Working During COVID-19 Pandemic - STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE (SOP) - DRAFT

Sep 2, 2026

Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) outlining disinfection and workplace infection-prevention practices during the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifies that personnel review the SOP and sign training records, with completed SOPs retained for reference. Covers hazard overview, risk scope for employees amid community transmission, and containment guidance aligned with CDC recommendations. Includes requirements for routine environmental cleaning, proper PPE use, and safe handling considerations for disinfectants, including commonly used active ingredients such as quaternary ammonium compounds and ethanol.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryPresentations

FormatDOCX

Pages9

Reading Time3 min

AccessFree to download

Hazard Overview

Scope/Risk to Personnel

Containment

Hazardous Chemical(s)/Class of Hazardous Chemical(s)

Quaternary Ammonium Compounds (QACs)

Ethanol

Working During COVID-19 Pandemic STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE (SOP) - DRAFT Type of SOP: Disinfection procedure to reduce the risk of SARS-CoV-2 in the workplace All personnel who are subject to these SOP requirements must review the completed SOP and sign the associated training record. Completed SOPs must be kept with the UC Davis Laboratory Safety Manual or be otherwise readily accessible to laboratory personnel. Electronic access is acceptable. SOPs must be reviewed, and revised where needed, as described in the HYPERLINK "http://safetyservices.ucdavis.edu/article/laboratory-safety-manual" \h UC Davis Laboratory Safety Manual. The unique properties of each chemical must be considered when preparing a SOP. HAZARD OVERVIEW COVID-19 is the disease state that results from an infection with a novel coronavirus called SARS-CoV-2. Information from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Center of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that the virus is transmitted via respiratory droplets from infected individuals. Evidence also suggests that transmission of the virus may occur through contact with contaminated surfaces. Transmission of the virus via asymptomatic carriers has also been documented. SCOPE/RISK TO PERSONNEL Currently there is no laboratory in the Department of Food Science and Technology or the Department of Viticulture and Enology that performs work with infectious forms of SARS-CoV-2, and as a result, this SOP will focus on reducing exposure to employees through community transmission. CONTAINMENT Employees may contract the virus through interactions with infected individuals in a public setting or in a private residence. The CDC (cdc.gov) recommends the following infection prevention measures: Actively encouraging sick employees to stay home. Sending employees with acute respiratory illness symptoms home immediately. Providing information and training to employees on: Cough and sneeze etiquette. Hand hygiene. Avoiding close contact with sick persons. Avoiding touching eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands. Avoiding sharing personal items with coworkers (i.e., dishes, cups, utensils, towels). Providing tissues, no-touch disposal trash cans, and hand sanitizer for use by employees. Proper use of PPE including face masks/face coverings, gloves, safety eyewear, and lab coats. Performing routine environmental cleaning of shared workplace equipment and furniture (disinfection beyond routine cleaning is not recommended). See Section 10 and 11. Principal Investigators (PIs), lab managers, supervisors, and personnel are encouraged to check the CDC guidelines regularly, so that they are up-to-date with the latest infection prevention measures. HYPERLINK "https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/organizations/businesses-employers.html" \h https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/organizations/businesses-employers.html PIs, supervisors, and all other personnel should be aware of the dangers of working in a pandemic. We all share responsibility for our own health and the health of others. HAZARDOUS CHEMICAL(S)/CLASS OF HAZARDOUS CHEMICAL(S) When working during a pandemic, work areas must be disinfected (see Section 10 and 11). Disinfectants can also be hazardous chemicals. Disinfectants that are effective against SARS-CoV-2, including contact times, are available from the EPA: HYPERLINK "https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-registration/list-n-disinfectants-use-against-sars-cov-2" \h https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-registration/list-n-disinfectants-use-against-sars-cov-2 Some disinfectant formulations are proprietary, so it may be necessary to consult the manufacturer’s Safety Data Sheet (SDS) of your proprietary disinfectant for associated hazards. The list of hazardous chemicals below represent the most common active ingredients in disinfectants that might be used against SARS-CoV-2. Further resources regarding disinfectants are: HYPERLINK "https://www.cdc.gov/infectionco

FAQs

Who must review this SOP and how is training documented?

All personnel subject to the SOP requirements must review the completed SOP and sign the associated training record. Completed SOPs must be retained with the UC Davis Laboratory Safety Manual or be readily accessible electronically.

What is the scope of this SOP regarding SARS-CoV-2 in laboratories?

No laboratory in the stated departments performs work with infectious forms of SARS-CoV-2. The SOP focuses on reducing employee exposure through community transmission.

What infection prevention measures are recommended for employees?

The SOP recommends encouraging sick employees to stay home, sending home those with acute respiratory symptoms, training on cough/sneeze etiquette and hand hygiene, avoiding close contact and touching face areas with unwashed hands, and avoiding sharing personal items. It also specifies providing tissues, no-touch disposal trash cans, hand sanitizer, and proper PPE use.

How should disinfectants and their hazards be managed?

Disinfectants effective against SARS-CoV-2 are identified via EPA resources, and proprietary products require consulting the manufacturer Safety Data Sheet (SDS). The SOP notes hazards of common active ingredients such as quaternary ammonium compounds and emphasizes following SDS guidance to minimize risks.

Sep 2, 2026

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