The Role of Chemical Dispensers in Supporting Health and Wellness

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In an age when viruses can quickly spread throughout work, school and other public environments, it’s crucial for facility managers to understand the latest outbreak updates and best practices for keeping indoor environments clean during periods of elevated illness.

Within this environment, chemical-dispensing systems help clean and disinfect surfaces by measuring the right amount of chemical and water required for cleaning and disinfecting solutions. It’s important for facility managers to understand the impact of an outbreak such as COVID-19, the role chemical dispensers play in upholding cleanliness and best practices for selection, installation and maintenance.

Key ways to reduce the risk of being exposed to the disease include promoting proper hand hygiene, limiting exposure and using the proper cleaning tools.

Updating the janitorial closet before and during an outbreak is a great way to ensure your facility has the right equipment on hand for periods that require extra stock. Using the right tools — such as disinfectant solutions that thoroughly kill pathogens, microfibre cloths and mops and chemical-dispensing systems —supports employees as they work to kill germs. It’s also important to increase cleaning frequencies to further control the spread of germs.

Disinfecting Considerations
According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces is a preventative action to help reduce the spread of respiratory diseases. During an outbreak or pandemic, it’s important to pay special attention to high-touch surfaces when disinfecting, such as restroom counters and sink handles, floors, light switches, door handles, desks, office telephones and more.

To promote health and well-being in facilities, clean and disinfect regularly. Surfaces that are visibly soiled, such as food-contact surfaces in a kitchen or floors, should be cleaned and disinfected immediately. At minimum, clean and disinfect surfaces to kill germs on a daily basis and more often if cases of Coronavirus have been reported in your immediate area.

The Role of Chemical Dispensers
Manually measuring cleaning chemicals can put employees in harm’s way. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports 2.8-million people in the cleaning industry are exposed to potentially dangerous chemicals every day. Improper handling of chemicals can lead to spills, which could cause injuries such as burns and respiratory problems from fume inhalation. Additionally, using products at the wrong dilution can result in skin irritation and surface damage.

Amid the COVID-19 outbreak, the American Chemistry Council’s (ACC) Center for Biocide Chemistries (CBC) created a list of EPA pre-approved products to use against emerging enveloped viral pathogens. However, without proper dilution, these products won’t achieve their kill claims. If an employee cleans a surface with an improperly diluted solution, germs that cause illnesses, including COVID-19, could continue to survive on the surface for hours.
Chemical dispensers provide accuracy and safety, promote a healthy environment and enhance sustainability and cost savings.

When considering investing in a dispensing system, it’s important to review the system’s
features as well as tips for installation, training and maintenance.

When looking for a dispensing system, best practices include:
• Determining who will use the system and how often — a user-friendly interface will simplify training and encourage employees to conduct frequent cleaning.

• Making a list of the types of products you use most — if your business uses numerous types of chemicals, you’ll need a dispenser capable of managing multiple products without chemical carry-over issues.

• Prioritizing water flow and pressure — all buildings have different water pressure and flow and it can vary throughout the day, impacting the dilution of a cleaning or disinfecting solution.

• Searching for a smart system — some dispensing systems feature technology that offers predictive maintenance, remote monitoring and automated adjustments, including Hydro’s Dositec Multi-Washer Systems.

• Selecting the right area to install the system — dispensing systems should be installed in an area that is easy to access and where water is readily available.

To promote the health and well-being of employees and guests, every facility must
prioritize regular cleaning and disinfection. Having the right tools in place supports health and wellness and helps facilities better maintain cleanliness and improve productivity during times of an outbreak.

Article courtesy of U.S.-based Hydro

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