How Far UV-C Can Help You More Safely Return to the Office

As the world’s workforce grapples with how (and how much) to return to the office in a slow re-emergence from the Covid-19 pandemic, there’s no question that business managers are under greater pressure than ever before to ensure the safety of their team and customers. Active safeguards for routine workplace sanitization are more valuable than ever, and 222 nm Far UV-C light offers a safe, persistent alternative to occasional wipe-downs or nightly deep cleaning. Along with clear mandates on vaccination and mask-wearing, availability of antigen tests, and rigorous cleaning protocols, OSHA and the ACGIH health and safety authorities have put their official support behind this new human-safe sanitization technology (ACGIH, 2022). Beyond following institutional recommendations and hoping for the best, employers can provide an extra degree of confidence, backed by research, and better enable long-term protection against most dangerous pathogens.?

Many companies have augmented their use of HVACs and other forced air filtration solutions to complement their manual sanitization efforts. However, these approaches can be expensive energy drains and don't address pathogens found on high-touch surfaces like desks or doorknobs. Upper-room UV light is shown to be effective in combination with adequate air flow, but cannot be used while people are present.?New filtered Far UV-C tech provides a more optimal solution for better room and building-level health. It kills viruses and bacteria while remaining safe for use in occupied spaces (within established limits), unlike traditional germicidal UV light. Properly implemented, Far UV-C products offer a continuous effective, and convenient way to reduce the spread of both airborne diseases and pathogens that accumulate on surfaces and objects.?

The Columbia University Irving Medical Center and Vagelos College of Physicians found that exposure to Far UV-C light killed more than 99.9% of seasonal coronaviruses (similar in structure to SARS-CoV-2, which causes Covid-19 infection) in airborne droplets. The researchers estimate that continued exposure to Far UV-C light at less than established regulatory limits would eliminate 90% of airborne viruses approximately every 8 minutes, 99% in approximately 16 minutes, and 99.9% every 25 minutes. Since the publication of this study, safety regulators have accumulated enough 222 nm specific research to raise the allowable human threshold by 8x at the start of 2022.

Population’s Far UV-C products have undergone specialized testing in biosafety level 3 labs, demonstrating its impact on pathogens like SARS-CoV-2, influenza (H191), Staphylococcus aureus (including MRSA), and Escherichia coli (including serotype O157:H7), confirming them to be a meaningful solution for indoor spaces during pandemic recovery and beyond.??

Population partners with companies to help them evaluate and identify locations with the highest risk of disease transmission, and develop a custom implementation plan based on their daily usage patterns to achieve maximum impact.?

One technology research and innovation company based in San Jose, CA returned to the office with an initial 2 days of in-person meetings held on-site. Since this brought a concentration of people for discussions in close quarters, we chose to focus the Population Protection Plan on conference rooms and a central team meeting area, along with the employee break room, which could see multiple people at one time preparing lunch or refilling coffee.

Another company that prepares food in tightly-packed quarters installed Population products in key food preparation areas, reducing the aerosols that can be passed person-to-person as well as those which may proliferate on prep and serving areas.

In both cases, Far UV-C was able to work persistently to create a safer space while complementing existing airflow and filtration systems, manual cleaning, and proper hygiene practices.

Population envisions a world where Far UV-C products are a workplace essential. Incorporating Far UV-C solutions alongside current cleaning protocols will better prevent the spread of pathogens in the air and on surfaces. The Covid-19 pandemic has taught us the importance of prioritizing employee health and safety, but it’s just the beginning.??

References??

Far-UVC light safely kills Airborne Coronaviruses. Columbia University Irving Medical Center. (2020, August 5). Retrieved February 14, 2022, from https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/news/far-uvc-light-safely-kills-airborne-coronaviruses?

Contact Information?

Get in touch at [email protected] and we'll demonstrate the impact Population’s smart Far UV-C products will have on your place of business - based on the actual room layout, specific needs and employee traffic patterns at your workplace. They’re safe and effective, operating passively in the background to reduce airborne transmission and drastically cut the accumulation of live pathogens on work surfaces.