Computer Cleaning

[DrCheese]

I knew we'd be asked this at some point..

 

It's been raised that a lot of computers are shared between students/staff & that the keyboards/mice are a potential risk factor with the virus surviving on plastic for days - Has anyone else been asked this - If so, how would you go about doing this (i.e make them clean the keyboard/mice before use or clean once at the start of the day)

[FishCustard]

Isopropyl alcohol is the best option - zero chance of damage, good effectiveness against coronaviruses.

[robyholmes]

Yep, wipe over screen, mouse, keyboard and the desk. Plus we also tend to wipe down the backs of chairs as the first thing you do when sitting down at a desk is pull the chair out.

[Sylv3r]

We were considering not allowing student access on PC's and our bookable devices initially - I was also contemplating giving each member of staff their own keyboard / mouse which they could carry round with them and plug in to use.

[JonnyAlpha]

I was about to post a thread asking the same question. Key worker children in school are using iPads and Laptops and last time I looked they were wiping them down between use (I am not sure however what they were using, probably Antibacterial Wipes).

 

In this thread it is suggested that Isopropyl Alchohol is the better option, so for current use and with the advent of several classes returning 1st June, should I get my Admin Office to order up a couple of bottles of Isopropyl Alcohol? What about applying it? Paper Towel roll?

 

Thanks

[kingoranks]

Who is going to be doing the wiping? Staff or student?

[JonnyAlpha]

Who is going to be doing the wiping? Staff or student?

 

Definately staff - the kids would drink it :-)

[mikeprice]

Who is going to be doing the wiping? Staff or student?

 

So - who is the first to post that their school says it is the job of an IT Tech

 

and in any case - if staff do it

 

whiping mouse - few seconds - maybe 7

screen - few more 10-12 seconds

keyboard is more complex - lets allow 30

 

so - lets say 45 seconds for each

 

last IT room I had in a secondary had 26 computers

 

26 computers times 45 seconds

 

well over 15 minutes

 

which is not easy to do between 2 consecutive lessons

[localzuk]

As it takes about 10 minutes for alcohol to kill the virus on a hard surface, surely wipes aren't really going to work?

[keyboards]

If the person doing the cleaning has corona or comes into contact won't they potentially spread it to every machine in the room...., over a week say there is x amount of different classes in there, could infect hundreds in a week Edited May 14, 2020 by keyboards

[Zammo]

If the person doing the cleaning has corona or comes into contact won't they potentially spread it to every machine in the room...., over a week say there is x amount of different classes in there, could infect hundreds in a week

 

No different to a shelf stacker in a supermarket, NHS worker, bin man or hundreds of other jobs that have carried on.

 

Correct PPE for the cleaner would be a must

Edited May 15, 2020 by Zammo

[mrstrong]

where do we stand on this ? E.g. if SLT ask us to clean all laptops, tablets, PCs daily ?

 

Could we refuse?

[elsiegee40]

where do we stand on this ? E.g. if SLT ask us to clean all laptops, tablets, PCs daily ?

 

Could we refuse?

 

No. It would come under the “any other (reasonable) task” clause in your contract. I would expect you to be provided with appropriate PPE to wear while doing so.

 

Better you do it than the cleaners probably. The stuff will work after you have done it

Edited May 19, 2020 by elsiegee40

[paulkerton]

No. It would come under the “any other (reasonable) task” clause in your contract. I would expect you to be provided with appropriate PPE to wear while doing so.

A clause that isn't worth the paper it's written on, which your union will inform you of.

 

Otherwise, guess whose going to be taking classes once your teaching and TA staff start dropping like flies the moment they get a symptom.

[TIOAOA]

Wheres everyone sourcing the Isopropyl solution from, and as its not something I would normally purchase what should I be expecting to pay ?

 

Links appreciated

[localzuk]

No. It would come under the “any other (reasonable) task” clause in your contract. I would expect you to be provided with appropriate PPE to wear while doing so.

 

Better you do it than the cleaners probably. The stuff will work after you have done it

 

I would argue against this, as would my union. The key part of that clause is always "reasonable". Cleaning is not an IT task - else schools wouldn't employ cleaners. Reasonable is things directly linked to your role. Like adding a new system to your network that isn't listed in the job description.

