ENHS Covid Resources

ENHS has created the Background Paper on Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Response Actions to provide the campus with background information and response actions in the event that the current situation goes from containment to mitigation involving community transfer of COVID-19. 

 For the latest details on the University of Arkansas’s COVID-19 Response, including resources, safety guidelines and required precautions and policies, please refer to the University’s Coronavirus webpage. Additional information regarding reopening activities can be found in the Returning to Campus Guide.

Coronavirus Disinfectant Product Information

Under COVID-19 operating procedures, students, faculty, and staff may have new responsibilities to clean and disinfect various spaces including offices, personal, and classroom spaces. 

Chemical disinfectants and sanitizers have been provided across campus to help reduce transmission of coronavirus.  These chemicals were chosen because they meet EPA’s criteria or are recommended by the CDC for use against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. 

Some of these products fall under the Arkansas Chemical Right to Know Act, summarized by the Arkansas Department of Labor. Important use information may be found on all labels and should be read in their entirety prior to use.  

Other products provided, such as the VAS-DW-500 Antibacterial Sanitizing Wipes may fall under the Food and Drug Administration and therefore do not fall under the State of Arkansas Department of Labor Safety Code #12, Public Employees’ Chemical Right to Know Act, 12-(e) Hazard Communication Program. However, it is important to always follow the label instructions as these products may contain alcohol or other chemicals that may be flammable.

There are number of safe work practices to help minimize risks with disinfectant use.

  • Keep work places clean and orderly.
  • Minimize the need for cleaning and disinfecting.
  • Use the minimum amount of product needed for the job.
  • Use a product as if you were using it in your home.
  • Avoid use near flame, sparks, and space heaters and do not leave products in your car.
  • Review the label and Safety Data Sheet as needed prior to working with new products.
  • Follow the appropriate precautions and protective equipment listed on the label.

If you need to use a product for prolonged periods or in a manner different than you would in your home, contact ENHS for additional information.

Important use information may be found on all labels and should be read in their entirety prior to use.  The products you encounter could vary but may include one or more of the following:

Products work best when you follow the directions as written on the label. All product containers must be properly labeled by the manufacturer or anyone putting products into a secondary container and should be legible, in English, and prominently displayed on the container. Labels may vary in format. Look for and familiarize yourself with the following information before using a product:

  • Product name
  • Manufacturer information
  • Ingredients
  • Directions for Use
  • Precautionary Statements
  • Hazard statements
  • First Aid
  • Storage and Disposal

 Users should be aware of additional information and hazards when using chemicals.

  • Cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting are different things.
    • Cleaning removes visible dirt and debris.
    • Sanitizing reduces the number of germs on a surface.
    • Disinfecting kills all germs on a surface and takes longer than sanitizing to be effective.
  • Some products may cause irritation including to your skin or eyes.
    • If you develop an allergic reaction or irritation, stop using the product and seek and alternative. You may have a chemical sensitivity.
    • Not all people respond to chemical products in the same way.
  • Some products may damage certain surfaces.
  • Some products may react with other materials to produce harmful vapors.
  • Additional information can be found on the product's Safety Data Sheet (SDS).
  • Additional training may be needed depending on the product used.

Product use and Training

If you or your team need more in depth training for sanitizing and disinfection products, contact ENHS. 

Safety Data Sheets

 Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) are required for certain products under the Arkansas Chemical Right to Know Act and under OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard. They include information about the safe use of a product provided by the manufacturer. SDSs provide more information than that found on a product's label and includes information about a product's physical properties, toxicity, reactivity, health effects, first aid measures, storage, disposal, protective equipment, and spill clean-up procedures.

There are 16 sections in an SDS which are outlined below. 

Safety Data Sheets for Disinfectant Products

  1. Aero Linen Fresh Aerosol Disinfectant
  2. Clorox Healthcare® Hydrogen Peroxide Cleaner Disinfectant Wipes
  3. Life Guard Alcohol Sanitizing Wipes
  4. Lysol Pro Spray Disinfectant
  5. Oxivir TB Disinfectant 
  6. Safety First Hand Sanitizer
  7. Triad III (Ready to Use) Disinfectant 
  8. VAS-DW-500 Antibacterial Sanitizing Wipes

Product Storage

The proper storage of product should be written on the container label and can also be found on the product’s SDS in Section 7 – Handling and Storage. 

  • Purchase only what is needed and avoid stockpiling.
  • Products must be stored properly to reduce unwanted chemical reactions caused by accidental mixing.
  • Always store chemical products in a well-ventilated area.
  • Separate products by distance or barriers (e.g., trays) into the following groups: acids, bases, flammables, and oxidizers.
  • Periodically cleanout storage to discard unwanted products.
  • Do not throw away or flush unwanted products down the drain. Contact ENHS for help disposing of chemical products at (479) 575-3537.

Pictograms

Pictograms may not be included on a product label.  Depending on the hazards of the product, they may be found on the product’s SDS in Section 2 - Hazard(s) Identification.

  • Pictograms are from the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS).
  • Pictograms quickly warn you of potential exposure hazards.
  • If a hazard is present, pictograms describing that hazard must be included on the Safety Data Sheet by the manufacturer or supplier.
  • Depending on product labeling requirements, pictograms may also be included directly on a product’s label.
  • There are nine pictograms. You can familiarize yourself with them on the OSHA website.

Spill Response and Cleanup

Due to the small product container sizes being distributed across campus, it is unlikely a major spill will occur.  However, it is good practice to know what to do in case of a spill, no matter how small.

  • Follow the product label or manufacturer’s SDS Section 6 – Accidental Release Measures.
  • Most small spills of disinfectant product can be cleaned up with paper towel and disposed of in a trash can.
  • Many disinfectants and sanitizers contain flammable alcohol, so be careful around spills and open flames or sparks.
  • Whoever first encounters a spill needs to be responsible for beginning cleanup actions, even if that action is to alert someone more capable about the spill.
  • If you see a spill and need clean-up assistance, contact ENHS at (479) 575-3537.
  • If there is an immediate danger to the health of employees or property, call 911 or the UA Police Department at (479) 575-2222.

Safety Data Sheet Sections 

  • Identifies the chemical and its recommended uses

  • Provides supplier contact information

  • Describes chemical hazards
  • Gives warning information associated with those hazards
  • May include pictograms
  • Identifies the product ingredient(s)
  • Includes information on the substances, mixtures, and chemicals where a trade secret is claimed
  • Describes initial basic care for chemical exposure
  • Gives recommendations for fighting a fire caused by a chemical
  • Describes spill response recommendations, including containment and cleanup to prevent or minimize exposure to people, properties, or the environment
  • Describes safe handling and storage practices, including any incompatibilities
  • Gives exposure limits, engineering controls, and personal protective equipment (PPE) measures that can be used to minimize exposure
  • Describes physical and chemical properties of the substance or mixture
  • Describes reactivity hazards of the chemical and chemical stability information
  • Gives toxicological and health effects information, if available
  • Describes routes of exposure, related symptoms, and acute and chronic effects
  • Gives information about the environmental impact of the chemical(s) if it were released
  • Gives guidance on proper disposal practices, recycling or reclamation of the chemical(s) or its container, and safe handling practices
  • Gives guidance for shipping and transporting by road, air, rail, or sea
  • Identifies safety, health, and environmental regulations specific for the product that is not indicated anywhere else on the SDS
  • Identifies when the SDS was prepared or when the last known revision was made. Other useful information may also be provided here.