Using communal spaces

We have increased our daytime cleaning presence in toilets and washrooms, with each toilet visited by cleaning staff several times throughout the day to maintain levels of cleanliness, disinfect touchpoints and ensure dispensers are full and working.

Toilets will be closed while cleaning takes place to support social distancing and we would ask staff to use alternative toilets while this happens. Cleaning should only take a few minutes with minimal disruption. 

Virucidal chemicals are being used in conjunction with regular cleaning products to remove dirt and kill germs. The cleaning team will disinfect their equipment and cloths with virucidal chemicals before moving to a new area, to reduce the chance of virus transmission.

Single toilets can be used as normal.

Where washrooms have more than one toilet cubicle, every other cubicle will be locked and out of use, with 'Do Not Use' signs in place.

Covers are being placed on alternate urinals and alternate wash basins with the message ‘Do Not Use’, as below:

Internal and external signage will be installed to remind people of behaviours around social distancing. These will include contact details to ensure that staff can alert cleaning teams where facilities aren't working or soap, hand sanitiser, etc is out of stock (though these will be checked regularly throughout the day).

If you find a toilet is busy and you cannot social distance safely, please be patient and wait outside until it is safe to enter. This sign will be put on the doors of all multi-cubicle facilities.

Hand washing facilities will be available in all toilets on campus. Please follow the hand washing guidance displayed on the posters inside the washroom.

A toilet check sheet will be installed on all toilet doors notifying everyone when it was last visited by the cleaning team, and explaining what activity took place on that visit.

Hand sanitiser dispensers will be available outside all toilets on campus. 

Will the hand sanitiser be pedal operated to avoid touching?

The hand sanitiser dispenser will be hand operated and similar to those used in hospitals, for example. That means touching the dispenser and then being able to sanitise your hands immediately afterwards. The dispensers will also be disinfected regularly throughout the day therefore further reducing the risk of virus transmission.

Will you be looking at the hand driers as they can spread the virus?

All accessible WCs will have hand towels installed, this is because the hand driers may be impractical for some individuals to use, however there are no plans to decommission hand driers across campus. The WHO advice remains to dry your hands using a paper towel or a warm air drier.

Decommissioning hand driers is not possible in all toilet facilities due to the shortage of space for waste bins. In addition, the introduction of hand towels does create more blockages and subsequently put toilets out of use more frequently. The installation of additional dispensers and removal of dryers in all toilets across campus will not only add to the growing financial cost but also has negative environmental impacts as well.

Where toilet facilities are limited resulting in queueing, will temporary toilets be provided?

At this stage we have no plans to introduce additional, temporary toilet and washroom facilities. All toilet facilities will have dispensers located outside their entrance and additional cleaning has been introduced throughout the day.

All toilets will have signs on the external door to remind users to be alert and comply with social distancing. It is important that we all work together as a community by acting sensibly and safely.

In essence, it’s about security being everyone’s responsibility within our community.

Please contact cleaning-operations@brunel.ac.uk for more information or to alert teams about any issues on campus.

All kitchens on campus will be cleaned thoroughly each morning between 5am and 9am, and the cleaning team will visit each kitchen several times throughout the day to maintain levels of cleanliness, disinfect touchpoints and ensure all dispensers are full.

Kitchens will be closed while cleaning takes place to support social distancing and we would ask staff to use alternative kitchen facilities while this happens. Cleaning should only take a few minutes with minimal disruption. 

Virucidal chemicals are being used in conjunction with regular cleaning products to remove dirt and kill germs. The cleaning team will disinfect their equipment and cloths with virucidal chemicals before moving to a new area, to reduce the chance of virus transmission.

All kitchen dispensers (soap and hand towel) will be replenished daily by the cleaning team.

Departments won't need to replenish dispensers in their kitchens and there will be a contact email for emergency supplies if they are needed at any point in the day. Contact details will be  available on posters displayed in each staff kitchen. 

Only one person should use a kitchen at any time. If you see the kitchen is busy, please wait and come back later.

Before using anything in the kitchen, wipe down the handles of anything that you intend to use e.g. kettle, microwave, fridge and cupboard. When you have finished, wipe down the handles of everything you have used.

Wipe dispensers are located throughout buildings. These can be used by staff to disinfect touch points in kitchens as required.

Kitchens have a plumbed in sink and will be cleaned regularly as described above. Tea points are spaces that don't have a plumbed in sink and usually contain a kettle and fridge. These facilities won't receive any additional cleaning within the cleaning rota and should be cleaned by staff, using available wipes before and after use.

Posters will be in place in every kitchen to remind people of how to wash their hands.

Please contact cleaning-operations@brunel.ac.uk for more information or to alert teams about any issues on campus.