Hard surface disinfection and hand sanitation crucial after lockdown ends

26-May-2020 - Last updated on 26-May-2020 at 11:07 GMT

Surface in public area being cleaned. Pic: Christeyns Food Hygiene

UK based Christeyns Food Hygiene, which manufactures specialist hygiene solutions, is stressing the importance of hard surface hygiene in reducing the risks of future coronavirus contamination and protecting staff.

“In the coming months, as the nation goes back to work and a return towards life as normal, there will be a long battle to face and that will be keeping touch points and working spaces as hygienically clean as possible,” Graham Hunneman, director at CFH, said.

“For many industry sectors the, often overlooked, area of contact point hygiene will need to be addressed differently than it was prior to the pandemic. In order to help avoid a second wave, hygiene and cleaning routines need to be enhanced across the board.”

There are multiple touch points people encounter during a ‘normal’ working day, such as door handles and buttons, escalator handrails, touch screens and vending machines, as we travel to work and move around the work environment.

The role played by cleaning staff will need to take on a more comprehensive function, to include regular, effective sanitization on multiple hard surfaces, Christeyns Food Hygiene said.

Research is ongoing into Covid-19, but evidence has shown infectivity on hard surfaces can remain for up to several days in the right conditions. It is worth noting that according to the WHO,the advice given is on cleaning and disinfection and not disinfection alone. The use of a product that combines the best attributes of both a detergent and a disinfectant, or sanitizer, would be the best choice.

Christeyns said its products Bacticlense, Mida San 311 KZ or HuwaSan TR3 enable users to both clean and disinfect surfaces, maximizing the removal of contaminants and the safety of operatives and members of the public.

All products have demonstrated virucidal efficacy under BS EN 14476 conditions and are safe to handle and suitable for use on all common hard surfaces.

Hand hygiene is the second area of focus, the company said. Much emphasis has been on the use of alcohol hand-sanitizers, however, if incorrectly used these products can provide a false sense of security.

A recent WHO reportstated the importance of hand washing, using soap and water, noting, “handwashing is a greater protective barrier to infection than wearing disposable gloves.”

The report goes on to comment that, “Hand sanitizers can be used as an additional measure but should not replace handwashing.”