Clealry we are all in un-charted waters.

Most organisations have no experince of Biological agents and the risks attached to them. I am very dissapointed at the lack of guidance being published by the HSE and indeed other organisations.

Their recent guidance on RIDDOR reporting is a good example as we are seeing on forums users are still unsure if it needs reporting

Yes obvious answer if in doubt report

The problem is the HSE will be buried in local risk exposure cases "Someone coughed over me so I isolated for 7 days"

I am seeing daily very poor standards of PPE use being shown on televsion and companies running off with the idea that this is acceptable. 

There is so much rubbish being advertised on main stream media (biological cleaners kill 99% of all bacteria). Some of these materials can even provide a protective membrance for virus like covid. Yet these products are being used in care homes and even my local Doctors.

What does it take particualy as we try to head for easing restrictions to get the right information out to those that need it. I am lucky in having had considerable experince of work with Biological agents but I am still struggling to keep famiy safe from others who dont have that knowledge.

Please those IOSH members who have real experince its time to step up to the mark.

As your post falls between question and statement what are you after?

Originally Posted by: BernieGale123

 There is so much rubbish being advertised on main stream media (biological cleaners kill 99% of all bacteria).

100% effective agents are not really suitable for domestic / public use. You also have to factor that application methods typically develop through being shown within the family (watching mum and dad) rather than trained by specialists. Often these habits extend to ignoring all that text on the rear label of products (the manufacturers instruction and safety information) unless something has gone wrong.

The Advertising Standards Agency would be all over any manufacturer that tried to claim domestic products could be that effective. By example a major bleach supplier has changed their strap line over the years moving through kills all known germs to applying the 99.9% so as not to be seen making a false claim to market.

It depends on the quality of the advice. Consider the emphasis on hand washing by the 'experts'.. I have had a steady stream of occupational health practitioners seeking advice on how to manage the increase in skin damage due to the result of frequent hand washing. It has long been established in the healthcare sector that frequent hand washing is a major cause of occupational dermatitis and can actually be counter-productive in the attempt to minimise infection (see RCN document Tools of the Trade). Yet where is the experts' advice on the regular use of emollients? There is also a great deal of misinformation around. For example I commonly encounter: "Wash in hot water"  "Alcohol sanitiser damages the skin",  "A thick moisturiser applied thickly overnight is the best approach". "You need a handful of the alcohol sanitiser for it to work" . All of these are wrong. 

Now there is a debate over whether we should all wear face masks. Who is going to train the general public on how to fit them correctly or how to remove gloves and masks without contaminating your hands with what is on the outside surface?

Perhaps I had better now follow my wife's advice... "Chris, get off your soapbox!"