The Best Defense Against Norovirus is a Good Response Plan

Recent changes to the U.S. food codes call for the inclusion of a written plan to address body fluid spills. Yet, not all response plans are the same, making it important for you to have a proper plan for bodily fluid accident clean-up. The following response plan outlines a recommended defense against unplanned accidents and spills involving body fluids like vomit, blood and diarrhea.

Until the 2017 version of the U.S. Food Code, simply having a procedure in place – in any form – was sufficient for compliance. Changes to the food code, however, now require written procedures for body fluid spill cleanup. This not only helps create a more efficient and effective cleanup process, it also helps protect guests and employees from illness as they address these situations.

Written procedures also safeguard against errors due to employee turnover, language barriers and management changes. When employees can clearly act on well-written instructions, no matter the situation, these incidents can be handled quickly and safely.

NoroCORE – a leader in Norovirus research and prevention – has developed a set of steps to address different contaminated surfaces that appear in an establishment when biohazard events occur.*

Hard Surfaces
Hard surfaces including floors, tables, countertops and utensils are common in restaurant facilities. There are four crucial steps when dealing with biohazard events on hard surfaces.

Step 1: Cover the source of contamination with paper towels or an absorbent powder in order to absorb the liquids.
Step 2: Place contaminated towels into a plastic bag to consolidate the biohazard.
Step 3: Properly wash contaminated surfaces around and within the area where the event occurred.
Step 4: Properly disinfectant area with a food-service approved disinfectant.

Soft Surfaces
Soft surfaces like carpet and upholstered furniture are common areas where biohazard events occur in restaurant facilities. There are four crucial steps when dealing with these events on soft surfaces.

Step 1: Cover the cause of contamination with paper towels or an absorbent powder in order to absorb the liquids.
Step 2: Place contaminated towels into a plastic bag to consolidate the biohazard.
Step 3: Properly wash contaminated surfaces around and within the area where the event occurred.
Step 4: Steam clean carpet and upholstered furniture for at least 5 minutes at the highest temperature recommended by your steam cleaner manufacturer.

Surfaces That Can Be Laundered
Surfaces that can be laundered include linens, towels and clothing. There are three crucial steps to containing biohazard events that involve these materials.

Step 1: Place washable items that are contaminated into a washing machine.
Step 2: Wash contaminated items in hot water and laundry detergent. Adding bleach for white items also helps the disinfectant process.
Step 3: Dry items in dryer on the highest-heat setting available.

Individual facilities can determine their own procedures and processes, in order to meet their compliance needs and optimize their programs. And while not required by law, some operators choose to assemble their own body fluid spill kits to supplement their procedures, and others opt to purchase a commercial kit that has everything included for cleanup, down to a set of written instructions.

Learn More about Body Fluid Spill Kits »

*Vomit and Diarrhea Clean Up. March, 2018. NoroCORE. USDA-NIFA Food Virology Collaborative, NC State University.