Within a month, the Insel Group, commissioned by the Canton of Bern, set up one of the largest vaccination centers in Switzerland. Vaccinations are now in full swing. ISS ensures cleanliness and hygiene at the vaccination center.
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January 4, 2021: Everything is still quiet in the large tent on the Insel Campus - a temporary structure made of white tarps, though equipped with a high-tech thermal imaging camera at the entrance. Nevertheless, Matthias Ruoss, ISS Regional Director for Bern, feels a tingle of excitement as he walks through the still-empty vaccination center at Bern’s Inselspital: “We’ll soon be helping to write a little bit of Swiss history here,” he says.
ISS will handle the cleaning and waste disposal at the vaccination center on behalf of Inselspital - in accordance with the strict hygiene standards that apply in the healthcare sector. It was only natural that Inselspital awarded this safety-critical contract to ISS last December. ISS has a long-standing partnership with the Insel Group and carries out various contracts for the Canton of Bern.
The contract has been a challenge for ISS from the very beginning. After all, there are only a few weeks left for planning, organization, recruitment, and training - and Christmas is just around the corner. “One advantage is our pool of experienced employees. Many of them are more than willing to work at the vaccination center,” says Ruoss.
Intensive Training: One of the Safest Places
To prepare these employees optimally for their assignment, they receive intensive training. Raising awareness of the high hygiene standards is particularly important, says Barbara Duppenthaler, Healthcare Project Manager, because: “Just because something looks clean doesn’t mean it actually is.” It’s the procedures that matter most. To prevent the spread of germs, the cleaning staff follow clear hygiene guidelines: They work from clean areas toward dirty ones, and each room is supplied with fresh cloths and mop covers. For surface cleaning, the cleaning staff use color-coded microfiber cloths.
At the same time, it’s important to put employees’ minds at ease. “The vaccination center is a safe place that only people without symptoms are allowed to enter,” says Duppenthaler. Accordingly, it is sufficient for employees to wear a face mask and disposable gloves, follow personal hygiene guidelines, and have their ISS uniforms washed daily.
Efficiency and hygiene: ISS employees work in teams and carry out their tasks in a clear sequence.
Systematic Procedures: Work on the Front Lines Begins
On January 11, 2021, the vaccination campaign against the virus begins in the canton of Bern. Hundreds of people ready to be vaccinated come and go daily at the Inselspital vaccination center. The canton will open nine centers over the course of the month; at full capacity, it aims to administer up to 5,000 doses daily.
When the vaccination center closes at 5 p.m., work begins for the five ISS employees. This includes cleaning the 20 vaccination booths, the rest area, and all connecting areas. The team cleans using what’s known as the “column system”: One specialist wipes down all surfaces and handles supply and waste disposal; another goes around with the vacuum cleaner; a third mops the floor; a fourth cleans the restrooms; and a fifth coordinates and supervises the entire process. The vaccination staff at Inselspital pack the used syringes into sealed safety containers, which ISS disposes of in a special container at the end of the day. In addition, one employee performs an initial cleaning during the lunch break from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m.
Supporting Institutions: Next Surge on the Horizon
Today, Matthias Ruoss says with pride: “At the vaccination center, we’re making a small but important contribution to containing the pandemic.” How long this effort will last is uncertain. One thing is certain: The Inselspital and ISS are still facing their biggest rush once larger groups of people are admitted for vaccination. But they’re prepared: “With our expertise, we can support institutions in this important task,” says Matthias Ruoss.