Covid-19 | Workplace Cleaning

Why a checklist is important for workplace cleaning

According to current knowledge, the coronavirus survives for a considerable time on many surfaces. Therefore it is important to clean the workplace at the end of the working day with a cleaning agent or a 2-in-1 cleaning and disinfection solution. This should be concentrated especially on surfaces that are frequently touched.

By means of a cleaning plan for the workplace, employers ensure that these surfaces are cleaned and disinfected daily after the end of work or change of shift. Such a plan can take the form of a checklist to ensure that no cleaning and disinfection work is forgotten, that problem areas are immediately identified and appropriate measures are taken.

This article informs about:

1. The difference between disinfecting and cleaning in the workplace

2. The cleaning procedure

3. The basics of a checklist for cleaning in the workplace

4. A mobile app for the cleaning schedule at the workplace

The importance of disinfection and cleaning at the workplace

Cleaning and disinfection are two different processes. It is important to carry out both in combination to effectively eliminate the corona virus.

Cleaning is the physical removal of germs, dirt and organic substances from surfaces.

Disinfection is the use of chemicals to kill germs on surfaces. It is important to clean before disinfecting, as organic matter and dirt can reduce the ability of disinfectants to kill germs. Cleaning reduces the amount of dirt on the surface so that the disinfectant is effective.

Proceeding with cleaning at the workplace

Employees should consider a few aspects when cleaning their workplace in order not to endanger themselves and others and to minimize the spread of the corona virus:

1. Employees should wear gloves when cleaning from the workplace. These gloves should be disposed of after each cleaning. Hands should be cleaned immediately after taking off the gloves with soap and water or hand disinfectant. If it is necessary to use reusable gloves, these should only be used for Covid-19 cleaning operations and should not be shared between workers. Re-usable gloves should be washed with detergent and water after use and dried.
2. Clean surfaces thoroughly with detergent and water. Always clean from the cleanest to the dirtiest surfaces. This prevents the transfer of germs to cleaner surfaces and physically removes and disposes of the maximum possible amount of germs.
3. If a disinfectant is used, first clean the surface with a detergent and then use the disinfectant. It is also possible to use a combined detergent and disinfectant. The disinfectant should be applied with a disposable paper towel or a disposable cloth, if this is not possible, wash and dry the used cloth before reuse.
4. The disinfectant should remain on the surface until the virus is killed (contact time) - as specified by the manufacturer. If no time is specified, leave to take effect for at least 10 minutes.

Basic contents of the cleaning checklist for the workplace

Depending on the company, the situation in the workplace varies. Nevertheless, there are some basic aspects that belong in every cleaning plan for the workplace. These include the division into two cleaning situations:

1. Routine cleaning

At the workplace, the surfaces should be cleaned at least daily. Particular attention should be paid to surfaces that are frequently touched (e.g. tabletops, door handles, light switches, desks, toilets, taps, TV remote controls, kitchen surfaces and cabinet handles). Ideally, the surfaces should also be regularly disinfected after cleaning.

Surfaces and fittings should be cleaned more often if they:

• are visibly soiled
• used repeatedly by several people (e.g. trolleys, cash registers, vending machines)
• after every spill

2. Cleaning plan in case of suspicion or infection with COVID-19

If a person who has been at the workplace is suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19, all areas (e.g. offices, bathrooms and common areas) suspected of being contaminated must be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected.

The affected area should be sealed off before cleaning and disinfection. If possible, open external doors and windows to increase air circulation and then start cleaning and disinfecting the workplace and other work areas. Use disposable wipes and PSA which is then disposed of in a plastic waste bag with the household waste.

Besides the division into two cleaning situations, each cleaning plan for the workplace should contain information on the following four points:

1. What is needed for cleaning and disinfecting
2. When to clean
3. How to clean
4. What's left to do after cleaning?

Use a digital app for the cleaning schedule at the workplace

Many companies continue to produce their checklists on paper even in times of digitalisation. Often a force of habit or because there is a lack of knowledge about the advantages a digital solution offers for daily work.

Lumiform's mobile app enables any type of quality and safety inspection to be easily performed using a tablet or smartphone - online or offline. The desktop software is used to create checklists for cleaning from the workstation and later analyze the collected data. This significantly reduces the risk of quality losses, infections, and documentation errors.

With Lumiform, existing checklists can be immediately adapted to new legal requirements. This way, all employees always have access to the latest version of the checklist. The digital all companies in their daily work, even after Corona many more advantages:

• The flexible form construction kit makes it possible to convert any individual paper list into a digital checklist within a few minutes.
• With over 12,000 ready-made templates fast and secure digital startup.
• Generate real-time data via internal processes.
• This makes quality and safety measurable and, based on data, continuously optimizes processes.
• Get an overview of everything that's happening on the ground.
• Increase the efficiency of internal processes: Through more efficient communication within the team and with management, as well as faster reporting of incidents, they are solved up to 4 times faster than before.

To make it easier for companies and their employees to clean at the workplace, we have compiled a checklist template that can be used free of charge with the Lumiform App. It's a breeze to adapt it to the requirements of the company or government agencies.