“My Scrubber is not moving forward or reverse. I’m not getting any running time”. This stays in the same theme as a series of posts I did a few months back that covered the most common automatic floor scrubber service requests we receive. To recap the first three
- I’m not getting any water on the floor.
- My scrubber is not picking up water the way it should
- My scrubber is not cleaning the floor properly or at least not the way it did when it was new.
So let’s take a look at why your automatic scrubber may not be moving forward or reverse or not providing the running time you would like to see.
Let’s rule out any mechanical issues. If your scrubber is not running at all it could be something as simple as a key switch, a malfunctioning solenoid or a bad wire connection. If you fix the switch and the machine works just fine we really don’t have an issue, just a broken part that needs replaced. Once we rule out any mechanical issues we get to the source of all power in an automatic scrubber; the batteries. Except for a very few types of scrubbers that plug into the wall for power and run on 110 Volt, AC current, almost all automatic scrubbers today operate on batteries. These batteries are deep cycle, 6 or 12 volt, wired in a series and provide either 24 volts or 36 volts of power for the scrubber. Here is where the problem usually lies. The batteries are the lifeblood of your automatic scrubber. They provide the power for the vacuum motor, power the brushes or scrubbing pads, the control valves that control water flow, the motors that lift the brushes, and the down pressure that is applied to the brushes or pads, sometimes lift the squeegee assembly, and move the machine forward and reverse. All these electrical components draw energy or amps from the batteries. If one of these is drawing too much current, we have a problem. Not only will drawing too much current reduce running time, it may also cause the particular motor to overheat causing premature failure. The battery charger may also be an issue. If it is not putting out the correct current to charge the batteries, the maximum running time will be limited.
Let’s take a look at these one at a time to determine what may be the problem.
Amp Draw:
An automatic scrubber may be able to perform at a high level but this all requires power. If your scrubber is being expected to scrub ramps, with maximum down pressure, and maximum water flow, the amp draw will be significantly higher than normal. This reduces running time. If you are using aggressive brushes on a textured floor surface you may get the cleaning results you want but the amp draw will increase and running time will drop. If you have clogs in your water recovery hoses, this can increase the amp draw in your vacuum motor. Debris caught in your brushes, banding or string wrapped around brushes can also make it harder for your brush motors to turn and increase amp draw. Make sure your auto scrubber is clean, and clear of all debris and you are using the appropriate pads or brushes for your application. This will help achieve longer running time.
Type of batteries:
Standard wet, deep cycle batteries are still the standard when it comes to good operation. If you have recently switched the type of batteries you are using, understand that running time may be affected. AGM or Gel batteries may have an impact on running time or longevity. I will cover this in a later blog. Just realize your machine running time depends on having the correct batteries.
Charging Batteries:
This may seem simple. Plug the battery charger into the automatic scrubber and into the wall outlet. Make sure it turns on, and walk away. Since most battery chargers today are fully automatic this usually works. The battery charger turns on and 6 to 8 hours later your batteries are at full capacity once again. This isn’t always the case as I have seen many times. Make sure the battery charger and the light switch are not on the same circuit. I have seen many times where the operator has plugged in the machine to charge, turned off the lights and left. However, if the light switch and the wall outlet are on the same circuit, the charger turns off when the lights turn off. The operator comes in the next day, turns on the lights, the battery charger comes on again and the scrubber is still charging. Everyone is perplexed as to why the machine isn’t charging and they have no running time. I have also seen instances where a company is having electrical work done. The electrical contractors shut the power off to do their work and the battery charger at the other end of the building turns off because of no power. The battery charger and the scrubber are then blamed for not working properly and I’m called for an unnecessary service call. In addition, when charging batteries, make sure the machine is in a well ventilated area.
Battery Charger:
If the batteries are not charging properly often it is the battery charger. Sometimes it is as simple as a bad fuse. Replace the fuse and the charger is ready to go. Make sure you use the appropriate fuse for the charger. It is often easy to mistake for a standard automotive fuse which will not work. They may look the same but the voltage is different. If it is more than that it is often simpler to replace to replace the entire charger.
