Minimizing the spread of COVID-19 is a concern that has taken the global community by storm; locally, efforts in Pennsylvania have included closing area schools and dine-in facilities for area restaurants.
B&T Contractors, Inc. offers disinfecting services during the current pandemic and is one local business that receives new information from the Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization on a regular basis, in addition to being part of an extensive network of building service contractors both nationwide and globally. This means they are made aware of the most effective means of disinfecting and thereby reducing risk of the spread of the virus more quickly than others.
“We are certified by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the World Health Organization because of the work we do. We are on the front lines with everybody; roughly every hour, we get updates through our peer groups,” said Kevin Teriberry, owner of B&T Contractors Inc.
Teriberry noted that the most important thing to consider with disinfecting is the “dwell time,” defined as the recommended period of time the disinfectant is left on the surface. This information can be found on the products individuals use in their own homes. He explained it is important to read and follow the directions on the product, which may include using gloves during application.
For the product most commonly used currently by B&T, the dwell time is five minutes, while providing the same level of disinfection as products that require a 10-minute dwell time.
The products that B&T Contractors use are all on the list of 300 chemicals approved by the CDC for disinfection purposes related to COVID-19. That list can be found at https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-registration/list-n-disinfectants-use-against-sars-cov-2.
Matthew Teribery, Research and Development lead for B&T, explained that it is important to clean surfaces before disinfecting.
Cleaning or sanitizing refers to removing germs, dirt and impurities from surfaces. Cleaning does not kill germs, but removing them lowers their numbers and the risk of spreading infection.
Meanwhile, disinfecting refers to using chemicals to kill germs on surfaces. This process does not necessarily clean dirty surfaces or remove germs, but if used after cleaning, it can further lower the risk of spreading infection.
Kevin Teribery explained that the company focuses on hitting the ‘hot spots’ — light switches, sockets, door handles, chair arms, phones, lights, etc. — ‘all touches’ or high contact areas. This also includes toilets, faucets and sinks.
The company offers a different approach for computer screens and keyboards, since they can not be saturated. Employees take additional precautions for disinfecting those surfaces.
B&T Contractors is also working with local and government officials to offer disinfection treatment to non-profit facilities free of charge so those locations, such as the Friendship Table, will be disinfected and ready to serve the public when they are permitted to re-open.
Kevin Teribery noted the business currently has several teams available to disinfect for locations from Syracuse, N.Y., to Buffalo, N.Y., and from Pittsburgh to Harrisburg in Pennsylvania. The business has also hired new employees in an effort to provide services in a timely manner to all who are looking for assistance in decreasing potential spread of the virus.
“We are offering our services at a flat rate, based on labor and materials. We are not inflating our rates — now is not the time for that,” Kevin Teribery noted.
The company has protocols in place to provide mediation to disinfect even if there have been no reported cases of coronavirus at the facility and also has a secondary level of protocols for handling disinfection at a site where cases of the virus have been confirmed. The secondary level involves the same disinfectant and application process, but the focus is on protecting the team from exposure and also minimizing the chances of the spread of the virus by the team there to disinfect.
At B&T, offices are disinfected regularly, the staff is practicing self-quarantine if someone shows symptoms or there is a concern of COVID-19 and employees will continue to receive paychecks as normal.
Kevin Teribery explained that the main concern for business employees is providing the most accurate information to those who reach out and having staff available to provide services for businesses or facilities that need assistance in disinfecting. While B&T’s South Kendall Avenue office is closed to visitors, anyone with questions can visit the business website at www.btcontractors.com or reach them by calling 814-368-7199.
