More Maintenance Staff Needed to Ensure HygieneSchool maintenance workers have a critical role to play in preventing the transmission of COVID-19. In addition to their usual routine, they have increased duties. The Quebec National Institute of Public Health recently published a document entitled "COVID-19: Cleaning and Disinfection of Surfaces" which lists some of these: - The most frequently touched surfaces (e.g.: door handles, chair armrests, tables, light switches, electronic equipment control levers, water faucets, elevator buttons, stair railings, toilets, etc.) are more likely to be contaminated and special attention must therefore be paid to the frequency and effectiveness of their cleaning and disinfection. - Electronic devices, such as computer keyboards, tablets and cell phones, can be disinfected with alcohol wipes (at least daily) or follow the manufacturer's recommendations for cleaning and disinfection products compatible with the device. - Waterproof gloves should be worn to protect hands during cleaning. - Hands and forearms should be washed with soap and water when gloves are removed. - After cleaning and disinfection, gloves that are washable should be thoroughly washed with water and detergent and dried, or discarded and replaced with a new pair if necessary. - Hand washing should be done before and after wearing gloves. - After cleaning and disinfection work, clothing worn should be removed and washed. In April, one of the unions representing these workers, the Federation of Public Service Employees (FEESP-CSN), stressed the need "to provide specific hygiene and disinfection measures and sufficient housekeeping staff to implement them." On August 30, Éric Pronovost, President of the Federation of School Support Staff (FPSS-CSQ) made the same point and told the press that "it takes an average of 25 to 35 per cent more time for a maintenance worker to disinfect a school, and to do so in accordance with public health standards." Maintenance staff are expressing concern that the lack of staff is resulting in a huge workload, and that some school principals have actually reduced the number of hours and the frequency of cleaning.
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