Bad Batteries:
Finally, look at the batteries. If batteries are properly cared for, they should last several years and provide the appropriate running time for your scrubber. However even 1 bad cell in a battery can cause problems. Each cell in a battery is 2 Volts. Example, a 6 volt battery has 3 cells, each at 2 volts. A 36 volt system in an automatic scrubber may have 6 batteries, 6 volts each, each battery containing 3 cells. If one cell in one battery is bad, that drops the system to 34 volts to run the machine and that significantly reduces running time. If the scrubber continues to be run this way, it increases the chances another cell may go bad and the power supply is reduced by 2 volts with each bad cell. Eventually the machine will shut down completely and batteries will have to be replaced. To reduce the possibility of batteries going bad too soon follow these simple suggestions. Keep the batteries clean. Wipe off the batteries with a damp cloth after each use. Clean the battery posts to reduce buildup. Make sure the battery cables are tightly clamped onto the posts. Loose cables can cause arching and premature failure. Keep the batteries filled with distilled water. Check the battery levels every week and fill them to the appropriate fill line making sure the lead plates are completely covered. Fill the batteries after charging, not before. Charging raises the water level. If you fill the batteries before charging, the charging cycle may cause the batteries to overflow.
The most important factor is to purchase your automatic scrubber from a reliable, knowledgeable servicing distributor that can assist you with any concerns you may have about the operation or functioning of your scrubber. If you have questions or concerns about your scrubber please contact us anytime on our service and equipment request page. We will assist you in any way we can.
Electrostatic Disinfection: What, How, Why?
/in Maintenance, Rhiel TalkElectrostatics is not hard to understand. Remember when you were a kid and you rubbed a balloon against your head? Rubbing the balloon against hair forms an electrostatic force between the two objects. When you rub a balloon against your hair, the balloon steals electrons from your hair. This leaves your hair positively charged and the balloon negatively charged. Your hair will be attracted to the surface of the balloon because opposite charges attract.
Magnets are another simple illustration. Remember when you first discovered that two magnets snapped together and stuck like glue? When you held the two magnets close, you could feel them either attract (pull toward) or repel (push away). Magic? No, it’s simply magnetism at work. Magnetism isn’t exactly the same thing as electrostatics, but this example is good for visualizing the concept.
As we’ve seen from the above examples, opposite charges attract (pull towards each other) and like charges repel (push away from each other). Two positively charged things ( + and + ) will repel each other. Two negatively charged things ( – and – ) will repel each other. On the other hand, one positively charged thing ( + ) and one negatively charged thing ( – ) will attract each other. Opposites attract. This attraction also exists between negative and neutral as well as positive and neutral. That’s the basis of electrostatic spraying.
Some Real World Examples
In the auto industry, paint is sprayed onto millions of cars each year. The process is made more efficient by using electrostatics. The paint particles are electrostatically charged and then the car part being painted is either sprayed with or dipped into these charged particles. This promotes better, more comprehensive coverage while at the same time reducing the amount of paint needed.
This technology can also be seen in the agricultural industry in the application of pesticides to crops. The electrostatics allows the pesticide particles to more evenly coat each plant. Additionally, the attraction between the plant allows the pesticide application to be more targeted and be less likely to blow over into neighboring fields.
Electrostatics Improve Efficiency in Two Ways:
The droplets spread out more as they leave the electrostatic nozzle. This happens because they all share the same charge and as a result repel each other. This is more effective than coming straight out of the sprayer because the liquid covers a wider area more evenly (think about how smooth and consistent car paint looks).
The droplets are highly attracted to a negative or neutral surface, and so fewer particles are wasted (landing on floors or walls). The droplets are extremely small (usually between 40 and 60 microns in diameter), so small that they are tinier than the diameter of a human hair (70 microns).
