Page 83 - Security Today, May/June 2022

and that “level of cleanliness” is one of a number of factors involved.
Enhanced Environmental Hygiene in Action
Over the past three decades, increasing attention has been given through applied research and resultant improved practices to providing healthy building environments in order to protect occupants and promote their productivity. It includes, in particular, school environments, where proper operation and maintenance provides acceptable air quality and physical cleanliness that promotes student learning; reduces the rate of illnesses and absenteeism in children, teachers, and staff; and effectively works to prevent and control disease outbreaks.
Within this framework, an understanding of the science of cleaning and disinfection in schools, supported by studies of norovirus and influenza outbreaks, as well as experience with the COVID-19 pandemic, can help modify custodial practices to routinely include enhanced environmental hygiene in their protocols.
In the development of these protocols in schools, custodial and facility management personnel work together to:
· Identify surfaces considered as high-contact touch points associated
with risk of disease transmission.
· Facilitate the cleaning of high-contact surfaces in key areas, such as
classrooms, media centers, and others as identified, using an EPA-
approved one-step cleaner/disinfectant.
· Facilitate the rapid disinfection of frequent touchpoints using an
EPA-approved aerosol disinfectant spray in common areas, such as hallway railings and knobs, push plates and breaker bars on entrance and exit doors, restroom faucets and stall door and flush handles, and locker room handles and bars.
· Ensurethatcleaningequipmentismaintainedandcleanedproperly
to reduce the risk of spreading contamination.
· Address custodian health and safety by ensuring the supply and
proper use of basic, disposable personal protective equipment (PPE), including gloves, and as necessary, face masks (K95) and coveralls; and be trained in the safe storage and use of chemical products; and engage in frequent handwashing.
Once cleaning and disinfection protocols are in place, schools may wish to evaluate performance 2 or 3 times each year, using ATP testing. An explanation of this process has been developed and published by the ISSA in its ISSA Clean Standard 0714-2014, Measuring the Cleanliness of K-12 Schools. Information can be found at: https://www.issa.com/wp-content/uploads/cleanstandard_ how-to-use_inhouseservice.pdf
Conclusion
An examination of the science of cleaning tells us that when school districts adopt a custodial program of enhanced environmental hygiene, they are making a profound investment in promoting the health and well-being of their students, teachers, and staff. In particular, when children are healthy and in attendance, their learning process is enhanced, and their academic performance is more likely to be maximized.
Dr. Gene Cole has 40 years of applied research experience, with application to the cleaning and restoration industry. His focus is indoor microbial ecology, reduction of pollutant reservoirs and sources, bioaerosols, residential, school, and workplace exposure assessment and control, cleaning and restoration, and biocides. He is a member of the Science Advisory Council of the Cleaning Industry Research Institute (CIRI).

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