Viral Decontamination

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Reopening Cleaning

PREPARING-TO-REOPEN-AFTER-COVID-19

COVID-19 Facility Reopening Cleaning

As your business schedules to reopen and return to regular operations, it is important to make sure the necessary precautions are taken. Reentering a facility after COVID-19 requires more than basic cleaning or janitorial services, it requires a company with the experience of handling biohazard cleaning and virus outbreaks. ServiceMaster of Greater Pittsburgh, in conjunction with our environmental experts have developed comprehensive cleaning protocols for commercial facilities looking to reopen after the COVID-19 crisis.
All of our cleaning and disinfection services use hospital-grade, EPA registered products to the exact manufacturer specifications including mixing and dwell time. This is crucial in providing the maximum effectiveness of the disinfecting service. In addition, we have developed a comprehensive Facility Reopening Guide for commercial facilities preparing to re-enter the workplace. The guide covers important aspects of employee communication, business operations preparation and facility preparation.

Our Facility Reopening Cleaning Includes:

  • Hand cleaning of all horizontal and frequently contacted surfaces such as: door handles, keyboards, desks, seating areas, handrails, copiers and printers, shopping carts, production equipment, touch screens and more.
  • After hand cleaning all frequently contacted surfaces, ServiceMaster of Greater Pittsburgh will apply an aerosolized disinfection solution to frequently touched porous surfaces such as upholstery, carpet, cubicles, etc.
  • We will then shampoo all entryways, conference rooms, hallways and open area carpet. We also apply an EPA-registered, healthcare-grade disinfectant during this step of the process.
  • Air Movers (high-powered fans) will be left on all cleaned carpet overnight to ensure quick drying. All restrooms within the facility will be disinfected from top to bottom including: walls, floors, toilets, sinks, partitions, counters and all other surfaces within the restrooms.
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If your facility has large open areas such as those found in warehouses or manufacturing plants, ServiceMaster of Greater Pittsburgh can mist an aerosolized EPA-registered, healthcare-grade disinfectant into the atmosphere of the area and on horizontal surfaces. If required, we can also hand clean individual pieces of equipment.

Working with renowned environmental scientists and industrial hygienists to engineer our COVID-19 cleaning and disinfection processes provides you with the most comprehensive service available, while avoiding unnecessary costs. Our technicians are trained in biohazard cleanup and certified by the IICRC. In addition, each employee is trained on the proper use of personal protective equipment to not only protect their safety, but also limit the chance of cross-contamination.

ServiceMaster of Greater Pittsburgh offers the most comprehensive COVID-19 re-opening cleaning available. We have the experience with biohazard cleanup and even previous coronavirus outbreaks such as SARS and MERS. Reentering your facility is a big step in getting back to normal business operations and requires careful planning and preparation.

Additional Resources

FAQ

Coronavirus 2019-nCoV, more commonly referred to in the media as the coronavirus or COVID-19, is a respiratory virus first identified in Wuhan, China suspected to have originated in a large animal and seafood market. Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses, some of which affect humans while others affect animals only. Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) is a different type of Coronavirus but is NOT the same as what is now being generally labeled “the Coronavirus”.

While we are still learning more about the new COVID-19 virus, scientists believe the virus will act similar to other more well-known Coronaviruses such as MERS or SARS. It is believed that the coronavirus spreads from person-to-person when in close proximity to each other. The standard accepted distance is about six feet. The virus is spread much like the flu by an infected person coughing or sneezing. This introduces tiny respiratory droplets that can enter a non-infected person’s mouth, nose or be inhaled into the lungs. As with other respiratory viruses, individuals are typically considered to be most contagious when they are demonstrating the greatest level of symptoms.

Contaminated droplets settle onto surfaces which people may touch thereby contaminating their hands. If they touch their eyes, mouth or nose before properly disinfecting their hands they may then become infected.

While the intensity of symptoms varies, with some individuals showing little or no symptoms and others demonstrating severe illness and even dying, the three main symptoms include;

• Fever (Above 101º F) 

• Cough 

• Shortness of breath 

These symptoms may begin showing within two days of being exposed but may take as long as 14 days.

Knowledge is key to reducing the risk of infection from 2019-nCoV. The information included here is valuable, however developments are made constantly so it is good to monitor official health channels such as the CDC.

Practicing good infection prevention practices, such as frequent hand washing, is also important especially in public buildings. These practices also include; properly cleaning and disinfecting surfaces, respiratory hygiene and avoiding close contact with individuals. Most practices discussed in the media do NOT protect the individual using the practices, but rather protect others in the instance the person is infected. For example, using a mask does prevent airborne droplets from spreading if the individual wearing the mask coughs or sneezes, however the coronavirus is small enough to enter through the mask to the wearer. Properly cleaning and disinfecting surfaces may be one of the only truly preventative measures available.

Seek medical attention immediately. Call your doctor or local hospital and explain your situation to them. With it being prime season for the Flu and respiratory viruses, it is important to cooperate with medical professionals to reach a proper diagnosis. They may ask you some questions to help such as have you or anyone you have been in contact with recently traveled to China, answer these questions honestly.

Seek medical attention immediately. Call your doctor or local hospital and explain your situation to them. With it being prime season for the Flu and respiratory viruses, it is important to cooperate with medical professionals to reach a proper diagnosis. They may ask you some questions to help such as have you or anyone you have been in contact with recently traveled to China, answer these questions honestly.

If you believe your business may have been exposed to the coronavirus, it is critical that you take the utmost precaution to avoid contamination or possible infection. The building should be closed, allowing no one inside until a professional has decontaminated or disinfected the facility. The coronavirus is not something that can be eliminated with standard cleaning products. Hospital-grade disinfectants need to be used in order to effectively treat surfaces and kill the virus. In addition, if proper protective gear is not worn there is a risk of infection to anyone who comes into contact with contaminated surfaces.
Properly disinfecting and treating surfaces for Coronavirus is not something an untrained person should ever attempt. The process needs to be completed with extreme precaution and with the proper equipment. ServiceMaster Recovery Management has developed several methodologies for decontamination and disinfection of viruses such as the coronavirus or influenza virus. We have also handled other coronavirus outbreaks, such as SARS, in the past. If you believe your facility may have been exposed to the 2019- nCoV, call SRM immediately.

Our coronavirus process starts with an analysis conducted by an industrial hygienist. Using this analysis, we develop a disinfection project plan. Each facility type is different, and it is important to make sure the disinfection plan is tailored to those specific needs.

Once we have the disinfection plan developed, we begin the process or treating and disinfecting the building. All of our technicians are trained and maintain the highest level of protective gear to make sure they are safe throughout the entire disinfection process. We use hospital-grade disinfectants and make sure each surface is treated for the required dwell time as required by the product. We have developed several methods of disinfection which will be utilized in accordance with the protocols set by the industrial hygienist. SRM ensures that product specifications are followed thereby providing the most effective disinfection possible.

If you feel your facility may have been exposed to the coronavirus or are struggling with the influenza virus, we are here to help. To learn more about the coronavirus, possible exposure and treatment call us

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