E-Mist Electrostatic Infection Control Systems
This proven technology has been used to develop a patented application system. As mentioned, most surface areas are neutral (uncharged) or negative. These systems are used to apply an EPA-registered water soluble disinfectant. The E-Mist Electrostatic Systems place a positive ( + ) charge on the droplets as they leave the spray nozzle. The dispersed droplets spread out more evenly and seek out a negative ( – ) or neutrally charged surface. The end result is that your disinfectant is more targeted, provides more uniform coverage with less waste, and like the magnets, the disinfectant is attracted to the surface with remarkable force. In fact, the charged droplets will adhere more consistently and more comprehensively to vertical and horizontal surfaces when compared to droplets with no charge.
As proven in the automotive and agriculture industries, this electrostatic application process takes less time to achieve the desired effect, while substantially reducing chemical costs.
Research studies show that environmental cleaning and disinfection play important roles in the prevention and control of healthcare-associated infections. Though prevalent and widely used since the 1960’s in other industries, electrostatic technology is now being adopted in the application of disinfectants.
By using this technology we are now able to reduce or eliminate viruses and bacteria more efficiently from our spaces to create a healthier environment. I encourage you to reach out to us about how electrostatic surface disinfection can help you!
My Scrubber is not Moving Forward or Backward
/in Equipment, Rhiel Talk“My Scrubber is not moving forward or reverse. I’m not getting any running time”. This stays in the same theme as a series of posts I did a few months back that covered the most common automatic floor scrubber service requests we receive. To recap the first three
So let’s take a look at why your automatic scrubber may not be moving forward or reverse or not providing the running time you would like to see.
Let’s rule out any mechanical issues. If your scrubber is not running at all it could be something as simple as a key switch, a malfunctioning solenoid or a bad wire connection. If you fix the switch and the machine works just fine we really don’t have an issue, just a broken part that needs replaced. Once we rule out any mechanical issues we get to the source of all power in an automatic scrubber; the batteries. Except for a very few types of scrubbers that plug into the wall for power and run on 110 Volt, AC current, almost all automatic scrubbers today operate on batteries. These batteries are deep cycle, 6 or 12 volt, wired in a series and provide either 24 volts or 36 volts of power for the scrubber. Here is where the problem usually lies. The batteries are the lifeblood of your automatic scrubber. They provide the power for the vacuum motor, power the brushes or scrubbing pads, the control valves that control water flow, the motors that lift the brushes, and the down pressure that is applied to the brushes or pads, sometimes lift the squeegee assembly, and move the machine forward and reverse. All these electrical components draw energy or amps from the batteries. If one of these is drawing too much current, we have a problem. Not only will drawing too much current reduce running time, it may also cause the particular motor to overheat causing premature failure. The battery charger may also be an issue. If it is not putting out the correct current to charge the batteries, the maximum running time will be limited.
Let’s take a look at these one at a time to determine what may be the problem.
Amp Draw:
An automatic scrubber may be able to perform at a high level but this all requires power. If your scrubber is being expected to scrub ramps, with maximum down pressure, and maximum water flow, the amp draw will be significantly higher than normal. This reduces running time. If you are using aggressive brushes on a textured floor surface you may get the cleaning results you want but the amp draw will increase and running time will drop. If you have clogs in your water recovery hoses, this can increase the amp draw in your vacuum motor. Debris caught in your brushes, banding or string wrapped around brushes can also make it harder for your brush motors to turn and increase amp draw. Make sure your auto scrubber is clean, and clear of all debris and you are using the appropriate pads or brushes for your application. This will help achieve longer running time.
Type of batteries:
Standard wet, deep cycle batteries are still the standard when it comes to good operation. If you have recently switched the type of batteries you are using, understand that running time may be affected. AGM or Gel batteries may have an impact on running time or longevity. I will cover this in a later blog. Just realize your machine running time depends on having the correct batteries.
