Getting Industrial Facilities Up and Running After COVID

Building managers need to be prepared to take some critical cleaning and hygiene steps before factories, warehouses, and similar locations open or swing into full operation after COVID-19.

But before we discuss the details, we need to point out the significant role cleaning plays in any facility. “Proper and effective cleaning and sanitation are more important than ever before to your staff,” says Rick Vanderkoy, CEO of Secure Clean. “Don’t be surprised if it is the first thing your workers ask about before going back to work.”

With this in mind, here are some of the key areas of an industrial facility Vanderkoy says need special attention before opening:

It is essential to get behind what are typically hard-to-reach areas such as behind machinery, tool chests, storage cabinets, and work areas. “What happens is that moisture, fluids, dust, and debris can build up in these areas. If there is moisture, it can harbor potentially harmful germs and bacteria.”

Walls in industrial locations collect dust and residue from machinery being used, products being moved, packaging materials, and so on. 

This dust can negatively impact indoor air quality. “Protecting indoor air quality now, as a result of COVID, is more important than ever.”

Light fixtures in industrial locations can become excessively dusty. One reason for this is they rarely get cleaned and may be hard to reach. Dusty light fixtures can also impact indoor air quality. There are new cleaning technologies available that make cleaning light fixtures and ceiling areas much more accessible. This task should be performed regularly, about every six months or so.

If your industrial facility has been closed for a few weeks, there is a particularly good chance the water in the “J” trap underneath the drain has evaporated. Here’s the problem. The J trap is designed to prevent sewer gases from being released into the air. Administrators have a couple of options, starting with pouring about half a gallon of water down each drain or a liquid primer that fills the J trap and takes longer to evaporate. 

Most industrial locations have several high-tech devices installed, from computers to electronic controls to operate machinery. In the past, these devices typically received minimal cleaning attention. That is no longer an option, especially if many people use them during the day. These should be cleaned and sanitized/disinfected every day or after every shift. Further, encourage your staff to clean them using alcohol-based sanitizing wipes throughout the day. The solution in these wipes is quick drying, so their use should not interfere with operations.

Something else that needs to be cleaned and maintained is the building’s HVAC system. This includes the duct work, vents, as well as the mechanical systems. 

While cleaning HVAC systems is not a service we provide, it is so important that we want to make sure facility managers are aware of this potentially deadly problem.

It was recently reported that following COVID, there might be outbreaks of Legionnaires’ disease in this country and around the world. Legionnaires’ disease is caused by inhaling droplets of legionella pneumophilia bacteria.  

This may become a problem because so many facilities, including industrial locations, have been closed for several weeks, even months. With lack of use, the bacteria can build up in HVAC systems, cooling towers, even in shower heads if they are installed in your facility.  

While Legionnaires’ is not spread from person to person, as is COVID, it can spread by inhaling contaminated droplets. The result can be flu-like symptoms, pneumonia, even death.