Trauma Center Prioritizes Effective And Efficient Dusting

Contributed by 3M

Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center is the only Level-1 trauma center in northern San Mateo County. In total, the facility is 448,000 square-feet and treats more than 3,900 patients, annually. Additionally, the hospital provides 24-hour trauma care, is the first Acute Care Unit for the elderly in California and is the only World Hospital Organization “Baby Friendly” hospital in San Francisco.

Following renovations in 2015, Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center now has approximately 390,000 square-feet of flooring that requires daily cleaning. The majority of the facility is comprised of Nora Flooring — a sound-absorbent and slip-resistant flooring system — with Terrazzo flooring installed in the lobby.

Other unique design elements that require the implementation of a comprehensive, multi-faceted cleaning plan include:
• Laminate artwork throughout the building
• An intensive care unit featuring a 360-degree layout
• A dedicated elderly unit featuring non-glare floors and special lighting
• Approximately 250 private patient rooms

Additional cleaning challenges include the facility’s expanded trauma center and the existence of several high-activity zones, including the emergency room.

As a Level-1 trauma center providing inpatient, outpatient, emergency and diagnostic services, the facility management team at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center consistently encounters unique cleaning challenges that need to be addressed quickly and efficiently. As a result, training and easy-to-use products are paramount for success.

In an effort to ensure cleanliness throughout the facility and the safety of its patients, the hospital partnered with 3M to identify the best cleaning solutions for its unique facility and selected the 3M Easy Trap Duster — sweep and dust sheets for its dusting needs.

As an early adopter of the 3M Easy Trap Duster, the hospital’s cleaning and maintenance staff of 197 individuals has been utilizing the product for approximately 10 years. Specifically, hospital porters begin the floor cleaning process by dusting with Easy Trap Duster to eliminate dust and debris. Without this step, a haze can be seen on the floor, impacting the facility’s overall appearance. The product also prolongs the life of the floor as it eliminates the need for excess chemicals or harsh stripping and scrubbing.

A proactive dusting strategy can also help reduce the risk of secondary infections by eliminating dust that may contain harmful microorganisms. Remarkably, a recent study demonstrated that C. difficile spores can survive for months in dust. Designed to trap and hold up to eight times more debris than a conventional flat-fringed cotton mop, the 3M Easy Trap Duster provides an effective solution for dust control. Most importantly, the product is safer for employees as it captures dust without spreading it and can be used on both wet and dry surfaces. 

 “The 3M Easy Trap Duster has been a great tool. If we just wet mop the floor with a microfiber mop, a slight film is left on the surface. However, if we use the Easy Trap Duster before mopping, it eliminates the debris on the floor,” said Francisco Saenz, EVS Director at the Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center.

Saenz also noted that the versatility of the 3M Easy Trap Duster allows his porters to utilize the product for high-dusting, eliminating the need for other tools and taking the guesswork out of surface cleaning.