Charging Batteries:
This may seem simple. Plug the battery charger into the automatic scrubber and into the wall outlet. Make sure it turns on, and walk away. Since most battery chargers today are fully automatic this usually works. The battery charger turns on and 6 to 8 hours later your batteries are at full capacity once again. This isn’t always the case as I have seen many times. Make sure the battery charger and the light switch are not on the same circuit. I have seen many times where the operator has plugged in the machine to charge, turned off the lights and left. However, if the light switch and the wall outlet are on the same circuit, the charger turns off when the lights turn off. The operator comes in the next day, turns on the lights, the battery charger comes on again and the scrubber is still charging. Everyone is perplexed as to why the machine isn’t charging and they have no running time. I have also seen instances where a company is having electrical work done. The electrical contractors shut the power off to do their work and the battery charger at the other end of the building turns off because of no power. The battery charger and the scrubber are then blamed for not working properly and I’m called for an unnecessary service call. In addition, when charging batteries, make sure the machine is in a well ventilated area.
Battery Charger:
If the batteries are not charging properly often it is the battery charger. Sometimes it is as simple as a bad fuse. Replace the fuse and the charger is ready to go. Make sure you use the appropriate fuse for the charger. It is often easy to mistake for a standard automotive fuse which will not work. They may look the same but the voltage is different. If it is more than that it is often simpler to replace to replace the entire charger.
Bad Batteries:
Finally, look at the batteries. If batteries are properly cared for, they should last several years and provide the appropriate running time for your scrubber. However even 1 bad cell in a battery can cause problems. Each cell in a battery is 2 Volts. Example, a 6 volt battery has 3 cells, each at 2 volts. A 36 volt system in an automatic scrubber may have 6 batteries, 6 volts each, each battery containing 3 cells. If one cell in one battery is bad, that drops the system to 34 volts to run the machine and that significantly reduces running time. If the scrubber continues to be run this way, it increases the chances another cell may go bad and the power supply is reduced by 2 volts with each bad cell. Eventually the machine will shut down completely and batteries will have to be replaced. To reduce the possibility of batteries going bad too soon follow these simple suggestions. Keep the batteries clean. Wipe off the batteries with a damp cloth after each use. Clean the battery posts to reduce buildup. Make sure the battery cables are tightly clamped onto the posts. Loose cables can cause arching and premature failure. Keep the batteries filled with distilled water. Check the battery levels every week and fill them to the appropriate fill line making sure the lead plates are completely covered. Fill the batteries after charging, not before. Charging raises the water level. If you fill the batteries before charging, the charging cycle may cause the batteries to overflow.
The most important factor is to purchase your automatic scrubber from a reliable, knowledgeable servicing distributor that can assist you with any concerns you may have about the operation or functioning of your scrubber. If you have questions or concerns about your scrubber please contact us anytime on our service and equipment request page. We will assist you in any way we can.
The Touch Point Healthy Process [Infographic]
/in Maintenance, Rhiel TalkWith the cold and flu season quickly approaching it is important to review your infection prevention protocol. Maybe you don’t have one or maybe you’re looking to revamp what is already in place. No matter what your reasoning is, you are reading this for a reason so let’s get any of those lingering questions answered. The Touch Point Healthy process focuses on 5 disinfection best practices from the FACTS Based Protocol. This protocol was developed by E-Mist Innovations to address a need for proper surface disinfection and helps facilities achieve Touch Point Healthy Certification.
The infographic below aims to briefly sum up the protocol so you can get an idea of what it is all about. After you are through feel free to follow any of the links above or check out our free self-paced 5 Steps to a Healthier Facility e-course.
What is the ISSA CITS Certification?
