Planning To Reopen - Transit Stations

5/14/2020 (Permalink)

This is the ninth installment in a series of blogs that we hope will help our communities begin to prepare for the state of Massachusetts to reopen. During his Wednesday press conference Governor Charlie Baker said he expects to announce a decision on whether to extend or lift the current stay-at-home advisory on Monday. While any change in the stay-at-home advisory  remains uncertain it is important to continue our preparations for reopening the Commonwealth.

To get a head of the curve the following is the CDC's industry specific best practices for reopening Transit Stations.   

What to know

For transit station workers, potential sources of exposure include having close contact with a transit passenger with COVID-19, by touching surfaces contaminated with coronavirus, or by touching your mouth, nose, or eyes. The CDC's understanding of how the virus spreads is evolving. Most evidence shows that the virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person:

• Between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet).
• Through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks.

How to protect transit workers

• Limit close contact with others by maintaining a distance of at least 6 feet, when possible.
• Avoid touching surfaces often touched by transit passengers.
• Practice routine cleaning and disinfection of frequently touched surfaces, following the directions on the cleaning product’s label.
• Use gloves if required to touch surfaces contaminated by body fluids.
• Proper hand hygiene is an important infection control measure. Wash your hands regularly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol.
• Key times to clean hands in general include:
  • Before, during, and after preparing food
  • Before eating food
  • After using the toilet
  • After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
• Additional times to clean hands on the job include:
  • Before and after work shifts
  • Before and after work breaks
  • After touching frequently touched surfaces
  • After putting on, touching, or removing cloth face coverings
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.

What to clean 

Perform routine cleaning and disinfection of all frequently touched non-porous surfaces within the transit station on a daily basis. These include kiosks, ticket machines, turnstiles, benches, handrails, garbage cans, door handles, payphones, restroom surfaces (e.g., faucets, toilets, counters), elevator buttons, and system maps. If the surfaces are visibly dirty, they should be cleaned prior to disinfectant application. For soft or porous surfaces, remove?any visible contamination if present?and clean with appropriate cleansers indicated for use on these surfaces.

Appropriate disinfectants include

• EPA’s Registered Antimicrobial Products for Use Against Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, the cause of COVID-19, are expected?to be effective against COVID-19 based on data for harder to kill viruses. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for all cleaning and disinfection products (e.g., concentration, application method, and contact time).? A?list of products with EPA-approved emerging viral pathogens claims is available at: Approved Disinfectants. 
• Diluted household bleach solutions prepared according to the manufacturers label for disinfection can be used if appropriate for the surface. Follow manufacturer’s instructions for application and proper ventilation. Check to ensure the product is not past its expiration date. Never mix household bleach with ammonia or any other cleanser. Unexpired household bleach will be effective against coronaviruses when properly diluted.
• Alcohol solutions with at least 70% alcohol.

It is important to remember to wear the personal protective equipment (PPE) required for using the cleaning and disinfection products according to the product manufacturer’s instructions. Also, after removing PPE, wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Work uniforms worn during cleaning and disinfecting should be laundered afterwards. When possible, launder items using the warmest appropriate water setting for the items and dry items completely. Once again, clean your hands after handling laundry by washing your hands with soap and water or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available.

We will continue to share with you guidance from the CDC, FDA, OSHA and the Governor's office to follow as we prepare for reopening. Also, we at SERVPRO of Newton/Wellesley know that not every business has access to the resources necessary to meet these strict guidelines. For those businesses, we are here to help!

Specialized Training

The Disaster Remediation Teams at SERVPRO of Newton/Wellesley are specialists in cleaning services and we adhere to the highest cleaning and sanitation standards. We are prepared to clean and disinfect your home or business, according to protocols set forth by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We have years of experience in dealing with biological contaminants, and we will go beyond the scope of work of "normal daily cleaning". Call SERVPRO of Newton/Wellesley today for a free consultation - (617) 332-9000.

All of us here at SERVPRO of Newton/Wellesley want you and your loved ones to stay safe and know that we will make it through this together! Rest assured, we will continue to do our best to keep you up-to-date and informed!