Categories: Commercial and Industrial CleaningHealth and Safety

Reopening Your Business In Accordance with State & Federal Guidelines

With new guidelines for opening the U.S. now being communicated at the federal level, business owners should prepare for what that reopening may look like in their state and local community. Additionally, the U.S. government is recommending that employers that are currently closed should open only after their state and local government allow for it. But they must develop and implement appropriate policies, in accordance with Federal, State, and local regulations and guidance, and follow industry best-practices, regarding:

Social distancing
Temperature checks
Business travel
Face coverings
Sanitation
Use and disinfection of common and high-traffic areas

Employers should monitor their workforce for indicative symptoms and by no means allow symptomatic (visibly sick) people to physically return to work until cleared by a medical provider. Business owners are also being asked by the federal government to develop and implement policies and procedures for workforce contact tracing following a positive employee coronavirus (COVID-19) test.

The OSHA General Duty Clause, 29 USC 654, section 5(a)(1) requires that employers protect their employees from recognized hazards. As an employer, it is your duty to provide a safe work environment, so having a plan in place should someone be infected with COVID-19 is critical. Screening and testing sites are becoming more prevalent and provide symptomatic individuals and trace contacts with access to results to prevent the spread. Contact your state health department for more information.

Read, ‘How to Ensure Your Employees Are Safe to Return to Work After COVID-19.’

Disinfection of High-Traffic Areas

High-traffic or high-touch point areas in workplaces should be cleaned multiple times every day using EPA-approved disinfectants.

Examples of high-touch areas in workplaces:

Stair railings
Bathroom doors
Door knobs/door handles
Water fountain buttons
Faucets
Elevator buttons
Light switches
Computer keyboards/mouse
Telephones
Remote controls
Tables
Countertops
POS systems
Credit card terminals

Cleaning & Disinfecting Are Not Equal

Remember cleaning and disinfecting are not the same thing. The CDC makes a strong differentiation.

According to the CDC:

Cleaning refers to the removal of germs, dirt, and impurities from surfaces. Cleaning does not kill germs, but by removing them, it lowers their numbers and the risk of spreading infection.
Disinfecting refers to using chemicals to kill germs on surfaces. This process does not necessarily clean dirty surfaces or remove germs, but by killing germs on a surface after cleaning, it can further lower the risk of spreading infection.

Professionals trained in infectious disease disinfection have the skills, resources, certifications, and equipment to complete COVID-19 disinfection safely—giving you peace of mind that you, your family, your employees, and your customers are well protected.

Workplace Disinfection Services

If worse comes to worst and your business does happen to experience a COVID-19 infection, there’s no need to panic. Aftermath offers COVID-19 cleanup to disinfect commercial workplaces. We adhere to a stringent coronavirus demobilization process for our equipment, trucks, and waste storage areas and also have the proper licensing/permitting abiding by federal, state and local regulations.

Contact our team for more information on our coronavirus cleaning methods or call 877-769-6917. We also invite you to read more on the Guidelines for Opening Up America Again and what it means for business owners.