Coronavirus prevention: Quick tips for choosing and using disinfectants

To help prevent coronavirus in the workplace, OSHA’s workplace guidance recommends employers maintain regular housekeeping practices, including routine cleaning and disinfecting of surfaces, equipment, and other elements of the work environment. It’s important to clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces such as workstations, keyboards, phones, doorknobs, and handrails.

Here are a few tips for choosing and using disinfectants in the workplace.

When choosing a disinfectant:

• Check if the product’s EPA registration number is included on “List N: Disinfectants for Use Against SARS-Co-V-2.” If it is, the product can be used for prevention against the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). This number is found on the product label. If a disinfectant product does not have an EPA registration number, this means EPA has not reviewed any data that shows whether it kills viruses or bacteria.
• Look for the first two sets of numbers of the EPA Reg. No. While products may be marketed and sold under different brand names, EPA notes that if they have the same first two sets of EPA registration numbers, they are related products. Hypothetically, if EPA Reg. No. 12345-12 is on List N, consumers can buy EPA Reg. No. 12345-12-2567 and use the same contact time and virus from List N.

When using a disinfectant, follow the manufacturer’s instructions for use, including:

• Concentration (i.e., does the product need to be diluted before use?);
• Application method (i.e., using a sponge, spraying, etc.);
• Contact time (i.e., time the product is in direct contact with the surface or item to be disinfected); and
• Personal protective equipment, or PPE (i.e., are gloves, masks, etc. required during use?).