/in Maintenance, Rhiel TalkWhat is CITS? There are a lot of people in the facility cleaning and facility maintenance industry that are just becoming familiar with the term. CITS stands for the Cleaning Industry Training Standard. It is provided through the International Sanitary Supply Association (ISSA), the leading trade association for the cleaning industry worldwide. CITS has been designed specifically to help address the need for training and improved professionalism throughout the cleaning industry. This includes the cleaning of facilities such as commercial buildings, educational institutions, office buildings and all other workplaces. It is designed to assist with the training and education of all commercial custodial and cleaning personnel whether they are in-house or contract service providers. The CITS program is authored by the American Institute for Cleaning Sciences (AICS) who are the leading authorities on the commercial cleaning industry.
CITS consists of several programs to give your cleaning staff a better understanding of how to clean a facility more effectively and efficiently. It is designed to create a healthier, safer environment, reduce waste, reduce risk, increase productivity and standardize the cleaning process. These programs include:
General Cleaning
Hard Floor Care
Carpet Care
Restroom Care
General Safety
Hazard Communication
Health Care
Value of Clean
Customer Service
Green Cleaning
School & Educational Institution
These programs are available through Accredited, Certified Trainers who can instruct your custodial staff in the proper and most efficient and productive means available to clean and maintain your facility. CITS ensures the workers cleaning your facility are trained and certified.
The basics of all courses in the CITS program cover
Expected Results
Tools and Equipment needed to perform each task
Chemical Products needed to perform each task
Personal Protective Equipment needed to perform tasks
Cleaning different surface types
Safety Considerations and avoiding Risk
Cleaning issues unique to your facility
At the end of each training session each participant will be required to pass a written exam to prove they have the knowledge needed to perform the job and gain the certification.
People are hired every day to clean buildings. It is commonly assumed that people inherently know how to clean a building. This has been proven over the years to not be the case. Workers need training and education to become productive, efficient and capable of performing multiple tasks in a set period of time. Training and education is essential to perform the job safely and quickly. It is necessary to avoid risk to themselves, risk to facility occupants and risk that may cause property damage. Training also reduces complaints that may arise from the condition or appearance of the facility.
CITS is the Standard in Cleaning. In fact, as you now know, it is the Cleaning Industry Training Standard. If you would like your cleaning staff to become more productive, exercise all safety precautions, avoid risk of injury and damage to property, increase the health of your facility occupants, and reduce complaints about facility appearance then CITS is your answer. If you are interested in having your cleaning staff become Accredited in their profession, please contact us at the Rhiel Innovative Solutions. We can help you achieve your goals.
End of Summer Party
/in Rhiel TalkAs much as we hate to say it, it seems summer is starting to come to an end. The leaves are changing, the days are starting to get shorter and before you know it, it’ll be time for the kids to head back to school. Most parents say this is their favorite time of year. The kids are back at school and the adults get some peace and quiet during the day again. While this is parents’ favorite time of year, kids dread it. The bliss of sleeping all day and staying up all night is over. Instead kids have to go back to early mornings, piles of homework, and having a bedtime again. And with the season coming to a close, your family’s chances to use the pool are becoming less and less. So why not make the most of the little time left and have a back to school pool party? Kids get to have one last blowout before school and the parents can celebrate the kids going back to school! Here are some ideas to ensure you have the best party in the neighborhood.
Pull Out All The Toys – All pool owners stock up on toys. Noodles, large floats and inter tubes, water guns, you name it, and it’s probably in the pool shed. Most people don’t like pulling everything out at once because it never gets put away. For this party, take everything out! This could be the last time the toys get used this summer, and what’s a pool party without toys? Toys are fun for the adults too. Chase the kids around with water guns, lounge on a float, the possibilities are endless.
Feed the Madness – Swimming takes a lot of energy and what’s a party without food? You’re already outside using the pool, why not fire up the grill and make some hot dogs and hamburgers? They’re quick to make, everyone loves them, and they’ll keep for a while, in case not everyone is ready to eat at once. If you’re a horrible cook, like me, order some pizzas. Or better yet, make it a potluck. You supply the main food and every guest brings a dish too. That way there’s plenty of food to keep everyone energized and the party can last all night!
