Disinfection and Transportation

The transportation of goods is an essential part of the global economy. As a result of strict lockdowns across the globe has facilitated a dramatic decrease in economic activity. Now that lockdowns have lifted, and return-to-normal activities have been implemented it is imperative that vehicles and transportation remain safe.

To keep transport hubs and vehicles for drivers, other employees and passengers protected requires a multifaceted approach.

Challenges for businesses

Like any industry protecting their staff and customers is unique. To those in the transportation businesses will need to implement measures that the public and their staff believe can ensure their safety before numbers travelling will approach normal levels. In addition, business owners are required to comply with new regulations that ensure adequate social distancing and hygiene measures are implemented to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

Transport Hubs

People traveling via public transportation often have to pass through “pinch points” where people access different parts of buildings, go through checks or enter or exit vehicles.

Passengers have to stand or sit close together in concourses, pass through stairways, doorways and checkpoints, and will touch many surfaces to access the different stages of the transport service, including:

• ticket machines

• ticket offices

• escalators

• handrails

• door handles

• washrooms — handles, taps, toilet seat, soap and tissue dispensers

• shops and restaurants

• waiting areas and seating

• queue barriers

• waste bins

What should be disinfected?

Every type of vehicle carrying or being used by more than one person or carrying goods should be disinfected to break the chain of virus transmission. The many surfaces in vehicles that are touched by drivers, passengers, staff and people loading and unloading goods can be contaminated by touch or by air-to-surface transmission of respiratory particles. Studies have shown that SARS-CoV-2 can remain viable on different types of surface from a few hours up to three days.

There are numerous areas and surfaces where infection can be spread in the different modes of transport.

• Work vehicles: door handles, steering wheels, dashboard controls, handbrakes, window controls, seats, armrests, flooring

• Buses and trams: handles, handrails, seats and armrests, windows, tables, luggage racks, waste bins, floor areas, toilets

• Overground and underground trains: handles, handrails, seats and armrests, windows, tables, luggage racks, waste bins, floor areas, toilets, buffet cars, sleeper cars

• Aircraft: seats and armrests, window blinds, light switches, air vents, tables, luggage compartments, floor areas, toilets, cabins and crew areas

• Ferries: handles, handrails, seats and armrests, windows, tables, luggage racks, waste bins, floor areas, toilets, cabins and crew areas, gaming/arcade machines, children’s play areas, restaurants and shopping areas

Transport Solutions

To reduce the risk of COVID-19, cleaning and disinfecting are essential before bringing back facilities and vehicles into use to maintain their safety. Disinfection services must be conducted in a safe and calculated approach in order to ensure the safety of staff, the general public and the operators using the disinfection equipment.

Disinfectants used have to comply with local regulations and be approved for antiviral use.

Fogging (or ULV cold fogging) can be used to apply a mist of disinfectant. The nanoscale droplets quickly settle under, on top of and on the sides of objects and inaccessible areas that may be difficult or not possible to reach using conventional cleaning methods. Additionally, fogging disinfects textiles on seating, which are more difficult to treat using manual methods.Lastly, fogging is a preferred method where time is limited. A cold fogger enables vehicles such as a bus to be disinfected in minutes. This allows many vehicles to be treated at night, ready for service the following day.

Transport hubs can implement an integrated hygiene programme to target three key areas for preventing transmission of germs.

1. Surface hygiene: disinfecting common touchpoints using a suitable disinfectant and cleaning solution. Larger areas can be disinfected by fogging to treat hard-to-reach surfaces quickly and effectively.

2. Hand hygiene solutions: provide antibacterial soap dispensers, hand-drying solutions and sanitiser dispensers for added protection in the washroom. Hand sanitiser dispensers can also be placed at strategic locations for staff or the public to use.

3. Air hygiene: air purification devices placed in strategic locations to filter respiratory droplets carrying harmful bacteria and viruses as well as mould spores, allergens and VOCs.

Benefits of transportation disinfection

Cleaning and disinfection are essential measures for decontaminating facilities and vehicles effectively. Richardson Sanitech Disinfection services utilize techniques, tools and most appropriate products to disinfect large facilities and vehicles for public transport to make them safe and return them to use as quickly as possible.

When completed, you can be sure that cleaning and disinfection have been carried out using approved safety procedures, tools and products that are compliant with safety regulations.