Despite safety efforts and countless resources spent, factories, warehouses and labor union workers are continuing to be hit hard by COVID-19. As the vaccine slowly rolls out nationwide, ensuring that viruses can’t spread through surface contact remains a crucial component in keeping America’s workforce safe. New technology can help.
Human coronaviruses can persist on inanimate surfaces such as plastic, glass, fibers and metals for up to nine days, according to the National Institutes of Health, making surface protection in the workplace critical to infection prevention. Routine cleaning and disinfection are momentary, leaving surfaces immediately vulnerable to recontamination — particularly in highly trafficked areas, like break rooms, manufacturing lines and facility entrances. A new EPA-approved product called SurfaceWise2, when used as directed, offers continuous protection from COVID-19 with a single application, making safety in the workplace more reliable and more efficient. The product was developed by biotechnology company Allied BioScience, which has a mission of reducing the footprint of global infection caused by the transmission of microorganisms encountered in daily life.
While many Americans have been able to safely work from home since the start of the pandemic, an entire segment of the workforce has been forced to choose between their wages and their health,” says Michael Ruley, CEO of Allied BioScience. “Employees have the right to a safe workplace, and a long-lasting surface coating that protects against viruses — including all strains of COVID-19 — can hopefully make this choice a little easier.”
Independent lab studies conducted by leading infectious disease expert, Dr. Charles P. Gerba found SurfaceWise2 to be effective against Human Coronavirus 229E, the EPA-approved surrogate, demonstrating the ability to successfully protect against COVID-19. Surfaces coated with SurfaceWise2 were found to reduce the concentration of these viruses by greater than 90 percent in 10 minutes and by greater than 99.9 percent within two hours of contact.
Compatible with virtually all surfaces, SurfaceWise2 will be a versatile tool in the fight against infection as businesses reopen or continue operations. Beyond the novel coronavirus, it’s effective against many viruses and bacteria that run rampant in the workplace. The coating is non-toxic, non-irritating, and contains no chemicals that produce harmful vapors or gases. Having undergone rigorous reviews and extensive testing, it carries the lowest possible EPA toxicity rating and can be safely used in enclosed spaces — critical as much of the workforce must be indoors. To learn more, visit surfacewise.com.
Alongside precautions like mask-wearing and social distancing, using new technology to help ensure that viruses aren’t spread through high-traffic surfaces will be crucial to keeping America’s workforce safe.
