Facilities provides cleaning activities by areas and associated frequencies are listed below. These represent the capacity of cleaning on campus within the current funding model. During times when the campus is not fully occupied, there may be opportunity to increase the frequency of cleaning in laboratories from every other day to every day and office cleaning from every month to once per week.
In light of the COVID-19 virus, cleaning protocols have been adjusted to focus on cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces in all areas serviced below and including elevator buttons, stair railings, door knobs and plates, faucets and water fountains, all typically every four hours.
Concerns with respect to cleaning in these areas can be directed to Fixit at (613) 533-6757 (internal ext. 77301) or by email.
Email FixitCleaning Protocols
Current as of October 4, 2021
Information is subject to change in accordance with public health guidelines.
For additional information and resources, please visit the Campus Operating Guidelines page.
Cleaned at least twice a day and when soiled (during regular business hours)
- Door knobs
- Push plates
- Stair railings
- Elevator buttons
- Faucets
- Water fountains
Custodial Support Services will disinfect frequently touched surfaces in common areas. Surfaces not in common areas, such as individual office doors knobs, must be disinfected by occupants.
Cleaned twice daily
- Picking up of garbage: cleaning and disinfecting bins
- Sweeping and picking up of garbage on the floor
- Checking and refilling of paper towel, soap, and toilet paper dispensers
- Cleaning and disinfecting of mirror, sink, and sink counter
- Cleaning and disinfecting of toilets and urinals
- Wiping, cleaning and disinfecting of high-level surfaces
- Wiping off dust particles from lamp fixtures
- Cleaning and disinfecting of the ventilation grill and entrance door-metal plate
- Sweeping and mopping and disinfecting of the floor.
The university has a reliable supply chain for washroom soap and will be refilling twice a day.
KFL&A Public Health stresses the importance of drying your hands, either with paper towels or a hand dryer.
Cleaned daily
- Picking up of garbage: cleaning and disinfecting bins
- Sweeping and picking up garbage on the floor
- Checking and refilling of paper towel and soap dispensers
- Cleaning and disinfecting of the sink and sink counter and appliance handles
Personal Offices: Cleaned once a month
General Offices: Cleaned once a week – garbage daily
- Picking up of garbage from recycling bin stations: cleaning and disinfecting bins
- Sweeping and picking up garbage on the floor
- Vacuuming floors with carpets
- Cleaning and disinfecting furniture
- Checking and refilling or replacing hand sanitizers and disinfectant solution
Cleaned daily
- Picking up of garbage from recycling bin stations: cleaning and disinfecting bins
- Sweeping and picking up garbage on the floor and vacuuming floors with carpets
- Cleaning and disinfecting office counters, tables, chairs and desktops
- Checking and refilling or replacing hand sanitizers and disinfectant solution and paper towels
Cleaned daily
- Picking up of garbage from recycling bin stations: cleaning and disinfecting bins
- Sweeping and picking up garbage on the floor and disinfecting same
- Vacuuming floors with carpets
- Cleaning and disinfection of counters, tables, and desk tops
Cleaned daily
- Waste removal, cleaning and disinfecting recycling bins (where bins exist in classrooms)
- Sweeping and picking up of garbage on the floor and disinfecting same
- Wiping and cleaning of high- surfaces (e.g. vents, chalkboards, whiteboards, etc.)
- Cleaning of mirrors
- Vacuuming of carpeted floor
- Sweeping and mopping of floors
- Cleaning and disinfecting of counters, tables, and desk tops
Cleaned every other day
- Waste removal, cleaning and disinfecting recycling bins
- Sweeping and picking up of garbage on the floor and disinfecting same
- Cleaning of mirrors
- Vacuuming of carpeted floor
- Sweeping and mopping of floors
- Cleaning and disinfecting of counters, tables, chairs and desk tops
Cleaned daily and as required – dedicated personnel in the space
- Picking up of garbage from recycling bin stations
- Sweeping and picking up garbage on the floor vacuuming floors with carpets
- Provincial Infectious Diseases Advisory Committee (PIDAC) compliant cleaning and disinfection of all spaces
Cleaned daily and as required – dedicated personnel in the space
- Picking up of garbage from recycling bin stations
- Sweeping and picking up garbage on the floor Vacuuming floors with carpets
- PIDAC compliant cleaning and disinfecting of all spaces
The following guidance is for Queen’s community members who use spaces that require a higher frequency of cleaning and disinfecting beyond that provided by Facilities as outlined in their cleaning protocols.
- A portal has been created within AcQuire to enable purchasing of approved COVID-19 disinfectants and cleaning tools.
- Disinfection describes a process that eliminates/kills many or all pathogenic microorganisms, except bacterial spores, on inanimate objects.
- All surfaces must be clean before they can be effectively disinfected.
- Typically, Lysol wipes are used to disinfect.
- The disinfectant must be applied and remain wet on the surface for the manufacturer’s recommended dwell/kill time (also called exposure/contact time).
- Identify sensitive equipment and check the recommendations of its manufacturer with respect to compatible disinfectants.
- For spaces routinely shared by the same group of individuals, consider establishing a cleaning and disinfection routine and using a checklist, adjusting the items and the frequency as appropriate.
- Cleaning and Disinfecting Items:
- Tables, Desks, Shelves, Chairs: Starting at the top and furthest point from you; clean using a moist or damp cloth or disinfectant wipe until surface is visibly clean. Then using a new damp disinfectant cloth or disinfectant wipe, go over again, leaving the surface damp. Do this until the entire cleaned area is covered with disinfectant. Allow for recommended dwell/kill time to occur before reusing the surface.
- Computer peripherals, desk telephone, electronic devices, small appliances, etc.: Using a disinfectant wipe, clean the entire surface and then repeat to disinfect. Do not spray disinfectant solution onto any electrical device or peripheral.
- High touch surfaces (door knobs, push plates, etc.): Using a disinfectant wipe, clean the entire surface and then repeat to disinfect.
Hand Sanitizer Deployment Strategy
To supplement the hand washing facilities located throughout the campus, hand sanitizers will be placed at all building entrances and we are investigating recommendations on additional locations as well as investigating the possibility of industrial disinfectant wipe dispensers in classrooms.
- Dispenser type hand sanitizers will be placed at all building entrances and exits as a minimum standard. The dispensers will be serviced by Facilities.
- Each department has been provided with an initial supply of hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes and will be expected to order and pay for replacements as required. Strategic Procurement Services is working on a reliable supply chain as these items remain difficult to procure. Information for ordering these items can be found on the Strategic Procurement website.
- Hand sanitizer bottles will be placed in shared meeting rooms aligned with the phased return to campus.
- If departments choose to make additional hand sanitizer available, it is recommended they procure and distribute pump style bottles rather than sourcing additional dispensing units. This avoids the issues that might arise from having to mount the units on walls and the need to maintain and refill the dispensing units.
- All faculty and staff are expected to continue to clean their own equipment including various electronics, keyboards, office equipment, lab equipment, and lunchroom equipment such as fridges, coffee makers, etc.
- Cleaning products can be purchased on acQuire.