Earlier this month, in a UK sport first, Rentokil Initial partnered with Saracens Rugby Club as its official hygiene partner for the restart of their 2019/20 campaign. As the club prepared for the return of the Gallagher Premiership, it needed to ensure Saracens' home stadium was safe and hygienic for the return of players, staff and stakeholders. When it comes to Coronavirus disinfection, prevention and protection, each facility is different and must undergo a detailed assessment that takes into account its use, number of people present, footfall as well as latest government guidance. We worked closely with Saracens to provide appropriate treatments so that their players, staff and other stakeholders have confidence every touchpoint within the facility has been considered and disinfected.
Accredited and certified specialist cleaning professionals from Rentokil Specialist Hygiene completed effective specialist cleaning on the stadium to ensure it was fit for use ahead of Saracens’ first home game on 22nd August. Technicians, wearing appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), and respiratory protective equipment (RPE) completed work so Saracens could ensure a safe return for sport at their stadium.
Rentokil Specialist Hygiene first surveyed the premises to establish how to clean the stadium as effectively as possible. When our experts survey premises to assess risks and implement solutions to ensure safety and compliance, we focus on four key areas: Hygiene Factors, Atmosphere, Touch, Social Distancing (HATS).
We used a range of different disinfection techniques appropriate to the area being sanitised including Ultraviolet (UV) lamps and electrostatic disinfection in the changing rooms. These lamps are handheld and use UV light which causes the photochemical deconstruction of the DNA of microorganisms, to deactivate the virus’ reproductive processes so that it can no longer spread. UV lamps are well suited to touchpoints with sensitive equipment, such as medical diagnostic equipment, computers and electrical items that would not be suited coming into contact with a liquid disinfectant application.
Our electrostatic disinfection involves adding an electric charge to liquid droplets of disinfectant when they are sprayed. This process allows these droplets to effectively wrap around surfaces within the area and just like a magnet; the process draws the droplets and the surface area together.
We also completed a thorough disinfection using our Mist Blower Space Treatment which generates mist to cover large open areas, such as stadium seating, quickly and effectively. The Mist Blower has a jet for distribution, allowing for speed and a high volume of mist to be applied.
It might sound simple but encouraging proper hand hygiene amongst the personnel working in stadiums is essential. Hands are a natural breeding ground for germs and one of the principal carriers of harmful pathogens – in fact, 80% of infections are spread by hand. Ensuring employees onsite have access to the essential handwashing tools – warm water, soap, drying facilities and ideally, hand sanitiser – goes a long way. There should be ample supplies of these products in the washrooms, breakout and kitchen areas throughout the building, paired with handwashing reminders to encourage best practice.
To encourage and promote hand hygiene at Saracens' home stadium, Initial Washroom Hygiene installed hand sanitiser dispensers at key points around the stadium as well as floor mats with social distancing and handwashing reminders on them. Having easy access to hand sanitisers is essential to encourage hand hygiene and minimise the spread of infection in a building with a high frequency of touchpoints, such as a stadium.
Rentokil Initial is proud to support Saracens Rugby club with a best-practice approach to hygiene and cross contamination prevention. As each building and facility is different, it’s important facility managers contact the professionals to ensure a bespoke service is created to perfectly fit the needs of the premises.