Enhancing established standards
James Lee, Managing Director of Cromwell Polythene, shares steps to help people stay safe and have a hospitable return to the workplace.
Practical actions for businesses to work safely during the coronavirus crisis have been outlined by government and are continuing to be updated as part of a ‘roadmap to recovery’. Cafés and restaurants, for instance, are set to re-open this month, provided they can meet COVID-19 safety guidelines.
As some areas of the hospitality industry return to business, steps need to be followed, including social distancing, heightened cleaning and hygiene procedures, use of personal protective equipment (PPE), and safe recycling and waste management practices.
As some areas of the hospitality industry return to business, steps need to be followed, including social distancing, heightened cleaning and hygiene procedures, use of personal protective equipment (PPE), and safe recycling and waste management practices.
By building upon established industry standards and following the sector specific government guidance for ‘Working safely during coronavirus’, businesses across all markets can ensure they are doing everything possible to protect people. Clear instructions should be given to staff and the public on how to follow these measures.
Plastic is continuing to play an important role in supporting the hospitality industry and a range of other sectors to work safely during this pandemic. This includes personal protective equipment including face masks, aprons, and disposable gloves, to plastic screens and use of refuse sacks, recycling bags and bin liners. These materials are helping to reduce the infection risk.
Unfortunately, this demand for protective essential items has led to some companies offering products that have no guarantee of meeting industry safety standards. Businesses should ensure they are purchasing products which have independently audited quality hallmarks including European norm (EN) and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) quality management standards.
Whenever we introduce a new product range, we ensure it meets the highest reliability, quality, sustainability and safety standards. Our face masks, for example, are CE marked and hold EN 14683, which specifies requirements and test methods for medical face masks for bacterial filtration.
In the UK, the Cleaning and Hygiene Suppliers Association (CHSA) Accreditation schemes for cotton mops, soft tissue, and plastic refuse sacks ensures they are fit for purpose and that the dimensions and count of products are as indicated on the label, i.e. ‘what’s on the box is what’s in the box’.
Clinical waste compliance Effectiveness and safety of products and procedures is
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essential in any sector, but particularly vital in healthcare settings, where Department of Health guidance must be followed. For example, any bin liner used in a healthcare setting – whether for hazardous, sanitary, or general waste – should have been independently tested, or follow recognised standards.
Clinical waste sacks should be fit for purpose to a performance specification, with high tear resistance, and the correct colour coded bag should be used for safe and legally compliant management and disposal of clinical waste, for instance:
• Yellow bags for infectious waste which must be sent for incineration.
• Orange bags for infectious waste which can be sent for alternative treatment to render it safe prior to disposal.
• Tiger bags for offensive waste that does not pose an infection risk which may be sent for energy recovery.
For advice and assistance on clinical waste handling and disposal, there is help at hand from the CIWM, experts in waste management, and The Sanitary Medical Disposal Services Association (SMDSA), which, through its members, promotes best practice in the handling, collection, treatment and disposal of healthcare and hygiene waste material.
To keep working safely during the coronavirus crisis, each sector must continue to follow government guidance, communicate adapted procedures, and draw support from its relevant industry bodies which champion best practice.
www.cromwellpolythene.co.uk twitter.com/TomoCleaning
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