Hospitals can be filled with infectious substances such as bodily fluids and airborne germs, quickly spread from one person to another. It is vital to practice hospital sanitation and cleaning guidelines to minimize spreading these infections.
Especially with the ongoing pandemic, it is essential to disinfect surfaces as part of COVID-19 sanitization. This helps protect your cleaners, hospital staff, and visitors from these harmful germs and viruses.
This article will run you through some essential hospital cleaning guidelines you can follow to keep everyone safe in your hospital facility.
Protective Equipment
Make sure to protect yourself and your team with personal protective equipment (PPE). This includes gloves, masks, or safety glasses. You may also want a paper gown to prevent infectious substances from getting on your clothes in a hospital setting.
Any sick staff should be kept away from healthcare facilities as they are more prone to infections and spread them to others.
EPA-Approved Disinfectants
The disinfectants you purchase at your local grocery may not be powerful enough to handle the germs and bacteria in a healthcare facility.
Ensure you use EPA-approved disinfectants that can kill 99% of germs in hospitals almost on contact. These chemicals don’t need to be left on the surface to linger before wiping or mopping.
It Is Better to Overclean
If you find an area that looks like it needs to be cleaned, it is best to clean it. Even if it was already cleaned previously, it is best to stay safe and clean it twice. You can remove any potentially infectious material lingering in the area.
Paying Attention to Details
Make sure to pay attention to the details in your rooms, hallways, and shared spaces. You will want to make sure the bed rails, phone handles, keypads, remote controls, surfaces, and trash bins are correctly disinfected.
To cover an entire area, you will want to mop backward in an “S” formation and move furniture that gets in the way. Make sure the HVAC units, light fixtures, and ceilings are dusted and cleaned as well.
OSHA’s Standard for Bloodborne Pathogens
OSHA has set standards for the disposal and cleaning of any equipment or site containing infectious bodily fluids such as blood and saliva.
Cleaning Your Equipment
Make sure you use clean equipment such as mops and gloves when cleaning. Replace the mop-heads and gloves after every use, and make sure to wash your hands.
PPE already used while cleaning a previous area should not be used while cleaning a new location as this can spread infections.
Don’t Miss Any Steps
There are various steps when cleaning a healthcare facility. Make sure you don’t forget anything by having a checklist your cleaning staff can check while cleaning.
Disposal of Sharp Objects
Healthcare facilities often deal with sharp objects such as needles or broken glass bottles. Have these items in a separate red sharps bin for proper disposal. Accidental cuts or needle pokes can result in severe infections.
Conclusion
As hospitals are filled with infectious substances, it is crucial to invest in proper cleaning services to ensure the germs and bacteria from these substances are not spread in the facility. Some standards need to be followed for cleaning methods, products, and disposal methods at healthcare facilities.
Are you looking for disinfecting services in Orange County for your healthcare facility? We at Say Clean Commercial Cleaning offer disinfecting services with highly disinfectant-grade cleaners. Get your free estimate today!
