Decontamination Nation: Cleaning Up the Act
Decontamination for decontamination's sake. But do you really
know what decontamination can do for you?
We've all heard about germs being all around us all the time.
Everywhere we go, we will always be faced with different kinds
of bacteria.
If you have some super sense that lets you detect every
bacterium on the planet, then I think you may be in for some
distressing days. That's because you will be seeing all the
bacteria all around you. And that means they are EVERYWHERE,
literally.
With your super sense, you will be able to see them on the
floors that you walk on. You will see them on the walls all
around you. You will even be able to see them floating on the
very air that you breathe. Why, you will even be seeing them
sticking all over your own body!
Being able to see all those creepy crawlies all around you will
make you realize that your kind of super sense isn't such a good
idea after all. But you don't have to worry.
Most of the bacteria that you "see" can actually do you more
good than harm. They are essential to vital life processes that
without them, humans will be having a very hard time living
everyday.
But as with good bacteria, there are also some bad ones out
there, lurking somewhere. These bad bacteria are the main causes
of a lot of sickness and diseases all around us.
They are always on the alert for a chance to have a strike at
you. And when they do, they can bring you lots of unwanted
misery and problems. They can make you sick. These are the kinds
of bacteria that you should look out for. They need a little
decontamination.
Decontamination is the process in which you try to get rid of
contaminants. In this case, the contaminants are the bad
bacteria.
Decontamination is necessary to ensure that you won't be in the
midst of some bad bacteria or handling objects full of them.
Decontamination of the surfaces or objects that you come into
contact with can help in preventing you from encountering these
bad bacteria.
Every decontamination process has their important prerequisites.
One is the adequate cleaning of the surface of object first
before its actual decontamination. Some organic materials like
blood or soil may even shield the harmful microorganisms from
the chemical disinfectants that you will apply during
decontamination.
The actual physical removal by scrubbing is just as important as
applying the anti-microbial agent in an effective
decontamination process.
When you have done the initial pre-cleaning, there are still
some things to consider prior to the decontamination process
itself. You should try to choose a disinfectant that does not
contain any corrosive agents or otherwise that will prove
destructive to the objects or surfaces undergoing
decontamination.
You should also try to follow the manufacturer's directions in
the proper application of the disinfecting agent. You should be
aware of the correct concentration, contact time, and the method
of application of the disinfectant.
You should also try to determine if the design of the equipment
or the construction materials used on the surfaces would have an
effect on the decontamination process.
Cracks, joints and pores may prove as barriers to the
penetration of the disinfecting agent. You may need a longer
contact time to accomplish effective decontamination, which may
also depend on the complexity of the equipment design and the
soil present.
And most important of all, any decontamination procedure
requires you to wear the appropriate protective gear. You should
not forget those gloves, goggles and protective clothing
whenever you use disinfecting chemicals.