How to Clean and Disinfect Your Workplace

How to Clean and Disinfect Your Workplace

COVID-19 spreads through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. A person can acquire the virus by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose or eyes.

A key way you can protect workers and others from the risk of exposure to COVID-19 is by implementing appropriate cleaning and disinfecting measures for your workplace. A combination of cleaning and disinfection will be most effective in removing the COVID-19 virus. It is highly recommended that workplaces are be cleaned at least daily. More frequent cleaning may be required in some circumstances. For example, if your workplace operates in shifts, workplaces should be cleaned between shifts. If equipment is shared between workers, it should be cleaned between uses, where practicable.

Cleaning with detergent and water is sufficient.

Once clean, surfaces can be disinfected. When and how often your workplace, or certain surfaces, should be disinfected will depend on the likelihood of contaminated material being present. This would include any time there has been a case or suspected case of COVID-19 at the workplace, or at workplaces with a high volume of workers, customers or visitors that are likely to touch surfaces.

Checklist of standard precautions for cleaning

  • Where cleaning on or around electrical equipment/fittings, isolate electrical equipment and turn off power source if possible before cleaning with liquids.
  • Read the label for the detergent or disinfectant and follow the manufacturer’s recommendations.
  • Obtain a copy of the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for the detergent or disinfectant and become familiar with the contents.
  • Wear the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) that is identified on the label and the SDS.

Recommended cleaning by surface

The following table outlines the recommended minimum frequencies for routine cleaning of various surfaces in the workplace, as well as recommended cleaning and disinfecting following a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19. It is applicable to all workplaces, noting some surfaces may not be relevant to all workplaces.

It is highly recommended that workplaces are be cleaned at least daily. More frequent cleaning may be required in some circumstances. For example, if equipment is shared between workers, it should be cleaned between uses, where practicable. More frequent disinfection may be required at workplaces with a high volume of workers, customers or visitors that are likely to touch surfaces.

For more information go to https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/sites/default/files/2020-04/how-to-clean-disinfect-your-workplace-covid19.pdf

Ref: swa.gov.au/coronavirus