COVID-19 Cleaning Resources

As COVID-19 continues to have an unprecedented impact around the globe, Vonachen Group is doing everything in its power to protect the health of both its workforce and clients. Our focus is on keeping the business processes of our commercial, education, manufacturing, and healthcare customers functioning as normal as possible during this trying time.

To start, Vonachen Group is continually monitoring the most up-to-date cleaning and safety protocols provided by the Centers for Disease Control and World Health Organization. We remain committed to providing you with the best materials, equipment, training and expertise in addressing the spread and containment of this global pandemic. As COVID-19 evolves, we want to inform you of our tiered approach to handling each potential wave of the outbreak. These services would either be included or in addition to your service, depending on your current scope of work.

Tier 1 – HEIGHTENED DISINFECTION

For areas currently WITHOUT any suspected COVID-19 contaminants

Vonachen Group crews can implement increased sanitizing frequency of all touch points with a disinfectant listed on the EPA-approved list for emerging viral pathogens.

• High Touch-Point cleaning (HTP) focuses on common areas and locations that are touched frequently by several people throughout the day including light switches, doorknobs, desktops, water fountains and elevator buttons . A member of the janitorial sta, such as special projects team member or porter, will circulate through your facility, disinfecting these touch points throughout the day. Regular disinfection of restrooms, kitchens and other common areas can reduce the spread of illness.
• Thorough disinfecting of work stations is another vital element of eective HTP cleaning that Vonachen Group sta can administer. With personal items removed, work surfaces such as desks, telephones, staplers, computer equipment, oce devices are cleaned first with a microfiber cloth and an all-purpose cleaner.EPA-registered disinfectant is then applied and left on for up to ten minutes (depending on manufacturer’s dwell time) before being wiped o. This process is another layer of protection against cough, flu and cold symptoms throughout the winter and can be performed nightly/weekly as circumstances dictate.
• Carpet/Surface sanitizing can also be stepped up to include the use of special disinfectants that will mitigate germs and viruses that collect on these surfaces.

Tier 2: COMPREHENSIVE SANITIZATION

For areas contaminated WITH SUSPECTED/CONFIRMED COVID-19

If employees or guests at your facility become ill or contract confirmed cases of COVID-19, Vonachen Group crews can implement more rigorous cleaning methods beyond those listed above.

• Electrostatic spraying may be used to disinfect your facility. Electrical charges allow the disinfecting agent to access hard-to-reach nooks and crannies, providing a more thorough coverage area. This process, implemented by our special projects group, allows a greater area of coverage versus normal “spray and wipe” disinfection methods.
• Disinfectant fogging can be used for small to medium-sized rooms. Once occupants have vacated, our special projects group sets up these fog-emitting machines that envelope the space with an EPA-approved disinfectant. This method provides hands free whole-room disinfection.

With individuals, government, and private institutions implementing more stringent personal and commercial sanitizing practices along with social distancing, the hope is that COVID 19 will run its course in due time and not remain at pandemic status for long. As the virus abates, your service can return to “normal,” however you choose to define it.

As always, Vonachen Group stands ready to supply your business or sta with the services you need most.

Purpose

Vonachen Group is dedicated to the protection of its employees, customers and facilities. Also, we are committed to ensuring that our company can continue all aspects of its critical business processes during a pandemic and can safely resume normal operations as quickly as possible after a pandemic affects any facility. We place a high priority on developing, validating, and, if necessary, implementing our company’s Pandemic Coronavirus (COVID – 19) Emergency Response Plan.

What is Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)?

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory illness that can spread from person to person. This includes people who are in close contact with one another (about 6 feet) or through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. It may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose or possibly their eyes.

What are the symptoms of COVID -19?

Patients with COVID-19 have had mild to severe respiratory illness with symptoms of

• Fever
• Cough
• Shortness of breath

These symptoms may appear to 2-14 days after exposure

How can I protect myself?

People can protect themselves from respiratory illness with everyday preventative measures

• Avoid close contact with individuals who are sick
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand rub that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue or into the fold of your elbow
• Stay home when sick or exhibiting symptoms
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces

What to do if you’re sick?

• Stay home and contact your doctor before visiting to inform them of your symptoms
• Separate yourself from other people as much as possible
• Cover your coughs and sneezes
• Clean your hands often
• Clean all “high touch surfaces” everyday

Administrative Duties

The Safety Managers for Vonachen Group are Dakota Jopes and Steve Enck. All Companies will be responsible for working together to establish and implement our written COVID-19 Emergency Response Plan. They, along with the Executive Staff, will identify others to be part of the Pandemic Team and will have the authority to make necessary decisions to ensure the success of this plan. Copies of this plan will be made available by contacting the Safety Department.

