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In a pandemic, there will be a shortage of cleaning staff and they may be working other than normal business hours to reduce workplace exposure. Therefore, all employees may need to assist with cleaning their facilities. . Cleaning should focus should on cleaning frequently touched swfaces and items in areas where employees are working (not all areas of a building may be used in a pandemic). Routine tasks such as vacuuming and dusting should be suspended. . Normal vacuuming and dusting should be avoided during a pandemic to reduce the spread of dust particles that could contain influenza virus. Dusting should be damp, not dry. Any vacuuming should be done using vacuums with high-efficiency particulate air (HEP A) filter. . Shared work areas such as desktops and tables, and frequently touched surfaces such as door handles, stair rails and faucet handles should be disinfected between shifts and more often if possible. . Telephones and other equipment should not be shared or should be disinfected between users. . Cleaning supplies should be made available for use by all employees. Specialized cleaning solutions are not needed and routine cleaning products (EP A-registered disinfectants, bleach solution) may be used' · If bleach solution is used, mix ~ cup household bleach and one gallon of water. New solution should be mixed fresh daily. · Persons performing cleaning duties should wear cleaning gloves and should clean hands after removing gloves. . Remove non-essential items (e.g., magazines/newspapers) from common areas (such as lunch rooms). G. Hand Hygiene Transmission of influenza virus can occur from hands contacting articles freshly soiled with nose or throat discharges from an ill individual. Frequent hand cleaning destroys germs that have been picked up from other people, contaminated surfaces, or animals and animal waste. Employees should take responsibility for keeping their hands clean and for minimizing hand contact with environment surfaces to reduce contamination to or from the surfaces. · Hand hygiene is a simple and important step in preventing the spread of infectious diseases, including influenza. · Hand cleansing can be performed with either soap and warm water or waterless, alcohol-based hand sanitizers. · Influenza virus is readily inactivated by both soap and water and alcohol based hand rubs. . Antibacterial hand wash products are not required because routine products, along with proper techniques will inactivate influenza virus. Pandemic Influenza Continuity if Operations Plan 21.