Even with Prime Minister Boris Johnson encouraging the public to return back to ‘normal’ lifestyles, there is a clear anxiety for people to step back onto public transport and return to work.
It is, therefore, crucial that public transport providers can ensure they offer clean and safe environments for passengers, not only to encourage them back onto their services, but also to protect the public from the spread of COVID-19.
Shaun Doak is CEO at REACT, a national specialist cleaning company, who work with some of the leading train operators across the UK to decontamination and deep clean vehicles during the pandemic. He has written an article for railbusinessdaily.com on how rail providers can prepare for the increase of passengers use post-COVID, ensuring the cleanliness requirements are met, and the public feel safe and protected enough to return.
“The continuous threat of the Coronavirus charts new territory for many sectors across the UK, and there is a clear ongoing anxiety surrounding the return to ‘normal’ lifestyles, especially with the potential of a second wave throughout Europe.
As restrictions ease, then, and the government encourages people back on to public transport and into their offices, it is essential that rail operators take extra precautions to provide clean and safe environments for the commuting public.
A precise focus on cleaning and infection control is critical to our return, alongside the appropriate social distancing and use of PPE, to ensure both the public and employees are kept safe. How we all travel will be a key part of our ability to attempt to return to a new ‘normal’.
The most thorough process involves an initial deep clean of the entire area, followed by an increase in the frequency and thoroughness of regular cleaning. This is especially important for high-touch surfaces such as tables, handles, door buttons, arm rests and toilets, and should be done following a three-step methodology: clean, disinfect and test.
Outsourcing the initial deep cleaning process to a professional company, before returning to regular services, is advisable, as they have the products and expertise that are essential to complete reliable and meticulous cleaning. There are, however, steps individuals can take to ensure a safe environment.
When cleaning, ensure to wash down surfaces using a PH-neutral detergent first, such as soap and hot water. This aims to remove ‘hidden’ bacteria and viruses in lingering dirt and dust, resulting in a more effective disinfection process.
Follow this with a disinfectant which has been certified to be effective in disabling similar coronaviruses. Virucidal disinfectants are stronger than their antibacterial counterparts but, in many cases, their effectiveness against coronaviruses is unproven, and so choosing the right disinfectant is crucial.
Many virucidal disinfectants on the market contain potentially harmful ingredients, such as chlorine compounds, which, when used more frequently to protect against the virus, can cause damage to surfaces and/or cause other health issues. It is, therefore, important to follow the manufacturer’s guidance, such as on the correct ‘contact period’ (how long to leave the disinfectant before wiping away) and when to reapply the product. For a safer option, seek out environmentally friendly disinfectants, which are just as effective.
Mostly made up by ethanol, surgical spirits can be used as an alternative to virucidal disinfectants. These products can destroy the protein and RNA of viruses, effectively destroying them, in as little as 30 seconds. To use surgical spirits, rub the liquid over the surface using a cloth. The spirit will then evaporate and does not need to be wiped away.
When completing a deep clean, this disinfecting process should be followed by ULV (Ultra Low Volume) fogging of the entire train, to be most effective at removing potential coronaviruses. ULV foggers deliver the disinfectant product at droplet sizes ranging from 10-120 microns. For this reason, ULV foggers should only be used with products that are safe for use in the presence of people when adjusted to levels below 80 microns.
This is just one of the reasons as to why it is advisable to have the initial deep clean completed by a professional cleaning company, with the correct PPE and expertise to use this type of equipment.
When deploying ULV fogging, it is important to follow manufacturers’ recommendations and take care to isolate areas which may be sensitive to the process, such as electrical equipment. An appropriately rated sanitiser, certified to destroy viruses similar to SARS-CoV-2, should also be used in the fogging process.
Fogging is a beneficial extra step to take as the disinfectant has greater surface contact time to destroy all present threats. ULV foggers treat entire areas, including those that conventional cleaning and disinfecting protocols may miss.
All surface-disinfection products, however, provide relatively poor dirt and dust removal, and so this method should be used in conjunction with the previously mentioned ‘spray and wipe down’ process, especially in areas frequently touched by people.
The use of UV (ultraviolet) lights can also be beneficial in small, enclosed areas such as train carriages, as part of a deep cleaning process. UVC works at a high energy to destroy the genetic material inside viruses, and so can be used for disinfection.
Like most products, though, UVC has not been clinically tested against the virus which causes COVID-19, although it is proven to destroy related coronaviruses. The use of UVC can be dangerous, too, as it can cause damage to eyes and skin. Its application, therefore, needs careful care and the appropriate PPE.
The most effective way to provide confidence and verify that carriages have been disinfected effectively, furthermore, is to test surfaces for the presence of Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP).
ATP is an indicator molecule for the presence of biological residues. This test works by wiping a swab across surfaces, inserting it into an active substance and then measuring the output on a hand-held device called a ‘luminator’. The more light shown on the device, the more ATP present and, the more ATP present, then the more virus or bacteria residue on the surface.
ATP testing is strongly recommended to ensure the effectiveness of decontamination, and its use should be extended to high touch areas throughout the carriages to provide confidence that cleaning regimes are effective.
When it comes to deep cleaning, methodologies can vary; the most important procedure to put in place is to ensure that cleaning methods are thorough and consistent. As we move towards a new ‘normal’, many elements of deep cleans must be pulled into the regimes our ‘daily’ teams undertake, including an increased focus on high-touch points and the routine fogging of carriages as part of a planned, heavy-clean schedule.
Whilst the virus does degrade over time, it can remain stable for up to three hours in the air and up to 72 hours on hard surfaces such as plastic and glass. This means that the virus is transmissible on counter tops and common touch areas for up to three days.
So, whilst heavy deep cleaning does not have to take place every day, it is crucial that an initial deep clean of the workplace is completed, followed by an upkeep of hygiene requirements and frequent cleaning with strong and effective disinfectants. Rail operators must look to adopt these more rigorous cleaning methods to ensure the protection of both their staff and the public as the UK looks to return to more ‘normal’ lifestyles.”
Shaun Doak is CEO at REACT Specialist Cleaning, www.reactsc.co.uk