Goals and Objectives

As COVID-19 has become more prevalent throughout the United States, the Safety Department along with the Executive Staff have determined our immediate goals and objectives for planning for, containing, and recovering from a pandemic:

1. Identify the essential employees required to maintain business operations at all locations serviced.
2. If possible, forecast potential absenteeism rates as determined by the estimated length and severity of the pandemic. Stay in contact with customers to gauge need and provide assistance.
3. Estimate our need for chemicals, disinfectant cleaners, supplies and equipment and create backup supply.
4. Purchase N95 respirators, which will be of critical importance to personal safety and reduce the spreading of the virus. If it is not necessary or mandatory for the N95, a mask similar to the surgical mask can be purchased at less cost.
5. Execute our policy for all employees to minimize face to face contact and other precautionary measures (i.e., coughing and hand washing) to prevent the spread of germs in the event of a pandemic.
6. Develop a more liberal (temporary) sick leave absence policy so that infected employees will not feel obligated to return to work too soon or will know what to expect if a customer or supervisor sends an employee home. The policy will mirror current policy as much as possible regarding excused absences, but we will not assign attendance occurrences for flu-related absences.
7. If necessary, contact temporary employment agencies to fill any gaps in the workforce created by a pandemic.
8. Utilize a staff of “on call” employees and/or increase the hours of part time employees in the event of a pandemic.
9. Contact customers and offer to establish a revised work schedule that will limit the amount and frequency of face-to-face contact with large groups of people for both our employees and customers.
10. Offer increased cleaning frequencies, particularly disinfectant cleaning, at all locations and accounts (attached).
11. Encourage employees to receive an annual influenza vaccination
12. Establish an emergency communications plan for communicating business related/pandemic information to all employees.
13. Update this pandemic plan on a regularly scheduled basis, but not less than quarterly.
14. Schedule a drill to test the preparedness plan when the threat of a pandemic is at its onset.

Communication

We must have an effective way to reach those working for our company to inform them of the status of the pandemic approaching or affecting our company and their responsibilities during the pandemic. Also, they must have an effective way to reach management to provide input and notify us of any needs or changes in absenteeism rates and health status. We will utilize our supervisors to share information during safety meetings or as often as needed; prepare posters to place at the worksites; include articles in employee newsletters; management walk-a-rounds to be available for private or group discussions; update the company website as information becomes available; and utilize any other form of communication available.

Likewise, communicating with our community, customers, and potential customers about our current capabilities, plans and available services may help reduce unnecessary fears and will give us an opportunity for new business and services. A team will be identified by the Executive Staff to prepare an appropriate communication piece that will be distributed to customers; the Sales Staff will meet with customers to discuss the opportunities for additional services; and, as appropriate the Operations Managers and Supervisors will discuss additional services with their contacts. Seizing every opportunity to sustain, and hopefully increase, our business services will be the expected goal of every management person.

The company website will be modified to include company updates in the event of a pandemic.

Customers, suppliers and employees will have the phone numbers and e-mail addresses of the key employees. And, we will work with local Chambers of Commerce, hospitals and other community organizations as necessary and update this plan as new information becomes available.

Training

Information and training are at the heart of pandemic planning and containment. Our goal is to ensure employee comprehension and understanding of how employees may be exposed to COVID-19, what their responsibilities are, and what protective measures they can take. Due to the complexity of a pandemic and need for continuity of training, the Operations Managers will be responsible for identifying a trainer in their area as well as any cross-training needed to assure that our company has sufficient coverage for all critical business processes in their areas should high absenteeism occur.

The Safety Manager will conduct a train-the-trainer session for all of the supervisors selected by the Operations Managers. The Supervisors will then work with their Operations Managers to make sure that cross training occurs when this training is scheduled and conducted. Training materials will be provided by the Safety Manager, and documentation of all training will be mandatory. Training topics to be covered (but not limited to) are: precautionary measures recommended by the CDC to lessen the spread of the virus, policy changes that impact this employee group, appropriate and mandatory use of PPE, customer requirements for cleaning, company requirements for cleaning used in lieu of customer requirements, changes to the use of chemicals, reporting of emergencies, etc. It shall also be noted that if the customer has a safety or influenza policy or procedures in place concerning employee/customer protection, we will abide by theirs if it is more restrictive than ours. Otherwise, our policies and procedures will be followed.

Operations Managers and Supervisors, with assistance as needed from the Safety Manager, will be responsible for the continued implementation, training and education of employees in their respective areas.

Post-Pandemic

Once it appears the pandemic has passed, operations will return to “normal” as identified by the Safety Department and Executive Staff.

**Use of a face mask/respirator will be at company discretion based on relevant CDC guidance and OSHA regulations. Managers/supervisors should contact the Safety Department to verify that use will be required.

Appendices

We have attached to this COVID – 19 Pandemic Plan, the following links:

• Various (appropriate) information about the current pandemic COVID – 19 virus
  • Handouts for employees
  • Training references for supervisors
• Brochure of COVID – 19 Emergency Response Services
• Speaking points for managers/supervisors to use when communicating to employees

EPA List of Disinfectants with Emerging Viral Pathogen claim:
https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2020-03/documents/sars-cov-2-list_03-03-2020.pdf

CDC Environmental Cleaning Recommendations:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/organizations/cleaning-disinfection.html

CDC Communication Resource Material:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/communication/factsheets.html