Page 34 - OHS, March 2021

FALL PROTECTION
Building a Comprehensive Floor Safety Strategy
Floor disinfection is a safety routine that often falls into the background, but with the ongoing presence of COVID-19, it had become extremely important.
BY PATRICK KEHOE
The way people work changed tremendously in the year 2020. Employees in many industries discovered they could be just as productive working virtually as they
1
were in the office. However, some industries, such as
the manufacturing industry, simply can’t function in a virtual environment.2 Most industrial workplaces, which often play a critical role in the supply chain, have stayed open during the COVID-19 pandemic, creating a new challenge for safety directors and facility managers alike to keep their workers safe.
Priorities have shifted from the typical facility cleaning and safety protocols and procedures to now also protecting employees from a new danger: COVID-19. Disinfection and safety measures have become more important than ever before, and that starts from the ground up—with the floors.
Dedication to Disinfection
While disinfection efforts have always been important, remaining diligent is more important than ever. While you’ve likely been using disinfectants on high-touch surfaces like doorknobs and desks, floor disinfection is sometimes overlooked as an essential part of a facility cleaning plan. As one of your largest high-touch surfaces, it is essential to be proactive in preventing the spread of harmful pathogens that can congregate on floors.
Before starting your floor disinfection process, thorough dusting should be done to trap, collect and discard dirt, dust and debris that has traveled into the facility. It is important to make sure your dusting tools actually trap dust and don’t just redistribute debris elsewhere.3
After the dust is cleared, a disinfectant should be applied to
30 Occupational Health & Safety | MARCH 2021
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