 

Many a school has tried to pull that one only for unions to knock them back.

[3s-gtech]

My LEA wanted me to write my JD, as there were no NM descriptors.

 

I removed that line.

[mikeprice]

My LEA wanted me to write my JD, as there were no NM descriptors.

 

I removed that line.

 

Nice one!!

 

back to the point about ordering the equipment - I would throw that back to the site people - they have the contacts

 

and if anything is regarded as hazardous then you will need 'training'

but I would regard the use of gloves to be necessary as a minimum - a quick wipe with alcohol on your own keyboard is totally different to several rooms full because of the extra exposure of you skin to the chemical

 

Also - if this involves doing so after school then the word Overtime should crop up

 

 

I would also wonder if teacher are being asked to do extra cleaning on their equipment - such as pens and pencils - as these should be cleaned as well as keyboards

 

I would also plan for an increase in equipment failure - get some spare keyboards and mice in maybe - OK cheap for desktops - but laptops can be different and cleaning between the keys is likely to put stress on the keys that they are not very good at withstanding

[paulkerton]

I would also wonder if teacher are being asked to do extra cleaning on their equipment - such as pens and pencils - as these should be cleaned as well as keyboards

I've already heard of teachers being asked to do cleaning on classroom equipment being fired right back to unions. Remember the whole reducing workload agreement?

It'll be the TAs made to do it.

[mikeprice]

I've already heard of teachers being asked to do cleaning on classroom equipment being fired right back to unions. Remember the whole reducing workload agreement?

It'll be the TAs made to do it.

 

That'll work fine in a Primary where there is a TA assigned to every form group

 

 

 

But when I worked in a secondary the TAs worked from a central sections and were assigned to an SEN kid - hence most lessons would not have a TA - and certainly most teachers had no support from a TA at all

 

So I would have ended up doing all the pens etc myself

 

 

But all this should have been discussed and sorted out in the first few weeks of school closure - the plan of how to re-open should have been worked on by the Dept. of Edu. the next day and by now we should only have minor details to be sorted out

 

 

almost like no-one in the government has thought of planning for the future

[mrstrong]

We have some ipads without cases so whatever we use to clean them needs to not damage the ipad

as well as remove the virus.

 

Apparently soapy water (warm is better) is good enough to remove / dislodge the virus from a surface.

So maybe just a wrung out cloth and quick wipe would be good enough and not damage ipad ?

 

And that would be safe for kids to do, just leave a bucket in classroom !

 

Maybe not, visions of kids dunking ipads like a sheep dip

 

Mmm, no virus, no ipads, less to support, sounds like a plan, back to chalk and talk!

 

But seriously would a wrung out soapy cloth be ok ?

Edited May 20, 2020 by mrstrong

[PaulCooperSDC]

Sorry to jump on this from a slightly different angle, but what are you thinking about regards deskside visits where social distancing may be difficult? Gloves/mask or just try to avoid the risk at all or getting too close to sort someone's IT problem?

I'm looking at what I need to do to keep staff & learners as safe as practically achievable without full hazmat suits and a decomtamination station in the car park!

[keyboards]

Sorry to jump on this from a slightly different angle, but what are you thinking about regards deskside visits where social distancing may be difficult? Gloves/mask or just try to avoid the risk at all or getting too close to sort someone's IT problem?

I'm looking at what I need to do to keep staff & learners as safe as practically achievable without full hazmat suits and a decomtamination station in the car park!

We're waiting to see what happens but we're thinking either before/after the user is there ie the morning/afternoon/break or the user steps outside for 10 minutes,

[JonnyAlpha]

Well that went completely off topic!!

 

I have asked the school to order Isopropyl Alcohol and Atomiser Spray Bottles, Anti Bac Wipes and Lint Free Cloths (for iPad Screens without covers.

 

I have just been into school and all they had available so far is water based Antibacterial spray and thin J Cloths, I used about three cloths on 30 Laptops and it took about 30 minutes. I have asked what the policy is on cleaning e.g. use a couple of cloths per 15 Laptops and bin them (as they should not be re-used unless washed in a washing machine?

[mrstrong]

I'd be wanting some advise from the council e.g. health and safety. Ours said to use DC10 on a microfiber cloth

but no indication of how long to use, e.g. one cloth per day / per 10 laptops / per ...