Cleaning & Sanitation Protocols

Cleaning & Sanitation Protocols

Teachers College Facilities and Operations Department has developed and implemented procedures following the guidelines from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on how to help stop the spread of COVID-19. According to the CDC and the EPA, cleaning is the necessary first step of any disinfection process. Cleaning removes organic matter, salts, and visible soils, all of which interfere with microbial inactivation.  The goal is to focus heavily on “touch points” while maintaining regular cleaning and sanitation protocols.

High-touch surfaces are areas characterized as surfaces and objects which are regularly touched by multiple people on a daily basis. 

These areas include but are not limited to:

  • Entry doors and handles
  • stair rails
  • elevator buttons and elevator interiors
  • automatic door openers
  • water fountains
  • gym equipment
  • laundry rooms
  • classrooms
  • lounge furniture

The primary chemicals used to mitigate the presence of COVID-19 and other viruses at Teachers College are:

  1. 3M General Purpose Cleaner Concentrate 8L
    • Used to remove organic matter from surfaces
  2. 3M Neutral Quat Disinfectant Cleaner H23
    • EPA-approved disinfectant that is used to mitigate the presence of many viruses such as:
      • Hepatitis B and C
      • Herpes Simplex Type 1 and Type 2
      • Human coronavirus
      • HIV-1
      • Influenza
      • SARS and other pathogens

At the beginning of each shift, each member will first ensure that they have the proper personal protective equipment (PPE) to carry out their objectives.

The Facilities and Operations Department has modified cleaning schedules since the outbreak of the coronavirus, to increase the cleaning and sanitation frequency of high-touch areas mentioned above. Following the cleaning and disinfection of high-touch areas, facilities employees will then disinfect remaining areas, which are cleaned once daily.

Implementation:

  • All chemicals are mixed according to manufacturer’s specifications using a dispensing twist-n-fill system
  • Neutral Quat Disinfectant Cleaner is sprayed onto the surface that is being disinfected. It is then left for 7-10 minutes on the surface before it is wiped off with a clean rag
  • All soiled rags are returned to the project rooms, where they are laundered using a washing detergent and bleach and dried in a dryer

In the discovery that a person(s) has tested positive for COVID-19, the following procedure to sanitize and disinfect the room will be conducted:

Preparation for cleaning and disinfecting infected area:

  1. If the rooms have a shared air flow system, the air to that space will be turned off.
  2. Secure area using caution tape and signage to alert people NOT to enter.
  3. If possible, wait 3 days to enter the space infected with COVID-19 due to the fact that the virus can only survive 72 hours on all surfaces.
    1. The disinfecting and cleaning procedures for any space infected is the same if cleaned right away or after waiting 72 hours. 
  4. Retrieve biohazard kits located at Zankel 28 that contain the following items: rags, Neutral Quat Disinfectant Cleaner (H23), general purpose cleaner (8L), safety glasses, garbage bags, Tyvek suit, etc.
  5. Remove supplies from the bucket and line the bucket with a biohazard bag.
  6. All custodians are required to put on their PPE prior to entering any infected area for cleaning and disinfecting. Additionally, two pairs of gloves MUST be worn for cleaning all infected spaces. 

Steps for cleaning and disinfecting infected area:

  1. Spray/apply general purpose cleaner (8L) to all surfaces and carefully wipe with rags to remove any organic matter, salts, and visible soils that may be present.
  2. Place used rags in the designated garbage bag.
  3. Spray/apply Neutral Quat Disinfectant Cleaner (H23) on all surfaces and let it sit for 7-10 minutes before cleaning with clean rags.
  4. Place used rags in the designated garbage bag.
  5. When finished with Step 10, repeat steps 7 and 8.
  6. Once the room is clean and sanitized, place all cleaning supplies back in the bucket lined with the biohazard bag.
  7. Remove the outer pair of gloves only and place in the designated garbage bag.
  8. Remove goggles only (leave mask on) with inner gloves and spray with Neutral Quat Disinfectant Cleaner and place in the bucket lined with the biohazard bag for later cleaning.
  9. Remove and place Tyvek suit and place into the designated garbage bag.
  10. Remove caution tape and signage from the door, place it into the designated garbage bag.  Tie the garbage bag and go straight to the facilities project room.
  11. Place the garbage bag into the container for disposal.
  12. Remove inner gloves and dispose of them.
  13. Remove the face mask.
  14. Put on a new pair of gloves.
  15. Disinfect and clean supplies and tools (spray bottles and bucket) including all reusable PPE.
  16. Restack biohazard kits and place them in the identified location. 
  17. Wash hands with soap and water for 20 seconds or more.
  18. Inform management to restart airflow in cleaned space.

Conclusion

The goal of the Facilities and Operations Department is to keep everyone in the TC community safe, including our facilities by focusing on the cleaning and disinfection of high-touch surfaces while also maintaining the regular cleaning schedule. As new measures and guidelines from the CDC and the EPA on how to reduce the risk of infection of COVID-19 are released, we will adjust our methods to ensure that we are providing the safest environment possible.

Contact Us

Teachers College Preparedness

Phone: (212) 678-3111 Email: returntocampus@tc.columbia.edu

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