In today’s world of pandemics and endemics, keeping a work, learning, or transportation environment clean should not involve yet another health concern!  Knowing what is in your disinfecting product and how to properly use it is the key to safely and effectively cleaning and disinfecting surfaces.  If unsafely handled or improperly used, many disinfectants can be harmful to the people using them, to the people occupying the cleaned environment, and to the surfaces being cleaned or disinfected. Protecting workers who use cleaning products is a priority, and you should not have to be a chemist or health and safety expert to do so.

As stated in the OSHA-NIOSH Info Sheet, “it is important to choose the least hazardous cleaning chemical that will accomplish the task at hand.^{” 1}  Why use chemicals that can cause eye, lung, and skin irritation or require the use of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) for application, when there are disinfectants available that do not pose these hazards.  And be aware, simply because the word “green” is on a product does not ensure the chemicals contained therein are safe.  Refer to certifying organizations, such as Green Seal, that exist to ensure “green” products meet certain criteria.

What do you see when you pick up your cleaning, sanitizing, or disinfecting product?  Are there warning labels or is there a “Safe Choice” label?  Are there vapor warnings?  Is the product flammable? Can the leftover product be poured down a drain?  Is there residue left behind on the surface that needs to be wiped away?  Many products such as Clorox 360, Lysol, and Lemon-Quat contain hazardous chemicals that can cause ill effects and the health and safety concerns mentioned in this blog.  Read the labels carefully and think of the workers using the products and the occupants of the environment being cleaned and disinfected.  Consult the EPA’s Ecolabel Program if you want to go “greener” in your pursuit of cleaning products.

Time is of the essence in terms of turnaround time for cleaning, and this is compounded by the current labor shortage in the US – fewer hands to do more work.  How much training, PPE, and reference to SDS’s (Safety Data Sheets) are needed to use a product safely and effectively?  The accolades of PURE® speak for themselves for being safe, effective, and efficient.  Armed with the NSF certification, PURE® has been rigorously tested to comply with all public health standards.

• FDA Approved and GRAS Rated (Generally Recognized As Safe)
• EPA List-N Registered (Reg No. 72977-5-73912)
• EPA’s Lowest Toxicity Rating (Category IV)
• Kills 99.999% of Bacteria, Viruses, and Fungi including:
  • SARS-Co_V-2 (causes COVID-19)
  • Influenza
  • Staphylococcus
  • MRSA
  • coli
  • Salmonella
  • Hepatitis B and C
  • HIV Type 1
• Safe on all Surfaces – contains no harsh chemicals or irritants
• Ready to Use (RTU) – no mixing or fear of over-diluting

Remember, cleaning and disinfecting should not be a hazardous job!

 

¹ https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/publications/OSHA3512.pdf