How Cleaning Teams Prepare for the Next Infectious Outbreak

With new virus variants and emerging threats like Monkeypox making headlines, building service contractors (BSCs) face increasing pressure from clients to maintain consistent, high-quality cleaning protocols. Clients expect BSCs to take proactive steps to address potential risks and assure they are prepared for any situation. But what does that look like?  

“Being prepared means each cleaning department or company has the proper protocols, risk assessments, trained staff, and necessary cleaning supplies in place,” says Brant Insero, chief global education officer of ISSA, Rosemont, Illinois. “It also involves ongoing education on infection prevention, proper use of PPE (personal protective equipment), and disinfection protocols.”  

He also underscores the need to stay informed about infectious disease trends and knowing where to access reliable information. This includes sources such as state and local public health departments, national public health agencies, and global organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO). 

The front lines of cleaning — the cleaning technicians themselves — also must be ready for the next outbreak. The workers must be aware of daily preventive measures, effective products, and correct procedures to combat the spread of infections. 

Being ready can save lives during a health crisis and set clients’ minds at ease, according to Insero.  

“Facility tenants, visitors, and building occupants want assurance that they are safe in every building they enter,” he says. “It’s important that cleaning organizations highlight their trained staff and communicate to stakeholders that they are following high standards through accreditations and certifications.” 

Put Policy First 

Preparedness begins with a solid foundation built on sound policy, according to Shari Solomon, president of CleanHealth Environmental LLC, Silver Spring, Maryland. 

According to Solomon, the first step is to do a risk assessment for the facility to determine which pathogens might be a problem. For example, a hospital might be more concerned with C. diff or MRSA than the common cold, as these outbreaks can spread quickly among immunocompromised individuals. In comparison, an elementary school might focus on preventing the flu or COVID-19 from spreading.  

Next, “it is important to identify risk and focus on the mitigation with proper disinfection,” Insero adds. “When identifying risk, is it not only important to understand emerging pathogens but the high-risk areas in the facility.” 

Once risks are known, BSCs can develop a plan of attack for an outbreak. Solomon says BSCs must create a strategic plan instead of resorting to a blanket solution like spraying bleach on every surface.  

“You want a comprehensive cleaning and disinfection policy,” she says. “And the components of that policy are going to be the tools, supplies, equipment and chemicals that are used.”  

The policy should also address roles and responsibilities. For example, who cleans what, and how frequently should it be done?

“Every time we do an audit, we find gaps. We discover that no one is cleaning certain components or portions of the building,” Solomon says. “Policies need to specify the frequency of cleaning, what is being cleaned, and who is doing the cleaning. And they need to identify high-touch surface areas and set a cleaning schedule for them.”  

This seems simple, but experts agree that it is often overlooked. BSCs should train their frontline cleaning staff to direct their efforts toward eliminating soil, dirt, and debris, which are feeding grounds for bacteria. 

Training is also an essential part of the policy, but it cannot be completed in a single session. Staff should be trained during onboarding, but there should also be ongoing training to both reaffirm past teachings and share new policies and procedures. The policy also should include details on how cleanliness will be assessed.  

For example, “Will an ATP (adenosine triphosphate) meter be used or a fluorescent light, and how often will such validation occur?” Solomon asks.  

Recording this data will help BSCs support cleaning efforts to clients, but clean surfaces are only one component to a healthy facility. Clean air is another.  

Promote Proper Product Selection