Official guidance - COVID-19: Cleaning in non-healthcare settings

Dear Brother / Sister

OFFICIAL GUIDANCE - COVID-19: CLEANING IN NON-HEALTHCARE SETTINGS

This circular brings attention to advice issued by Public Health England (PHE) on 26 March 2020 on cleaning in non-healthcare settings. The advice is extracted from the following webpage:

ttps://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-decontamination-in-non-healthcare-settings/covid-19-decontamination-in-non-healthcare-settings

Whilst the approaches by governments to certain aspects of how they are responding to Covid-19 varies slightly, the advice provided to the public differs in style rather than content.

Fire and rescue services will have issued information to personnel with the fast-moving nature of the current crisis. With the volume of information being published, and the changes to the way that fire and rescue services are having to operate due to the guidance issued by the governments in the UK, there is a likelihood of such information not being updated as quickly as any of us would have liked.

Fire and rescue services should have in place external laundry services, and appropriate arrangements for the cleaning of stations as well as disposal facilities and processes for the safe disposal of clinical waste. Arrangements made by fire and rescue services should conform to the highest possible standards and these standards should be as close as possible to those required and practised by health providers who come into contact with Covid-19 carriers and sufferers.

This PHE guidance is primarily targeted at those who look after others, for example care homes. However, there is a read-across for organisations and workers in settings where there are practices and conditions not found in other workplaces which fire and rescue services have in common with those premises, for example, beds and PPE. The information below is generic advice for all non-healthcare settings, but we are sure will be of interest and use to members.

This circular is one of a suite of documents bringing members’ attention to official guidance that has been issued on matters centred on Covid-19.

Best wishes.

Yours fraternally

ANDY DARK
Assistant General Secretary