Disinfecting workplaces is an area where many companies need help right now. If a business plans to have employees do the cleaning, managers need to be aware of the OSHA standards on personal protective equipment and hazardous chemicals.
Anything that’s used in the same way as a consumer product is exempt from regulations, but once you start asking people to wipe down something every time they touch it, or requiring them to clean something three or four times a day, that’s no longer consumer use.
In these cases, companies must follow OSHA guidelines to provide the proper PPE and training, along with the safety data sheets, or SDS, for those chemicals. They may require industrial hygiene surveys or monitoring to determine how much is going to be used, and whether there are risks that it could irritate people, especially if it gets into your ventilation or has a smell associated with it.
If an employee tests positive for COVID-19, make sure you have a plan in place. Don’t let anyone back to work until you track all the places that employee has been and completely clean those areas.
Need supplies in your COVID efforts? MSC can help.
Do you have any tips you'd like to share about how you're working to keep your workplace up to COVID standards? Please share with us!