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Cleaning and Disinfecting
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Faculty and staff should be mindful of potential risks in a workplace and take appropriate action to protect your personal health. UB Environment, Health & Safety can provide guidance to protect UB workers from adverse health effects due to these, and other, environmental causes.
COVID-19 Related Cleaning Practices
In general, UB has returned to pre-COVID daily cleaning and disinfecting practices. The CDC advises that unless a space has been exposed by a COVID-positive individual, cleaning once a day is usually enough to sufficiently remove virus that may be on surfaces and help maintain a healthy facility. In the event that an individual is confirmed to have COVID-19 or other virus warranting special attention, UB will follow CDC guidelines in cleaning and disinfecting the exposed areas.
These cleaning practices include:
- If more than 3 days have passed since the person who is sick or diagnosed with COVID-19 has been in the space, no additional cleaning (beyond regular cleaning practices) is needed.
- If less than 24 hours have passed since the person who is sick or diagnosed with COVID-19 has been in the space, clean and disinfect the space.
- If more than 24 hours have passed, cleaning is enough. Disinfecting may also be done depending on certain conditions.
- Close off areas used by the person who is sick until after cleaning and disinfecting.
- Wait at least several hours before cleaning and disinfecting
- Focus on the immediate areas occupied by the person who is sick or diagnosed with COVID-19 unless they have already been cleaned and disinfected.
- During cleaning, opening doors and windows; increase air circulation in the area if possible
- Do NOT deactivate central HVAC systems. These systems provide better filtration capabilities and introduce outdoor air into the areas that they serve.
- Use the appropriate cleaning products.
- Wear mask and gloves.
- Vacuum the space if needed.
How to Disinfect Surfaces
We all need to do our part and wipe down personal work spaces, private offices and commonly touched areas to stop the spread of illness.
- Wipe surface with an antibacterial wipe or alcohol-based spray.
- Allow surfaces to remain wet for three to four minutes before allowing them to air dry or wiping away.
- Discard wipe or paper towel immediately after use; wash hands.
Cleaning Products and Supplies
UB University Facilities’ custodial team uses a broad range of disinfecting products, all of which are EPA- and CDC-certified for eradicating COVID-19 and other contagions. All disinfectant products are used according to the manufacturers’ recommendations.
- Centrally scheduled classrooms are equipped with wall-mounted sanitizing wipe dispenser to enable faculty, staff and students to wipe down commonly used surfaces (e.g., keyboards, remote controls, desks). These Benzalkonium Chloride sanitizing wipes are FDA and EPA approved for use on hands and for destroying the coronavirus.
- Individual departments are responsible for procuring cleaning supplies for their areas.
Cleaning Buses and Shuttles
- UB Parking & Transportation Services disinfects Stampede buses and UB shuttles twice daily.
- High-touch surfaces such as handrails and seat backs are wiped down periodically throughout the day.
- Transit team members have been trained to use disinfecting fog to thoroughly sanitize campus shuttles.
- Zipcar cleans its car-sharing automobiles with antiviral and antimicrobial solutions and has deployed periodic sanitizing procedures.
Cleaning of Clinical, Research and Laboratory Spaces
- Clinical or counseling areas that are open to the public are cleaned overnight.
- Additional cleaning throughout the day will need to be supplemented by departmental staff as needed.
- Departmental leaders for clinical spaces are encouraged to work with Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) regarding the procurement and proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE).
- Research and lab spaces are cleared of trash and floors are cleaned daily during the work week.
- Because lab spaces are considered controlled environments, UB Custodial teams have limited access to these spaces.
- More extensive general cleaning and sanitizing will continue to be the responsibility of laboratory personnel.
- For more information, visit the Research & Economic Development COVID-19 page.
- University Facilities does not clean lab equipment. Lab equipment should be sanitized according to manufacturers’ recommendations.
Cleaning and Disinfecting FAQs
In all of its facilities – including in residence halls, dining halls and on university buses/shuttles -- the university will adhere to hygiene, cleaning, and disinfection requirements from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Department of Health. Cleaning protocols are reviewed and adapted on an ongoing basis.
Cleaning refers to the standard custodial practices that target the removal of dirt and impurities from surfaces. Disinfecting refers to the use of specialized sanitizing products to kill microorganism such as the COVID-19 virus. The products used by UB are EPA-certified to destroy COVID-19 and other contagions.
An area or surface is no longer considered disinfected once a person touches it. This is why frequent handwashing, wearing face masks, social distancing and avoiding touching one’s face are still the best ways to prevent the spread of Covid-19 and other contagions. UB custodial staff sanitize frequently touched surfaces throughout the day, but frequent handwashing will go far to keeping campus surfaces clean.
Areas of high traffic continue to be the greatest priority. Some changes may be expected, based on the time of year or changes in protocol resulting from public health concerns, such as COVID-19, as dictated by the university leadership.
TThe Student Union is visited by more people than any single building on the North Campus. As such, the Student Union receives regularly scheduled custodial cleaning during our three staff shifts throughout the day and night. UB Custodial teams will continue to prioritize high touch surfaces and restrooms in the Student Union.
To properly disinfect against COVID-19, follow the instructions on the label of disinfectant sprays and products. Disinfectants must be left wet on the surface for recommended durations to be effective. In many cases, the disinfectant can be left to air dry, so areas can be sprayed before staff leave and left until the next work day. Many spray chemical products recommend the use of gloves and/or safety glasses during application.
Electronics such as computers, tablets, touch screens, keyboards and cell phones should be disinfected based on the individual manufacture’s recommendations for each specific product.
- Center for Disease Control, “Cleaning and Disinfecting your Facility”
- Environmental Protection Agency, “Guidance for Cleaning and Disinfecting.”
University Facilities is following NYS and Department of Health guidelines for ensuring the safety of potable water lines, including flushing of water lines after unoccupied periods, to ensure a fresh supply of water with adequate residual chlorine concentration to kill pathogenic organisms. Building occupants are advised, after returning to campus after prolonged absence, to allow the water to run for 20-30 seconds before using water for drinking.
DDuring the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, all UB units were provided with a limited amount of cleaning supplies. Units are now responsible for procuring their own cleaning supplies. Please work directly with Purchasing and Contract Services to procure those supplies.
- UB Custodial cleans and sanitizes classrooms during overnight hours.
- Centrally scheduled classrooms are equipped with wall-mounted sanitizing wipe dispensers. These Benzalkonium Chloride sanitizing wipes are FDA and EPA approved for use on hands and for destroying the coronavirus.
- Individual departments are responsible for cleaning and procuring cleaning supplies for their departmental classrooms.
- Adjustments to levels of service will be made based on class schedules and direction from UB senior leadership.
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