5 tips based on the Hierarchy of Controls to reopen your business safely and mitigate COVID-19 risk

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Many companies want to plan to reopen safely but simply do not know how to reopen safely. It is important for companies to make decisions to mitigate COVID-19 risks based on the Hierarchy of Controls and the advice of technical professionals such as certified industrial hygiene and safety professionals. Consider the below as you develop your facility’s back-to-work plan.

EnviroServe, a Savage Company, COVID-19 Hierarchy of Controls. Ordered from most effective to least effective: Elimination - physically remove the hazard (COVID-19 decontamination). Substitution: Replace the hazard (EPA-approved disinfectants). Engineering Controls: Isolate people from the hazard (Barriers between employees and customers). Administrative Controls: Change the way people work (Modified schedules, increased hand washing). PPE: Protect the worker with Personal Protective Equipment (Masks, gloves, respiratory protection).

Physically Remove the Hazard

In the absence of a COVID-19 vaccine or cure, look for opportunities to eliminate virus exposure through effective disinfection and decontamination of the workplace. Avoiding the potential for exposure protects your team as well as customers and the community as they engage with your business.

Replace the Hazard

Not every cleaner can effectively kill SARS-CoV-2—the virus that causes COVID-19. We recommend you remove ineffective cleaners and dangerous chemicals from your workplace and instead provide EPA-approved disinfectants for routine cleaning.

Need cleaning assistance? EnviroServe can help. Call (800) 488-0910 to discuss your facility’s needs.

Isolate People from the Hazard

To prevent the spread of COVID-19 in essential businesses, consider implementing engineering controls such as glass or plastic barriers between employees and customers, marking social distancing guidelines on the floor, and/or maintaining ventilation systems inside offices.

Change the Way People Work

Modified labor policies or practices can help ensure good social distancing and hygiene practices. Flexible work schedules and new workplace routines, such as increased hand washing aid in preventing the spread of illness, including COVID-19.

Protect the worker with PPE

Finally, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as masks, gloves, and respiratory protection will protect your team as they work. Some jobs require PPE to be in line with CDC recommendations and OSHA regulations, so be sure to check guidelines.

We’re here to help

The EnviroServe team is here to help you prevent or respond to COVID-19 contamination and mitigate risk as you return to work. Contact us at (800) 488-0910 or learn more.

decontamination team member wearing PPE

Selecting the right Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for COVID-19 decontamination

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At EnviroServe, we take the safety of our team—and yours—seriously. So when it comes to Personal Protective Equipment (or PPE), we take every precaution to minimize our team’s exposure to hazards that may cause injury or illness.

When performing SafeSiteSM COVID-19 decontamination service, the below listed PPE are the minimum requirements for EnviroServe Team Members. If you have questions regarding PPE, don’t hesitate to give us a call at (800) 488-0910; our team is here to help.

EnviroServe PPE for SafeSiteSM COVID-19 Response

Respiratory Protection

  • Full-Face Respirator – MSA Advantage 4000 series respirator taped all the way around seal
  • Cartridges – MSA OV/P100: Organic Vapor cartridges for protection against quaternary ammonium disinfectant applied, and P100 HEPA particulate filter for protection against COVID-19 respiratory droplets

Physical Protection

  • Protective Suit – Tychem 2000 (QC127SYL or equivalent) hooded suit with elastic openings
  • Gloves – Three layers of chemical-resistant nitrile gloves: two inner layers of 8-mil nitrile sampling/surgical gloves, and one outer layer of 15-mil nitrile chemical gloves taped to the protective suit
  • Booties – Yellow nitrile hazmat booties worn over steel-toed work boots after protective suit and taped to the personal protective equipment suit
  • Taping – All wrist, ankle, zipper, and respirator seams are taped to protective chemical suit using chem tape or red poly tape

Safety Matters

Our team specializes in emergency and hazmat response, and remains COVID-19 free while working several COVID-19 decontamination service responses per day. When safety matters, call the experts in COVID-19 decontamination at (800) 488-0910.

Workplace decontaminated with SafeSite

Prevent, Respond & Be Ready: Flatten the curve with SafeSite℠ COVID-19 decontamination

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The U.S. is preparing for a phased reopening of local businesses in the coming weeks with many states easing coronavirus restrictions and outlining specific requirements to keep people safe as they return to public places.

However, even as Ohio requires stores to conduct a deep cleaning once weekly and Utah dine-in restaurants reopen with limited seating, businesses themselves are tasked with protecting their employees and customers to continue flattening the curve.

Whether you’re looking to protect your team with SafeSiteSM Prevent or disinfect an area with SafeSiteSM Respond, EnviroServe is here to help you Be Ready with SafeSiteSM COVID-19 decontamination.

SafeSiteSM Prevent

Coronavirus symptoms can appear up to 14 days after exposure, and many with the virus are asymptomatic, showing no symptoms. Even without confirmed COVID-19 contamination in your workplace, your team may be at risk. SafeSiteSM Prevent gives your team and customers peace of mind through:

Contact us for a customized solution and quote for your facility’s needs.

SafeSiteSM Respond

For confirmed cases, or if you think you have a COVID-19 contamination, time is of the essence. EnviroServe’s rapid response team provides 24-hour emergency response to provide SafeSiteSM COVID-19 decontamination. We offer flexible service hour schedules—including off shift hours—and keep downtime to a minimum to help keep you in business.

SafeSiteSM Be Ready

Peace of mind matters. Be Ready for whatever comes your way with SafeSiteSM Prevent and SafeSiteSM Respond COVID-19 decontamination.

Where you need us, when you need us… We’ll be there.

Contact us at (800) 488-0910 or learn more.

