Sanitizing & Disinfecting Guidelines For Restaurants & Food Service

COVID-19 is a new virus detected for the first time in 2019. COVID-19 causes fever, cough and/or shortness of breath. For most people, the virus has mild to moderate symptoms, but it can cause severe complications or death in vulnerable people. 

Restaurants/food services are public places with high risk of COVID-19 infection. Research shows that poor ventilation and airflow intensity make restaurants and bars easy to spread. In addition, it is difficult to wear masks at such on-site dining places. Therefore, restaurants/food services need to take strict measures in disinfecting & sanitizing to improve safety in these areas.

1. Everyday disease prevention 

Take simple steps to support a healthy work environment. These are important every day, but especially when preventing the spread of respiratory illnesses like COVID-19 and flu. 

• Post signs that encourage staying home when sick, covering coughs and sneezes, and washing hands frequently with warm soapy water at workplace entrances, restrooms, employee break rooms and in other visible areas. 
• Remind people to avoid touching their eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands. 
• Follow recommendations for cleaning and sanitizing your workspace.
• Instruct employees with symptoms associated with COVID-19 to report them to their supervisors. Instruct sick employees to stay home and to follow the CDC’s What to do if you are sick with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Consult with the local health department for additional guidance. 
• PREVENT THE SPREAD of illness at the workplace:

• All employees must practice good handwashing and hygiene.
• Avoid bare hand contact with ready-to-eat foods.
• Completely clean work areas using the bleach cleaning steps.
• Do not come to work when sick.

2. Promote proper handwashing 

Emphasize effective hand hygiene including washing hands for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.

• Make sure handwashing signs are put where employees can see them. 
• Wash hands thoroughly with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds. 
• Dry hands with paper towels and throw the paper towels in the trash.

Remember to wash hands: 

• After coughing, sneezing, and wiping your nose. 
• After using the bathroom. 
• When preparing foods. 
• When switching from preparing uncooked foods to working with ready to eat foods. 
• After touching your face or hair. 
• After touching animals. 
• After eating and using tobacco/nicotine. 
• After handling money or other forms of payment. 
• After handling dirty equipment or utensils. 
• Before putting on disposable gloves. 
• Whenever hands become dirty. 

3. Use routine cleaning procedures

Early evidence suggests that the COVID-19 virus can survive for several days at room temperature. However, special processes beyond routine cleaning and sanitizing are not recommended at this time. Regular household cleaners as well as a simple bleach solution (½ cup bleach to 1 gallon of water) have been shown to be effective in preventing the spread of COVID-19 and other viruses. 

• Check the expiration date on bleach and make sure it has not been opened for more than 6 months. 
• Allow 1 minute of contact time with the surface and wash away with water. 
• Use bleach in open areas. 
• Do not mix with other chemicals or soap. 
• Prevent chemical contact with food during cleaning. 
• Use gloves when disinfecting an area and throw them in the trash when finished.

SURFACES THAT ARE FREQUENTLY TOUCHED should be cleaned often. Increase the frequency of cleaning and disinfecting of high-touch surfaces by wiping down surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.

• Remote Controls
• Kitchen Surfaces 
• Door Knobs
• Bathroom Surfaces
• Keyboards
• Wheelchairs & Walkers
• Tables & Chairs
• Phones & Tablets

4.Cleaning and sanitizing

Continue to follow established food safety protocols and best practices for restaurants & retail food services and important COVID-19 recommendations, especially cleaning and sanitizing surfaces.

• Remember, cleaning and sanitizing are not the same. Clean with soap and water to remove dirt and food from surfaces. Sanitize with chemicals or heat to reduce germs. Surfaces that look clean may still have germs on them that you can’t see. Sanitizing reduces these germs to safer levels. 
• Clean and sanitize surfaces that are frequently touched. Surfaces such as remote controls, kitchen counters, door knobs, bathroom surfaces, keyboards, tables and chairs, and phones and tablets should be cleaned often. 
• Follow the instructions on your cleaner for how long the surface needs to remain wet for it to be effective. 
• Food-contact surfaces should be washed, rinsed, and sanitized after each use.

QueeBee offers professional Disinfect and Sanitize Services. Our cleaners are currently using high grade disinfecting chemicals that are highly effective in sanitizing and disinfecting contaminated services.
Allowing the product to dry will also coat the surface with a microscopic protective layer for continuous protection of up to 24 hours.
QueenBee disinfecting service can be an additional service on top of your home or business’ regular clean or you can have this as a stand-alone service.
Sanitizing and disinfecting your office or workplace assist you to keep your business open, and your employees and customers safe. Services are available in Canberra and Sydney.

Whenever you are in need of clean, sanitize, and disinfect services, QueeBee is here for you and happy to help.

QueenBee Cleaning Pty LTD

• 42A Bougainville St Forrest ACT 2603
• 3/5 Daphne close Kingswood NSW 2747

• Hotline: 1800 1 CLEAN (25326)
• Email: info@queenbeecleaning.com.au