School IPM—COVID-19/Microbial Control and Pest Prevention

On this page:

• Disinfecting, Sanitizing & Cleaning
• Powered Equipment
• Pesticide Applicator Training for School Disinfection
• COVID-19 Resources
• General Cleaning Resources

---

Disinfecting, Sanitizing & Cleaning

Effective prevention and management of microbial pests such as bacteria, fungi and viruses is an essential component of any IPM program. Disinfection and sanitizing products are pesticides and their use in schools must be consistent with state and federal laws. Unsafe use and overuse can pose a risk to human health. Hand-application of most disinfectants and sanitizers with non-powered equipment used in the course of routine cleaning is exempted from notification and posting requirements (see Chapter 27). However, the use of powered equipment, including electrostatic sprayers, has certain restrictions. Some of these restrictions have been temporarily suspended for school employees by the Governor’s Executive Order 7 FY 20/21.

Powered Equipment

NEW! Governor’s Executive Order 7 FY 20/21 exempts school employees from pesticide applicator licensing requirements for the use of powered sprayers to apply disinfectants and sanitizers in the course of  routine cleaning if the following requirements are met:

1. School employees using powered equipment must complete Disinfectant Applicator Training:

View Recorded Webinar. Presentation slides. After viewing the Disinfectant Applicator Training webinar take the exam HERE.

1. Products applied by powered equipment must be:
   • Labeled for use with powered equipment
   • Registered by the Board of Pesticides Control
   • Approved by EPA for use against SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19)
2. Schools must keep detailed records of applications.

Sample Disinfectant Application Record Form   Sample Disinfectant Key Record Form

Pesticide Applicator Training for School Disinfection

Commercial Pesticide Applicator licenses are required for non-exempted personnel (such as contracted service providers and untrained school staff) and using powered pesticide application equipment such as electrostatic sprayers in/on school property (including buses). Licensing Brochure (PDF). FMI: Board of Pesticides Control. The training modules below are provided to prepare aspiring licensees for required examinations. Contact the Board of Pesticides Control for additional information. Study guides are available from University of Maine Cooperative Extension.

• Core Training Webinar: Recorded Webinar / Slides (PDF)
• Microbial Control Training Webinar Recorded Webinar / Slides (PDF)

COVID-19 Resources

• COVID-19 Response Guidelines for Cleaning and Disinfection
• Disinfectants and COVID-19 (Maine BPC)
• COVID-19 Disinfectant Information and Search Tool (EPA)
• Cleaning for Healthier Schools: Infection Control Handbook (Revised for COVID-19, Flu, H1N1 & more)
• Disinfectant Use Safety Training Video (Nat'l Pesticide Information Center)

Ventilation and Filtration

• Air Cleaners, HVAC Filters and Coronavirus (EPA)
• Portable Air Cleaner Guide (UC Boulder/Harvard)
• COVID-19 Safety Guidelines for Specific School Spaces (Yale School of Public Health)
• COVID-19 Aerosol Risk Estimator (Portland State/U of Oregon)

General Cleaning Resources

• Cleaning for Asthma-safe Schools Tool Kit (EPA)
• Design for the Environment Safer Product Selection Tool (EPA)
• GreenSeal.org (list of lower-risk products)
• Informed Green Solutions (resources for cleaning and disinfecting schools and daycares)