How are you ensuring the safety of staff cleaning HCPSS facilities during the COVID-related school closures?

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The directive to clean and disinfect schools was mandated by the State of Maryland, and HCPSS has ensured the products being used to clean and disinfect are not hazardous to our staff. HCPSS Operations are utilizing staff members from the offices of Custodial, Grounds and Maintenance clean and disinfect of the schools, in accordance with guidelines provided by the Howard County Health Department and Maryland State Department of Education.

We are using the following products in a diluted form: Earth Sense Multi-Purpose Cleaner and Neutral-Q Disinfectant Cleaner Deodorant. Both products are purchased from National Chemical Laboratories, Inc. The safety data sheet for the two products can be found online. There are no products in either of these two cleaning mixtures that have enforceable exposure Permissible Exposure Limits (PEL) per OSHA. The only ingredient that could be considered hazardous is in the disinfectant: Quaternary Ammonium Compounds. This particular ingredient does not have a PEL and makes up less than 0.1% of the mixture and respirator protection is not required. All HCPSS staff have safety glasses and gloves for protection.