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Basic Infection Control for Property Management - Chapter 5: Environmental Hygiene

Here is our cleaning room
Ching-yee, you know, we are the experts of cleaning
Let me give you some practical tips
Cleaning should begin from the relatively clean areas first
then work towards the dirtier areas
Do you know why?  
If you start from the dirty area, you will expand the size of it
So we should start from the cleaner area first
Then it would be more efficient and effective
All surfaces should be cleaned at least daily with detergent and water
or use disinfectant such as 1 : 99 diluted household bleach 
(mixing 1 part of 5.25% bleach with 99 parts of water) when necessary 
High touch areas should be cleaned more frequently, depending on the frequency of use
such as handrails of escalators, control panels of elevators and door knobs 
Don't forget to wash your hands after completing the cleaning procedure 
Pest control should also be carried out
Mosquitoes can transmit diseases like dengue fever and Japanese encephalitis
Places with stagnant water, such as saucers of flower pots, tree holes, water containers
keyholes on manhole covers, roof gutters and surface draining channels
must be cleaned regularly and kept dry to prevent breeding of vectors
Rodent control is also important
We would step up inspection, clear up debris and maintain sanitation
We would also install metal frames and deploy rodenticides, etc 
And we, as management staff, should perform regular checks
to ensure strict enforcement of hygiene standards 
What if there is visible dirt? 
Gloves must be worn if the cleaning procedures involve contact with visible soils
Other PPE may be considered depending on the situation
When substantial amounts of body fluids or blood is anticipated 
Eye protection, i.e. goggles or face shield, or body protection may be considered
Use highly absorbent material to clean up the contaminated surface first
If the surface is contaminated with vomitus
disinfect with 1 : 49 diluted household bleach 
(mixing 1 part of 5.25% bleach with 49 parts of water)
rinse with water after 15 to 30 minutes
If the surface is contaminated with blood
use 1 : 4 diluted household bleach (mixing 1 part of 5.25% bleach with 4 parts of water)
to disinfect the contaminated surface, leave for 10 minutes before rinsing with water
Bleach plays a vital role in disinfection
It is a useful and effective household disinfectant
Its active ingredient, sodium hypochlorite
denatures the proteins of microorganisms
and is therefore effective in killing bacteria, fungi and viruses
Household bleach is widely available, at low cost and works quickly 
Diluted household bleach is therefore recommended for the disinfection of facilities
However, bleach must be handled with caution 
as bleach can irritate mucous membranes, skin and the airway
Improper use of bleach may lead to accidents and cause harms 
Understood
Kit, please demonstrate the correct procedures of preparing and diluting bleach solution
Sure, I will go to prepare the tools and equipment
Thanks
First, we must ensure the environment is well-ventilated when diluting or using bleach
Window must be open if available 
Good morning, Lin
Good morning, manager
Lin, property management assistant. Responsible for shopping centre cleaning
Kit, as Lin is here, please let her do the demonstration while you explain the steps 
Sure
Okay. Let me demonstrate
Second, since bleach can irritate mucous membranes, skin and the airway
Protective equipment should be used when preparing and using bleach
Third, cold water should be used for dilution
as hot water decomposes the active ingredient of bleach and renders it ineffective 
Fourth is the quantity and proportion
Household bleach contains 5.25% sodium hypochlorite 
It is generally diluted in two ways
For general cleaning of the household area or high touch areas in shopping centres 
such as escalator handrails, elevator control panels and door knobs
1 : 99 diluted household bleach
(mixing 1 part of 5.25% bleach with 99 parts of water) can be used  
but when it comes to surfaces contaminated with vomitus, excreta and secretions
A higher concentration of bleach with 1 : 49 diluted household bleach 
(mixing 1 part of 5.25% bleach with 49 parts of water) should be used for disinfection 
Fifth, measuring cup should be used for accurate measurement
1 : 99 (mixing 1 part of 5.25% bleach with 99 parts of water), it is ready for use 
Sixth, don't forget to rinse disinfected articles with water and wipe dry
Seventh, when you return here after disinfection is done
Soak all cleaning tools in diluted household bleach for 30 minutes  
and rinse thoroughly before reuse next time
and finally, wash hands with liquid soap 
Wipe your hands with clean towels or disposable towels 
Moreover, a few important points to note when using diluted household bleach
Avoid using it on metals, wool, nylon, silk, dyed fabric and painted surfaces
Avoid touching the eyes
If bleach gets in the eyes, they must be washed for at least 15 minutes with water 
and seek medical attention immediately afterwards
Do not mix bleach with other household cleaning agents 
as this reduces its effectiveness in disinfection and can cause dangerous chemical reactions
For example, a toxic gas will be produced 
when bleach is mixed with acidic agents such as toilet cleaner
This can result in accidents and injuries
If necessary, use detergents for cleaning first 
and then rinse thoroughly with water before using bleach for disinfection
Undiluted bleach liberates a toxic gas when exposed to sunlight
Therefore we should store bleach in a cool, shaded place and keep it out of reach of children
To avoid accident, we usually perform the dilution of bleach in the cleaning room
Sodium hypochlorite decomposes with time
To ensure its effectiveness, purchase recently produced bleach and avoid overstock 
For effective disinfection, use diluted bleach within 24 hours after preparation 
as decomposition increases with time if left unused
Mr Fong, I have finished my work here
I will continue cleaning outside, please take your time
Thanks