educational
Is disinfection by fogging adequate to safeguard business premises against COVID-19?
Judy Sunasky
While disinfection is a great idea, be aware that spraying disinfectants, also known as fogging, to eliminate the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19 should not be seen as a single answer to a business’s deep-cleaning requirements.
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ogging is an appealing option, especially because of its effective use in the food industry as a disinfection method for some time. Adopting methods of cleaning and disinfecting from the food industry is an excellent strategy in fighting the virus, but it is important to remember that fogging is never viewed in the industry as an all-in-one solution. Food facilities use fogging as a final stage, following thorough cleaning and disinfection. These facilities and the health inspectors that audit them know that fogging alone will not successfully disinfect a space. It is just a layer of protection. Think of it as the hand sanitiser you apply. It can be extremely effective, but if you shake hands with sick people, or touch any surfaces they have touched and then rub your nose, it will be rendered useless. Cleaning first is a critical step in your sanitation programme. A good cleaning protocol can remove as much as 80 percent of the viral load. You will want to complete your cleaning process before moving on to fogging. Most importantly, before you even begin to fog, or clean for that matter, you must be sure that your staff are wearing the correct personal protective equipment (PPE). For cleaning and for fogging, wear closed shoes, ideally safety shoes, and overalls, gloves and protective eyewear. Additionally, before fogging, you must add a respirator – a mask is not adequate, nor is a face shield. The eyes must be fully protected from any of the fogging
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African Cleaning Review July/August 2020
chemicals, which may also affect the operator’s lungs and breathing. The area to be fogged must be prepared in other ways, such as removing all people (apart from the person executing the fogging) and pets. Cupboards should be opened and electrical appliances, air conditioners, fans and lights must be switched off. All windows and doors must be closed during fogging applications and while the fogging chemicals settle.
A fogging machine is a better option when a larger area needs to be covered. When using a machine, it is important that a suitable disinfectant is used. We do not recommend the use of bleach (sodium hypochlorite) as it is corrosive and not safe on all surfaces. Also, alcohol-based disinfectants should not be used because the microparticles of alcohol may evaporate before landing on the surfaces that need to be disinfected, defeating the
Fogging, especially with a machine, is a specialised service and should be done by those who have experience in this technique, so choose a company with a proven track record. There are two fogging methods: using an aerosol can or a fogging machine. Fogging, especially with a machine, is a specialised service and should be done by those who have experience in this technique, so choose a company with a proven track record. When you use an aerosol fogger, the chemicals inside the can are prepared and ready for use. It is vitally important that you follow the instructions on the can as the instructions for each brand will differ. Pay special attention to the amount of space the single aerosol can cover. If used correctly, this is a convenient, often cheaper, way to disinfect a small area when fogging.
purpose. However, aerosol foggers often use ethyl alcohol as a propellant, which has the bonus of creating an additional disinfecting layer. Product selection is going to be vital for the success of your fogging exercise. You need to consider the chemicals to be used carefully as not all disinfectants are created equal. Firstly, please choose a registered product. It’s just safer, and may be the difference between an effective disinfection process and one that does not actually work. Nobody wants to spend money on a fogging exercise that doesn’t actually do the job because the chemicals were not up to scratch. With a registered product you have peace of mind.