Crank Up the Tunes – Music can turn an average party into a major bash! You don’t need a DJ or an expensive sound system, just some speakers and an internet connection. One big thing kids and adults have in common is music. We may not share the same musical taste, but everyone loves a good beat. Music can also help your party have more of a relaxed feel. You can set up a playlist from your personal music library or use a free service, like Pandora, and pick a genre or artist and have a non-stop playlist for your party. A perk of using a free service is that you can still tailor the music to your preferences, like setting up a kid friendly playlist or a radio edits only playlist. This way you can relax and have fun too, instead of worrying about what type of song is being sang.
Summer might be coming to an end, but there’s still time for an awesome party. Click here to check out some fun pool games you can play at your party too!
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School Cleanliness: How Dirty is Your Child’s School? [Infographic]
/in Maintenance, Rhiel TalkTo demonstrate why effective cleaning is so important in schools, ISSA has created a useful and actionable infographic. Having a clean, safe, and healthy school is crucial to the development of young minds. Combining the insights here with ISSA’s new CITS certification is a great way to start this school year and create a healthy, safe environment for our future leaders.
© ISSA
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What is Touch Point Healthy?
/in Maintenance, Rhiel TalkThis entry is a follow up to a post I made about a month ago dealing with proper surface disinfection. Take a few minutes to read that post first may help give you a bit of context.
By definition, Touch Point Healthy means that all of the touch points in a space have been properly cleaned and disinfected. Touch Point Healthy has evolved into a global health initiative that fully integrates technology with proper protocols to close the gap between where we are today in terms of healthy surfaces and where we want to be.
By combining the latest application technology with new, advanced disinfectants we can now cover surfaces more completely and effectively to reduce and eliminate viruses and bacteria. This promotes cleaner, more sanitary surfaces which lead to a healthier environment.
Pathogens in our environment represent the introduction of stronger or changing microbes that our current application methods have not been able to eliminate or prevent. Our protocols for cleaning and disinfecting have been lagging for years while viruses adapt and become more resilient to current chemicals and application techniques.
Taking advantage of new advances in disinfection and product chemistry is critical to not only have safe surfaces and space but to also be cost effective. Touch Point Healthy is a decision you make for the advancement of safe surfaces in your space for the health and well being of the people who occupy that space at any given time.
When your facility is TOUCH POINT HEALTHY you demonstrate that you are committed to proper surface disinfection and to the health and safety of the people in your building.
The Touch Point Healthy process relies on the use of the FACTS protocol as a way to measure the effectiveness of your current disinfecting program and where you need to improve. FACTS is an acronym that stands for:
(F) FREQUENCY- Count your high touch point surfaces and compare to your surface treatment frequency to see if you are properly treating every touch point each time you are disinfecting.
(A) AGENT – Check the appropriateness of your disinfectant of choice and compare it to your current disinfection needs. For example if your trying to kill a pathogen that takes 10 minutes of dwell time ( meaning how long the surface has to remain wet) most times the solution will either evaporate before the 10 minutes or will be wiped off by the person applying due to time constraints.
(C) COMPREHENSIVE – Review application methods to gauge the effective treatment coverage of the entire touchable surface. Spray bottles do not achieve 100% coverage of a surface
(T) TOUCHLESS – Witness how your handheld cleaning and disinfection methods only further spread the pathogens. Spray bottles are ineffective to cover the surface completely . Wiping off with a rag will only cross contaminate the surface and spread viruses and bacteria from one surface to another
(S) SAFE – Consider exposure to pathogens, chemicals, inhalation and injury during touch point treatments.
Touch Point Healthy means safer and healthier surfaces which translates into safer and healthier spaces and safer and healthier people. Higher productivity & less absenteeism at work or school is a benefit to everyone. Click the button below to start a conversation about Touch Point Healthy!
A Brief Analysis of the RNC Norovirus Outbreak
/in Maintenance, Rhiel TalkAs you may have read there have been 11 reported cases of what appears to be norovirus among the California delegation at the Republican National Convention. Whether or not it is norovirus this brings into question how situations such as these should be handled. (If you are an impatient reader and already understand what norovirus is then just skip the next few paragraphs so you can see the action plan.)
