl gloves while performing these cleaning and disinfecting tasks. It is important to inspect gloves often, and replace after 1) visibly soiled, 2) showing signs of wear or damage, 3) following cleaning restrooms, and 4) following cleaning rooms or spaces occupied by an ill individual. When doffing (removing) gloves:
1) Grasp the outside of glove with opposite gloved hand; peel off
2) Hold removed glove in the gloved hand
3) Slide fingers of ungloved hand under remaining glove at the wrist
4) Peel glove off over the first glove, turning inside out
5) Discard gloves in waste container
6) Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water for a minimum of 20 seconds
Eye Protection – Custodians will wear some version of eye covering, either in the form of safety glasses, safety goggles, and/or face shields, depending upon the task being performed.
Face Covering – Face masks and/or face shields must be worn by custodians while operating electrostatic sprayers for disinfecting with Bioesque Botanical Disinfectant Solution. A nuisance mask or higher level filtration mask should be selected and worn specific to the task being performed and the associated hazards therein.
Surfaces to be Cleaned and/or Disinfected Daily:
Building-wide:
* Highest frequency touch-points
** Lower frequency touch-points – mostly touched by occupant only
*** When students have assigned seats all day, as in elementary schools, these would be considered a lower frequency; in MS/HS, where students traditionally rotate seats throughout the day, these would qualify as higher frequency touch-points.
Process for Cleaning and/or Disinfecting:
Option 1 – With an electrostatic spray and Bioesque disinfectant
Clean the high frequency touchpoints with an approved disinfectant cleaner (Waxie 730 HP Disinfectant Cleaner or Diversey Oxivir Five 16). For the lower frequency touch-points (individual student desks/chairs; teacher work stations, individual offices, etc.), spot clean for visible soil. After surfaces have been cleaned and/or spot cleaned, follow-up with an application of Bioesque disinfectant or Waxie 730 HP Disinfectant, applied to all identified touch-points through an electro-static sprayer, maintaining a 4-minute dwell time on surfaces and allow surfaces to air dry (or 1 minute for the Waxie 730 HP). Alternatively, following the 4-minute dwell time, the surface can be wiped dry. It is recommended to wear a face covering while operating the electrostatic sprayers, as well as gloves and eye protection (face shield and/or goggles). The plexiglass barriers in front offices, while needing to be cleaned daily, are not considered a high touch surface, therefore, cleaning with a general purpose cleaner or a glass cleaner would be appropriate. If evidence suggests otherwise (finger smudges), proceed with the lower frequency touch-point protocol as described above.
Option 2 – Without an electrostatic sprayer
Clean the high frequency touchpoints with an approved disinfectant cleaner (Waxie 730 HP Disinfectant Cleaner or Diversey Oxivir Five 16). For the lower frequency touch-points (individual student desks/chairs; teacher work stations, individual offices, etc.), spot clean for visible soil. After surfaces have been cleaned or spot cleaned, work your way around the room and apply the Waxie 730 or Diversey Oxivir Five 16 with a spray bottle to all identified touch-point surfaces, maintaining a wet surface for a 5-minute dwell time. After the proper dwell time, go through the room and wipe down all the surfaces to which disinfectant was applied. Remember to change out rags/towels frequently.
Floor Cleaning:
Dust-mop hard floor surfaces daily and spot-mop or auto-scrub visible soil. Do not use push-brooms to sweep classroom floors. While vacuuming carpeted spaces, do not do so with occupants in the room/space.
Restroom Cleaning and Disinfecting:
With a touchless restroom cleaning machine
If your site has an Advance Reel Cleaner, or other touchless restroom cleaning machine, it should be used for the restroom cleaning/disinfecting daily. Go through the restroom while checking for re-stocking needs and spot clean visible soil off stall walls, walls, fixtures, and/or dispensers. Apply the Waxie 730 HP Disinfectant Cleaner or Diversey Oxivir Five 16 on low-pressure setting to adequately cover all fixtures, walls, stall walls, and floors. Surfaces must remain wet for a 5-minute dwell time, then rinse fixtures, walls, and floors with a machine on the no-chemical setting.
Without a touchless restroom cleaning machine but with an electrostatic sprayer
Go through the restroom and spot clean walls/stall walls, fixtures, and dispensers of visible soil. Clean toilets and urinals with a disinfectant solution (Waxie 730 HP Disinfectant Cleaner or Diversey Oxivir Five 16) and a bucket and johnny brush, let dwell for Five (5) minutes, and wipe horizontal surfaces. Mop floor with either the Waxie 730 HP Disinfectant Cleaner or Diversey Five 16. Finish up by applying Bioesque Disinfectant (or Waxie 730 HP) with an electrostatic sprayer to all touch-points, including stall walls/doors, fixture handles, faucet handles, door knobs or striker plates, etc., sufficient to allow surfaces to remain wet for a 4-minute dwell time.
Other Considerations:
While the items listed above need to be cleaned/disinfected at least daily, there are other common touch-points that should be disinfected as frequently as possible throughout the day, such as:
*Building entrances following the morning ingress
*Handrails
*Drinking Fountains
*Student Restrooms
Playgrounds:
Disinfecting of playground fixtures between different cohort use is not called for in Ready Schools, Safe Learners.
Laundry:
Custodians will wear gloves while handling soiled laundry (rags/towels, clothing, etc.).
Place laundry directly into washing machine basin – do not shake items out.
Wash on the hottest setting permitted for items being laundered.
Clean and disinfect laundry hamper/bucket before returning to use.
Staff areas:
All shared staff use areas (such as staff rooms and restrooms) will be provided Purell Professional Surface Disinfectant Spray or disinfectant wipes (in addition to product use instruction sheets), as appropriate for the space and surface, which staff may use to disinfect surfaces.
If there are any questions around these protocols, please contact Custodial Services as soon as possible for clarification and/or additional training.