Deemed an essential service, Beacon Group’s custodial operations have ramped up in the last month to better serve our government and commercial customers, while continuing our mission of furthering opportunities for people with disabilities. Beacon Group Custodial teams are typically behind the scenes, working a variety of shifts to clean buildings throughout Arizona when most convenient for the customer, but now they are more visible as they step up efforts to focus on the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Cleaning and janitorial staff are essential personnel,” says Senior Project Manager Chris Mowen, “Our cleaners are front line troops in the fight against the spread of the virus. Our goal is to protect every person who enters and uses the buildings we clean, including our staff!”

Beacon’s custodial division has responded to customer’s needs for a cleaner safer environment in several ways.  One of the more significant changes was that Beacon added a new process to the arsenal against the spread of the corona virus — a technique called electrostatic cleaning — to sanitize and protect surfaces.

The new Protexus Electrostatic System that Beacon is using sprays an aerosolized chlorine-based solution that disinfects all surfaces that it lands on. Electrostatically charged droplets create a field in the spray plume that is magnetically drawn to any surface within 6 feet. This means that not only is the top of the table disinfected, so is the underside!  Beacon has been performing this service at many facilities throughout the Phoenix and Tucson metropolitan areas, including some extremely large and critical locations such as the Evo A. DeConcini Federal Courthouse, Sandra Day O’Connor Federal Courthouse, Arizona Department of Child Safety, and the 2020 Census building.  The Protexus treatment is particularly beneficial when used in public spaces that offer essential services such as healthcare, human services and essential infrastructure.  Working with our partner SourceAmerica, Beacon has been instrumental in ensuring that Federal employees carry out the work of the government in clean, sanitary conditions.

“We required infection control services for our building and enlisted Beacon. The application of the disinfectant using the Protexus Electrostatic System was efficient and effective in covering a wide range of surfaces within the building,” says Mark McKechnie, Building Manager for the Bureau of Reclamation. “I felt very confident that the surfaces had been disinfected more thoroughly using the electrostatic sprayer, versus wiping the surface by hand.”

As an additional primary defense, Beacon has enhanced the cleaning of “high touch” points because the virus is transmitted through the mucus membranes by touch. These areas include light switches, door handles, railings, handrails, key cards, countertops, water faucets, and handles, elevator buttons, sinks, toilets and control handles, tabletops, restroom stall handles, toilet paper and other paper dispensers, door handles and push plates, water cooler and drinking fountain controls.

“As you can imagine, adding extra disinfecting creates extra work, and Beacon is busier than ever before,” explains Mowen.  “To keep workers safe, Beacon has increased the use of masks, implemented social distancing as defined by CDC, and increased the emphasis on PPE, [Personal Protective Equipment].”  Mowen also says it is increasingly difficult to get certain items, as masks, gloves, disinfectant wipes have all become highly sought-after commodities.  With the knowledge that individuals and charities have begun making masks for essential workers and those who are vulnerable, Beacon recently extended a request for the donation of masks to help ensure our workers remain safe as we provide the enhanced cleaning services mentioned above.  Beacon Group is accepting donated masks at both Tucson and Phoenix locations between 8am – 4 pm Monday through Friday.

As a direct result of the pandemic, cleaning is suddenly in the spotlight as everyone pays closer attention to disinfecting both home and work environments. For Beacon Group this increased awareness is positive – bringing an appreciation of the role that cleaning and cleaning personnel play in everyday life.  It is hoped that when it is safe for people to return to their regular workspaces, cleaning will remain a high priority, and Beacon’s professional skills will continue to be valued.  Providing business solutions such as custodial, landscaping, manufacturing and other services, enables Beacon Group to sustain our mission of creating opportunities for people with disabilities not only for today – but for the future ahead.