18
01 2024
Elevator rules against coronavirus
Due to the coronavirus, precautions have increased in public living areas such as apartments, workplaces, hotels and sites. Taking into account the recommendations of experts, citizens are trying to continue their daily lives by maintaining social distance from their neighbors and colleagues. Periodic disinfection and cleaning work is carried out in most business centers and residences that strictly follow hygiene rules. Despite the measures taken, elevators are at the top of the list of places where social distance cannot be maintained. Especially in multi-storey buildings, citizens who quarantine themselves continue to use elevators as common areas when going to the market or to their workplaces. Experts emphasize that simple precautions to be taken in elevator use are of great importance in preventing the spread of the virus. Ankara Medical Chamber Board Member Dr. Gülgün Kıran said, “First of all, elevators should not be used except in mandatory situations, stairs should be preferred” and listed the points to be considered as follows:
YOU SHOULD STAND BACK TO BACK
* Crowds should not get on the elevator, the number of people should be limited.
* People who have to get on the elevator should stand back to back in opposite directions while maintaining social distance.
* A protective mask must be worn when getting on the elevator.
* Avoid direct contact with elevator buttons and door handles, use your elbow instead of your finger, or touch these surfaces with a tissue and throw the tissue in the trash.
* Avoid leaning on the side walls or holding on to the handrail in the cabin.
CONTACT SURFACES SHOULD BE CLEANED REGULARLY
Kıran, who also touched on hygiene activities that will prevent the spread of viruses in elevators, said, “Workplaces and buildings should definitely assign an elevator attendant during this process, ensure that people comply with the safe elevator usage instructions, and ensure that the elevators are ventilated and cleaned daily. If necessary, information instructions should be hung on the sides and inside of the elevators.” Kıran gave the following advice on hygiene:
* Buttons and handles, which are high-touch common contact surfaces of elevators, should be cleaned by wiping with soapy water every 2-3 hours, especially in buildings with intensive use such as workplaces, from the morning hours until the end of the working day. If home elevators are not very busy, this process is sufficient 2-3 times a day.
* If the surfaces to be wiped are thought to be very dirty and have been touched by a large number of people, additional cleaning can be done with disinfectant solutions (alcohol-based solutions or bleach) after wiping with soapy water.