Before I start I want you to know that there is no reason to be panicked. As of now only the 11 said individuals have been affected. From any reports I can see there is no evidence that the virus has spread to others. This doesn’t mean you should be careless. It is still good practice to frequently wash your hands and when possible limit direct contact with others. I know it is easier said than done, but attempting to do so will limit the ability of the virus, or any pathogen really, to move. For more on why you should not be overly worried check out this article from Cleveland.com.
A crash course on norovirus
First, since norovirus is the virus in question let’s take a look at a few facts about norovirus from the CDC:
It is important to note that as mentioned above one of the best things you can do is wash your hands frequently–remember wash for at least 20 seconds, or in other words sing happy birthday twice. More CDC norovirus info.
Analysis of the Current Problem
Now to the issue at hand. At this point there are individuals who have already been sick, meaning there are potentially a large number of objects and surfaces that may still be harboring the pathogen. This is a big issue and is amplified due to the obvious connection with the RNC. Any spread of pathogens from the Resort outside of the city, where the affected delegates are staying, to the convention would mean all convention attendees are at risk. To further amplify things this isn’t just any convention it is a convention where people have come from all over the world to see who the Republican party selects as their choice to potentially be President of the United States of America.
I hope I have been able to at least partially convey the importance of addressing this issue with a swift and calculated response. I certainly don’t intend to alarm you and also don’t think you have a need to be overly alarmed. There methods available to effectively and efficiently deal with this problem.
Infection Prevention
We are in the business of improving the health of facilities and are very aware of effective ways to handle these problems. Obviously the best thing to do is to have a solid infection prevention process in place. In this case, however, the virus was brought with the affected individuals and great prevention can’t stop a sick person from showing up. Where a good infection prevention process will help is by limiting the ability of the virus to spread once it is introduced into a facility. If you are properly disinfecting to begin with then you can be confident that the virus will be contained.
I don’t know what kind of infection prevention protocol is currently in place, but my guess is that it is nothing very formal. I think this because if there were a solid process in place it would have been already released by the resort or the RNC. Chances are they are being reactive rather than proactive. I am not being critical of them because having a proactive plan for infection prevention is not done by many facilities. They may have a rough, informal process, but a strong protocol allows the facility to ease concerns before they begin.
Potential Solutions
Now let’s look at what can be done. As mentioned in the CDC facts above norovirus can be difficult to kill. Quaternary based disinfectants are ineffective; bleach is, but is nasty to deal with and can cause allergic reactions. I recommend using activated water, or engineered water. This is some newer technology that is now growing in adoption. It is a solution that can be generated at your facility and is probably more effective than what you are using now. The big benefit is that it has none of the negative health side effects associated with the harsh chemicals used in traditional disinfectants. Follow the links for more information on on-site generation and activated water.
The product of choice for me is GenEon. The disinfectant produced by their machines can kill norovirus with only 30 seconds of dwell time when mixed to the proper strength. To give you an idea most disinfectants require anywhere from 5 to 10 minutes of dwell time to achieve their kill claims.
Why is this dwell time important?
In the situation at hand speed is key. If the facility maintenance crew only has to wait 30 seconds vs. 5 minutes they can disinfect significantly faster allowing them to cover more surface area in a given amount of time. This means two things; they can quickly ensure that the virus is eliminated, but also they can increase the frequency with which they disinfect their facility. This means that instead of disinfecting 1, maybe 2, times a day they can now disinfect 3 or 4 or even more. As soon as a surface is touched after being disinfected it is contaminated again so frequent disinfection addresses this reality.
How should this be handled?
They have already quarantined the affected individuals so that will help keep them from spreading the virus. Now they need to address any of the areas where the virus may still exist. Due to the nature of how pathogens move the virus may now be in areas where the affected individuals have never been. So prioritizing is the top priority.
