Communal Area Disinfection Protocol

Owned by
Nolting, Don D
Last updated: Oct 02, 2023 by
Paige Stetson
3 min read

Cleaning SOP for All BIC Communal Waiting Areas

First, Protect Yourself, Your Participant & Guests, and Other Lab Personnel!

  • The cleaning and disinfecting products used in the BIC (PDI Sani-Cloth AF3) are relatively safe but you should take precautions when using the AF3 wipes. The AF3 wipes are effective against SARS-CoV-2.
  • Wear gloves for all tasks in the cleaning process.
  • Wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds after cleaning or use the automatic hand sanitizer stations located throughout each BIC facility. Be sure to wash your hands immediately after removing gloves.
    • If hands are visibly dirty, always wash hands with soap and water.
    • If soap and water are not available and hands are not visibly dirty, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol, and wash with soap and water as soon as you can.
  • Special considerations should be made for people with asthma. Some cleaning and disinfection products can trigger asthma. Learn more about reducing your chance of an asthma attack while disinfecting to prevent COVID-19.

Disinfect Communal Areas Safely After Each Scanning Session

  • The PDI AF3 cloths can be used for both cleaning and disinfection, clean visibly dirty surfaces with one or two AF3 cloths before disinfecting the surface with a third. More than likely surfaces in the BIC will only need to be wiped down with one cloth.

  • The PDI AF3 cloths are one of the products on the EPA List that are effective against COVID-19.
  • Always follow the directions on the label to ensure safe and effective use of the product. The label will include safety information and application instructions. Keep disinfectants out of the reach of children. Many products recommend keeping the surface wet with a disinfectant for a certain period (see product label). For the AF3 wipes, 3 minutes of wet time is recommended. The BIC facilities are kept at temperatures and humidity that should allow for a 3-minute wet time with one or two wipes. Make sure to close the AF3 wipe lids in order to keep the cloths wet and prevent drying out.

  • Always take necessary safety precautions.
    • Ensure adequate ventilation while using the product. Using the AF3 wipes does not require more ventilation than is already provided.
    • Wear gloves. Gloves should be removed carefully to avoid contamination of the wearer and the surrounding area. Additional PPE, such as glasses or goggles, might be required depending on the cleaning/disinfectant products being used and whether there is a risk of a splash.

  • Again, use chemical disinfectants safely! Always read and follow the directions on the label of cleaning and disinfection products to ensure safe and effective use.
    • High-touch areas include but are not limited to the following:
      • pens, counters, tables, doorknobs, light switches, handles, button boxes, elevator buttons, desks, keyboards, intercoms, phones, tablets, cables, faucets, and sinks.
    • Wear gloves and consider glasses or goggles for potential splash hazards to the eyes if necessary.
    • Use only the amount recommended on the label.
    • Wipe down all hard surfaces and those areas that are “high-touch.”
    • Do not mix products or chemicals.
    • Do not eat, drink, breathe, or inject cleaning and disinfection products into your body or apply them directly to your skin. They can cause serious harm.
    • Do not wipe or bathe people or pets with any surface cleaning and disinfection products.

  • Laundries such as clothing, towels, and linens
    • All scrubs, sheets, and blankets should be put in the laundry hampers at all BIC facilities.
    • If any laundry supplies are running low please a ticket to https://ut.service-now.com/sp?id=ut_bs_service_detail&sys_id=5a6d91631bff3c94c9eeeb93604bcb28 informing us of the location and item that needs to be resupplied.
      • This is especially important IF you have taken the last item of something: be it a certain scrub size, the last sheet, or the last blanket!
    • Laundry will be picked up 1-2 times per week by professional laundry services for cleaning. Laundry items will be resupplied by BIC staff as quickly as possible.
    • If you want to take extra precaution use gloves to remove blankets and sheets from participants in order to put them in the hamper.
    • Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer after handling laundry, even if you used gloves.



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