Prepare your facility for returning to work after COVID-19 shutdown

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There is no doubt coronavirus is affecting us all. Schools, entertainment facilities, hotels, and businesses across the United States are adjusting, reducing, or even eliminating operations to follow social distancing recommendations and prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Your business may be feeling the economic hardships from these changes, and you—like most companies—are likely eager to get back to full operations. As you consider reopening business to full capacity once again, here are a few guidelines to help you best prepare.

Have a COVID-19 cleanup plan

Whether your facility had a known coronavirus contamination, a team member had COVID-19 exposure outside of work, or even without known contamination, you can provide peace of mind to your employees by cleaning and disinfecting your facility.

Consider your options in selecting a service to protect your team from contamination:

Provide cleaning stations

We recommend you provide disinfectants that meet EPA’s criteria for employees to sanitize workstations and frequently used materials between thorough professional decontamination services. Place approved cleaning materials in multiple cleaning stations near high-traffic areas throughout your building for easy access and frequent cleanings.

Communicate with your employees

Employees appreciate transparency, especially as it relates to their safety. Have a trusted business leader notify your team of the company’s COVID-19 cleanup plan, cleaning station locations, and best practices for preventing the spread of coronavirus and other infectious diseases.

Simple encouragements to avoid touching your eyes, wash your hands with soap and water regularly, and stay home when you are sick help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases like COVID-19.

Peace of mind

When peace of mind counts, EnviroServe is here to help with SafeSiteSM COVID-19 decontamination done as a one-time preventative measure or as ongoing care for long-term prevention.

Contact us at (800) 488-0910 or learn more.

EnviroServe Team Members

Clean, sanitize, decontaminate, and repeat: Keeping your facility COVID-19 free

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Social distancing. Stay-at-home orders. Quarantine.

People across the nation are doing their part to prevent the spread of COVID-19, but what happens when essential businesses need to operate under the same threat of contamination? Keeping facilities COVID-19 free is imperative to ensuring the safety of your team members, preventing SARS-CoV-2 contamination, and continuing business operations.

Protect your business when essential operations need to continue with the below best practices.

Clean and sanitize surfaces regularly

Keep workstations and facilities clear of visible dirt, debris, and dust, and keep cleaning supplies—including disinfectants that meet EPA’s criteria—in cleaning stations throughout your facility. The more easily available these supplies are, the more likely your team members will use them regularly.

Wipe down high-touch surfaces daily and encourage team members to reduce possible contamination by covering their coughs and sneezes, regularly washing their hands, and staying home when they are sick.

Provide regular thorough decontamination

Even with regular cleaning continued COVID-19 contamination is possible on harder-to-reach and high-traffic surfaces, including:

  • Desks, chairs, and machinery
  • Cloth, fabric, and upholstery
  • Door handles
  • Furniture

Essential businesses should consider professional decontamination, such as EnviroServe’s SafeSiteSM COVID-19 decontamination, to help reduce the spread of coronavirus.

Keep downtime to a minimum

While the time it takes to decontaminate a specific facility or space depends greatly on the size of the building and the contents therein, EnviroServe can decontaminate most facilities within one day. We offer flexible service hour schedules—including off shift hours—to minimize downtime at your facility, and you can be back in your facility 20 minutes after we complete service.

Request service online or call (800) 488-0910 for more information.

Coronavirus Cleaning: What to look for & which service is best to disinfect & sanitize my facility?

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COVID-19 is changing the way we view workplace sanitation. Gone are the days of cleaning only visible clutter, dirtiness, and contaminated surfaces. Novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 is unseen, yet its effects are mandating social distancing, shuttering schools, and altering business throughout the world.

How do businesses best protect their team members and customers from coronavirus contamination? From cleaning your business yourself to hiring a janitorial service, restoration company, or decontamination crew, we walk you through what to look for to ensure you protect both your business and those employed to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Use disinfectants that meet EPA’s criteria for COVID-19 cleaning

Ask your service about the disinfectants used to sanitize your facility as some disinfectants kill household and everyday germs, but are not proven to kill SARS-CoV-2. Look for disinfectants that meet EPA’s criteria to battle SARS-CoV-2 contamination, and be sure your cleanup crew pays close attention to the contact time required for full treatment.

Wear Proper Protective Equipment (PPE)

COVID-19 exposure could create a health risk to those tasked to prevent its spread, so ensure your decontamination team uses Proper Protective Equipment (PPE) when dealing with chemicals and/or infectious diseases. Cloth facemasks and latex gloves may not be sufficient to prevent COVID-19 contamination when coming in close contact with the virus; full-body coverage and respirators are the best defense.

Utilize a team skilled in biohazard & infectious disease decontamination

While COVID-19 is new, teams trained in biohazard response and infectious disease decontamination have pre-established Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for dealing with such outbreaks. Look for a company ready to respond, not one scrambling to put together solutions. Qualified professionals have experience decontaminating a range of biohazard threats, including:

  • Blood-borne pathogens
  • Ebola
  • Anthrax
  • Clandestine drug labs

Properly dispose of generated waste from COVID-19 decontamination

Coronavirus cleanup is only as good as its disposal. Ask your service how and where they handle contaminated waste disposal to ensure contamination is not continued. Professionals that specialize in decontamination in high hazard environments not only ensure safe and satisfactory solutions, but also provide transparency into their methods.

Trust the experts

When peace of mind counts, EnviroServe is here to help. “Where you need us, when you need us” is a promise, and we treat all SafeSiteSM COVID-19 decontamination requests as emergencies. Whether you are looking for a one-time preventative service or ongoing decontamination service, our team is ready to help.

Contact us at (800) 488-0910 or learn more.

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