With hygiene an issue with transport and logistics management as never before, the focus on clean work surfaces has also never been so acute.
The threat of COVID-19 on smooth and continuing operations means the transmission of bacteria and viruses by touch is a possibility that needs to be made as difficult as possible.
Of course, infections affecting productivity were prevalent before the pandemic and not just viral ones.
The threat of harmful microorganisms is ongoing, and the first actionable shield against that is cleaning surfaces.
This means more than just a damp cloth. In hospitals, they have not passed muster since the 1800s. But nowadays, workplaces and vehicles have the option of healthcare-grade wipes.
With a view to providing the level of protection that is enjoyed by the likes of ambulance services in all states and territories, along with the Royal Flying Doctor Service, transport firms can now have access to GAMA Healthcare’s Clinell Universal Wipes.
Though Clinell Universal Wipes have been in Australia for quite a while, the concept was formulated by Adrian Fellows, a microbiologist and chemist from Halifax, England.
Fellows filed the first patent applications for disinfectant wipes in the 1970’s and worked with the US EPA to develop the test protocols for such products.
Fellows, GAMA’s founding R&D director, made sure that he developed a truly universal wipe.
It had to clean and disinfect in one step, be effective against a range of different organisms in a short contact time and not be damaging to users skin.
Clinell Universal Wipes were originally formulated for use in healthcare, but are now used by a range of different sectors.
With driver shortages and risk of COVID-19 in the United Kingdom, many transport services have implemented Clinell Universal Wipes, mandating a pack be in every vehicle.
Australian conditions
As mentioned, both Clinell Universal Disinfectant Wipes and Clinell Antibacterial Handwipes have a long and deep presence in Australia.
“Clinell Universal is the number one cleaning and disinfectant wipe used in Australian hospitals.” the company says.
“Over 447 million wipes were sold in 2020 in Australia alone.
“We conduct indicative accelerated stability tests at around 40 degrees to gauge the real-world shelf life of the products in ambient temperatures.
“Our wipes are used throughout Australia, in many hospitals and vehicles under extreme weather conditions.”
Mechanisms of action
The Clinell Universal concept is ingenious – for the scientifically minded of you, this is why.
Cleaning with detergent manually reduces the number of germs on surfaces, but dirt, grease and grime reduce the effectiveness of disinfectants. Having both work in concert is known as a ‘2 in 1’ system.
For the Clinell products, this lifts the dirt to allow the right amount of disinfectant to do its work.
The Clinell Universal Wipe formula contains multiple disinfectants acting together. This provides addition peace of mind, as each disinfectant acts in differing ways to destroy potentially harmful bacteria and viruses on common workplace surfaces before they get to you and me.
Clinell also recommends the use of Anti Bacterial Hand Wipes. Alcohol-free, and containing Aloe Vera to moisturise hands, these are conveniently packaged and easy to access. They offer you an added layer of protection, so you can kill germs on surfaces and on your hands. Great to use after deliveries, at the beginning and end of your shift, before meals and after going to the bathroom.