The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) set forth a guidance for all Americans, whether you own a business, or run a school, to ensure the cleanliness and safety of your surroundings. It is very important to first clean your areas before you disinfect. We recommend you do the following:

1. Develop your plan
2. Implement your plan
3. Maintain and revise your plan with new developments https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2020-04/documents/316485-b_reopeningamerica_combo_placard_infographic_4.19_6pm.pdf

Making sure you reduce the exposure of COVID-19 by cleaning and disinfecting is very important part of reopening and staying open during this pandemic. The virus that causes COVID-19 can be killed if you use the right products. EPA has compiled a list of disinfectant products that can be used against COVID-19. https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-registration/list-n-disinfectants-coronavirus-covid-19

It is important to work with a Distributor that meets the following to ensure your success:

1. Product is available to meet your needs
2. FDA compliant products
3. EPA products on the Coronavirus (COVID-19) list for disinfectants
4. Train associates to show how to properly clean the surfaces and follow directions on the disinfectants for the appropriate contact time.

Other things that are very important:

1. Wearing gloves while cleaning and disinfecting
2. Changing gloves after each use
3. Washing your hands thoroughly (with soap and water for at least 20 seconds) even though you wore gloves.

• Touch your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands
• Prepare or eat food and drinks with unwashed hands
• Touch a contaminated surface or objects
• Blow your nose, cough, or sneeze into hands and then touch other people’s hands or common objects

Key Times to Wash Hands

You can help yourself and your loved ones stay healthy by washing your hands often, especially during these key times when you are likely to get and spread germs:

• Before, during, and after preparing food
• Before eating food
• Before and after caring for someone at home who is sick with vomiting or diarrhea
• Before and after treating a cut or wound
• After using the toilet · After changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has used the toilet
• After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
• After touching an animal, animal feed, or animal waste
• After handling pet food or pet treats
• After touching garbage

You can help prevent yourself from getting and spreading the coronavirus–and other respiratory illnesses–by following these steps: Wash your hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds.

• Avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue or shirt sleeve, not your hands.
• Avoid close contact such as kissing, hugging, and sharing cups or eating utensils with people who are sick.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces, such as toys and doorknobs, especially if someone is sick.
• Stay home when you are sick.

Practice social distancing because COVID-19 spreads mainly among people who are in close contact with others. It is important that you and the people around you wear a mask when in public and particularly when it is difficult to stay 6 feet away from others consistently.

Choose outdoor activities and places where it is easy to stay 6 feet apart, like parks and open air-facilities. Look for physical barriers, like plexiglass screens or modified layouts, that help you keep your distance from others.

Use visual reminders – like signs, chair arrangements, markings on the floor, or arrows – to help remind you to keep your distance from others.

Floor Cleaning

You will need to remove all soil, debris, and organic substances from a surface. Cleaning is an important step in the disinfection process. Auto- floor scrubbers can be used to perform this important task between disinfection processes while people are present, since cleaning solution is applied to the floor and quickly removed to prevent slip-fall accidents.

Floor Disinfecting

Is the use of chemical solutions that eliminate pathogens and disease-causing microorganisms. These chemicals require a dwell time of up to 10 minutes (times vary) to do their job. This task is performed after cleaning and when an area can be closed off as the floor remains wet for at least the required dwell time.

Cleaning & Disinfecting your Floor Equipment

This is as important as cleaning & disinfecting your surfaces.

1. Recommend routine cleaning and disinfecting of equipment surface and parts
2. Be sure to use an EPA registered disinfectant and review the labels to ensure its compatible with the auto scrubber
3. Clean all hard, non-porous surfaces of the machine. Allow time to air dry before using disinfectants
4. Follow the labels of the disinfectants and allow the proper dwell times
5. Rinse equipment with water to remove any residues left from the disinfectants. Be sure to remove any access water to reduce the potential for damage to your equipment

Please be sure to wear the proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), follow all label directions, and use safety protocols, such as safety signs indicating the floors are wet.

Masco Packaging & Industrial Supply is committed to working with our industry partners to keep our communities safe, clean, and healthy.