AircrewHealth.com

Suspected Communicable Disease

General Guidelines for Aircraft Cleaning Crews:

The following are general guidelines for Aircraft Cleaning Crews who have to clean an arriving aircraft with a suspected case of communicable disease.  During an outbreak of a specific communicable disease, the World Health Organization (WHO) or member states may modify or add further procedures to these general guidelines.  However, these general guidelines would always provide a basic framework of response that would reassure the cleaning crews and help them through any unplanned incident.

1. Wear non-sterile impermeable disposable gloves.
2. Remove and discard gloves if they become soiled or damaged, and after cleaning.
3. Wash hands with soap and water immediately after gloves are removed.  An alcohol-based hand sanitizer can be used if the hands are not visibly soiled.
4. Surfaces to be cleaned (affected seat, adjacent seats same row, back of the seats in the row in front):
• Armrests
• Seatbacks
• Tray tables and trays if still in place
• Light and air controls
• Adjacent walls and windows
• Individual video monitor
• Lavatory(ies) used by the sick passenger: door handle, locking device, toilet seat, faucet, wash basin, adjacent walls and counter
5. Special cleaning of upholstery, carpets, or storage compartments is not indicated unless they have been soiled by body fluids.
6. Use only cleaning agents/disinfectants that have been approved by aircraft manufacturers.
7. Dispose of soiled material and gloves in a biohazard bag if one is available.  If not, use a sealed plastic bag.
8. Do not use compressed air.  It might re-aerosolize infectious material.

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