Disinfectant Safety for Workers

If you work with or are around disinfectants, these steps can reduce health risks:

• Don't overuse disinfectants. They are not for routine cleaning. Using simple soap and water removes most germs on surfaces.
• Don't rely only on others for instructions. Read the label to make sure you understand how much you're using. Check if you're using it in the right places, and if you need protective clothing or gear.
• Disinfectants have a contact time listed on the label. This is the time the surface must stay visibly wet with disinfectant to be effective. Follow these instructions carefully.
• Some disinfectants can increase the risk of certain breathing problems or irritate the lungs. Check for good airflow and ventilation before using any product. This can reduce the amount breathed in.
• Use a fan or open windows and doors to ventilate while you use it, and after.
• If you become overwhelmed by a smell, leave the area immediately.
• Disinfectants may irritate skin. Avoid touching wet surfaces like doorknobs and wash your hands if you do. Wearing gloves prevents skin exposure to wet disinfectants.
• Wear protective gloves and other clothing when using disinfectants to reduce skin exposure.
• You may be familiar with the products you're using, but always check the label. You may need special eye, breathing, or skin protection.
• Wash your hands after using any disinfectant, even wipes, including before eating, drinking, or smoking.
• Don’t handle your cell phone while using disinfectants. This may leave residue that you could bring home with you.
• If applying disinfectants at work, reduce take home exposures to you and your family. Change out of work clothing and wash separately. Remove work shoes outside the house.

Incidents and Reporting:

• You should not be feeling sick or have skin/eye problems after using disinfectants at work. This is not normal.
• If someone is sick or injured from using disinfectants, call Poison Control at 800-222-1222 or seek medical attention.
• If you have questions or concerns about your working conditions, contact your state worker safety office. This is usually an OSHA office.
• To report exposures, contact your state pesticide regulatory agency. They may be interested if there is improper use, storage, or training for disinfectant use.
• If you're not sure where to start when reporting a problem, call NPIC at 800-858-7378 for non-emergency information. NPIC is not an enforcement agency.

If you work with children and need to use a disinfectant, these steps can reduce health risks:

• Do not let children under 18 use disinfectants, even wipes. The bottle will say things like "kills viruses", "disinfects", or something similar. This poster has information on the difference between disinfecting wipes and other wipes.
• Schools should not let children use disinfectant wipes or other sprays.
• Consider washing desks where children eat with soap and water instead of disinfectants.
• Always keep children away while mixing or using disinfectants. Be especially vigilant when mixing because there will be an open bottle of concentrated product.
• Store disinfectants up and out of reach. If your under-sink storage doesn't have a lock, consider using a higher shelf.
• Wipe surfaces with clean water after using disinfectants.
• Open windows and doors or use fans to bring in fresh, outdoor air before, during, and after.
• Consider disinfecting when children are in a different room or not present, when possible.
• Bleach is not for routine cleaning. This poster has safety tips when using bleach at child care sites.

Incidents and Reporting:

• If someone is sick or injured from disinfectants call Poison Control at 800-222-1222 or seek medical attention.
• To report exposures, contact your state pesticide regulatory agency.
• If you're not sure where to start to report a problem, call NPIC at 800-858-7378, Monday through Friday, 8am-12pm Pacific Time. NPIC gives non-emergency information and is not an enforcement agency.

These everyday steps prevent germs from spreading:

• Use soap and water for routine cleaning. Household cleaners or soap and water remove many germs on surfaces.
• Wash hands often with soap and water.
• Use hand sanitizer with 60% or more alcohol when soap and water aren't available.
• Ventilate or bring in outside air as much as possible. Opening windows, using HEPA filters, and running air systems all help.

These steps help stop the spread of germs if someone is sick:

• Stay home when sick, except to get medical care.
• Stay separate from others in the home as much as possible.
• Regularly clean surfaces with soap and water, including anything that looks dirty.
• If using a disinfectant, clean with soap and water first.

Tips to select disinfectants:

• Use disinfectants registered by EPA. These have been tested for their effectiveness.
• If you are concerned about a certain illness, like flu, norovirus, or COVID, check the label of the product to see if it will kill those germs. Products that only say "Sanitizes" or "Cleans" do not control viruses.
• Consider using products that are lower in toxicity. Lower toxicity products say CAUTION on the label, instead of WARNING or DANGER.
• The following disinfectants are on EPA's Safer Chemical Ingredients List*. If your product has one of these active ingredients, it will be listed on the front of the disinfectant container.
• Citric acid
• Ethanol
• Isopropyl alcohol
• Hydrogen peroxide
• L-lactic acid
• Sodium bisulfate
• Peracetic acid

*Follow all instructions carefully! Higher concentrations or distracted handling can increase your risk when using any product, even if it's lower in toxicity.