These are the areas that should be treated and the order in which they should be treated.
In this case attempting to disinfect such a large area by having people spray the surface, wait 30 seconds, and wipe will take a long time. That’s why I would recommend a misting applicator and if you can a mister that utilizes electrostatics to ensure better coverage. This will allow personnel to simply mist a room/area and then just leave and let air dry. Using the GenEon product will not leave a residual so there is no reason it must be wiped.
These are just some quick thoughts and our experts can help design a program for you that is tailored to your facility. Follow these links for more information on GenEon and our electrostatic disinfection applicator, E-Mist.
A Few of My Favorite Pool Games
/in Pool & Spa, Rhiel TalkSummer is the best season to catch up with friends and have a little fun. And if you have a pool, everyone will want to come to your place and hangout on a hot day. What can you do with everyone at your place though? Tan next to the pool and only jump in when you’re too hot? Pools are made for fun, not to just cool you down, so we’ve complied a list of the best pool games anyone can play next time you’re using your pool.
We came up with a few fun summertime games, but we want to hear from YOU! Check us out on Facebook or Twitter and let us know what your favorite game is! You could be mentioned in a later post! Also nothing ruins a day of summer fun like someone getting hurt so remember that children should never swim without adult supervision and you should never run in the areas surrounding the pool.
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Do You Properly Disinfect Your Surfaces?
/in Maintenance, Rhiel TalkAs a society we smell a strong chemical odor with a hint of lemon and we think the surface has been disinfected. We spray bleach and wipe and we think we have killed germs. Who can blame us? That’s what has been advertised. That’s how, as a society, we have been conditioned to think. Products have even been introduced to clean and disinfect at the same time. Is this possible? The answer is yes and no.
First of all not all cleaners are a disinfectant. That’s an important distinction to make. With that said, cleaning and disinfecting should always be a 2 step process. First we clean spots and stains and dirt and dust, then we go back to the surface for proper disinfecting and the killing of viruses and bacteria and pathogens.
So what’s the key to the latter? Killing of viruses, bacteria and pathogens takes dwell time. If you read the instructions on your product, you will find that there is a specific amount of time the product needs to sit on the surface to be effective in eliminating the virus or bacteria or pathogen. Without the dwell time, you’re not eliminating anything. In fact in all likelihood you’re spreading the viruses and bacteria on your sponge or rag from one surface to another, this is called cross contamination. This holds true for floor mops as well.
The second key to proper surface disinfection is frequency of disinfecting. It’s important to develop a calendar of cleaning and disinfecting based on the usage of the space. What that means is the more a space or surface is touched the more it should be treated. All to often we clean and disinfect for time and appearance and not for health, this is a big mistake. If you adopt the proper disinfecting protocol for your surfaces and space it will actually save you time and labor costs as well as chemical costs, and your space will be healthier.
The next step to properly disinfecting is to touch all the spots! If you miss a spot, you miss a virus or bacteria. It’s important to be consistent in your application of products and to make sure you cover all the space. We can identify touch points by high, medium, and low, for example a door handle or light switch would be high, a table top may be medium, while a clock in a room on the wall may be low. Your disinfecting protocol must identify these touch points and be sure they are consistently treated to have favorable success in your disinfecting.
To achieve the outcomes desired, the delivery system of product is vital to the success of the protocol. First it must be safe to use, protecting the user against irritation and damage to exposed skin . Traditional spray bottles are uncontrolled and inconsistent and therefore poses a greater risk to the user. Foggers can create an airborne condition getting into the ventilation system of the building and create inhalation issues. Touchless Electrostatic Technology has proven to eliminate these risks and to cover 100% of the touch points on the surfaces and space.
In our next blog, we will discuss what Touch Point Healthy Certification means for your surfaces and space, and how Rhiel Innovative Solutions can make your buildings and surfaces safer and healthier through Touch Point Health and Electrostatic Surface Disinfection.
