How a Portable Sink Can Help You Keep up With Pandemic Protocols

Preventing the spread of COVID-19 has been the number one priority for governments and establishments everywhere since the beginning of March 2020, when the lockdowns were first announced in Canada.

Many industries have had to adapt to these new changes, and the food industry is no exception. The stakes are high. Failing to clean, disinfect and sanitize properly can (and will) lead to further outbreaks and give your business terrible publicity. It might also lead to fines or restrictions from police or government health officials.

Businesses have no choice but to always clean, disinfect and sanitize if they remain open during this pandemic. It’s the most effective way of preventing the spread of infection, viruses, and disease (namely, COVID-19). It is essential to understand the differences between the three. Not all cleaning methods are created equally, and you must learn the variations to implement each of them properly.

Keep in mind that you should always be changing gloves and rags to prevent cross-contamination between surfaces while you are cleaning.

Cleaning

Using soap, water, and a rag removes all visible dirt, dust and other debris from surfaces. This surface-level cleaning will not remove or kill all germs and bacteria, but it can thin them out. It does lower the risk of spreading infection, but only marginally. It is especially recommended that we wash our hands with soap and water for at least 30 seconds if we have been out and about.

Because everyone is encouraged to wash their hands frequently, adding a portable sink to your establishment might be beneficial. It will give your customers and your staff better access to soap and water to wash their hands. According to the World Health Organization, hand washing and good hand hygiene are credited as one of the best methods of infection prevention worldwide.

You might not be able to install a sink with the appropriate plumbing in areas that you need it. That’s where a self-contained portable sink could come in handy.

Sanitizing

Sanitizing means reducing bacteria to a safe level, or the level indicated on a product’s label. Most products will kill 99.999% of bacteria as advertised, but they will not kill viruses. There are different sanitizing protocols for other areas like the workplace or schools. And even more strict sanitizing protocols in place for food-related industries and places of business. These places will often regularly mop or wipe surfaces with water and a sanitizing chemical or antibacterial wipes.

Disinfecting

The process of disinfecting involves killing germs on surfaces using disinfectants. These disinfectants either destroy or deactivate both the bacteria and the viruses on hard, nonporous surfaces. Some common examples of disinfectants are solutions made from bleach and alcohol.

Disinfecting is recommended after you’ve already cleaned a surface and cleared it of any debris. It is especially recommended on high-touch surfaces, like doorknobs or faucet handles. This is the most powerful cleaning method, and because of that, it is used in childcare, healthcare and fitness facilities. Due to COVID-19, almost all places that are still open to the public are encouraged to use disinfectants.

Many industries have had to change their procedures to keep up with policy changes due to the pandemic. Some businesses have even had to shut down either temporarily or permanently.

If you have been able to continue serving customers amidst the pandemic, the following are some tips and best practices to keep in mind to keep your customers and your staff safe and healthy.

Health and Safety Protocols

• All of your staff should be wearing proper PPE, which includes masks as mandatory and protective gloves if possible.
• Implement mandatory handwashing breaks every hour on the hour.
• Offer guests hand sanitizer as they enter and exit, or provide guests with a handwashing area with soap.
• Repeatedly clean bathrooms, surfaces, kitchens, customer-facing and high-touch areas often throughout the day.
• Implement maximum capacity limits for guests.
• Cordon off areas that are spaced out to maintain social distance.
• Only use pre-packaged utensils for takeout.
• Perform thorough sanitation of the work area before the next shift arrives.

Ways To Promote Your Business During the Pandemic

• Update your Google page, website or social media with information about what health and safety protocols your business is undertaking.
• Provide information if you are offering a special or limited menu.
• Post often to remind customers that you are still open.
• Encourage your customers to share their takeout on their social media accounts.

If you’re looking to increase the level of hygiene you can offer to your staff and customers, consider purchasing a portable sink. A portable sink will allow your customers and staff to stick to hygiene protocols. Portable sinks save space, are easy to clean and do not require plumbing.

For more information about portable sinks, call Ancaster Food Equipment at 855-888-9644 or contact us here.