Workplace disinfection a rising demand

By Siddhi Jain 

New Delhi, July 27 The world is re-opening gradually after the COVID-19 shutdown, and so are offices and workplaces everywhere. But as they do, millions of office workers ask ‘Is it safe? as they prepare to re-enter workplaces. No wonder, sanitisation and workplace hygiene have assumed increased importance and demand.

Global workplace experience and facility management company ISS, which has launched a disinfection and hygiene solution, Pure Space, says organisations are focusing on the well being of their employees. “So, any organisation planning to reopen their offices (even for the smallest percentage of employees) are preferring to go with our disinfection and hygiene services. They want their employees to feel safe and secure on returning to work. The focus is on sanitizing the high-traffic areas even during the working hours so employees feel safe and more connected to their workplace,” Aksh Rohatgi, CEO, ISS Facility Services India, told IANSlife.

According to researchers, tight, enclosed indoors with little airflow can up your risk for contracting an infection. Research also indicates that a virus on a high-contact surface, such as a doorknob or a tabletop, can infect 40-60 per cent of the people in a workplace within two to four hours. In an enclosed space like an office, with co-workers sitting in close quarters, frequent disinfection is a need being felt across workplaces.

The users of Pure Space, which uses ATP technology to provide the before and after microbial count, largely include large organisations – MNCs and Indian companies – with a focus on employee well being, and hospitals /healthcare care centers, pharma companies where hygiene, disinfection and sanitization are of critical importance, Rohatgi said.

The procedure is an add-on to daily office cleaning services and breaks the chain of infection between people. It effectively removes all microorganisms that are typical sources of cross-infection. The cleaning focuses on high-touch surfaces – areas that human hands touch often. Do they expect a need for sanitized spaces to last beyond the pandemic? “Absolutely.”

“The focus on hygiene and sanitization has grown exponentially because of this pandemic and we expect the demand for sanitized spaces to continue well beyond the current situation. Everybody is aware of the difference a clean and sanitized space can make.”