The news that more than 100 Westfleisch employees have contracted the coronavirus in the midst of the current debate on relaxation has come at a very inconvenient time for politics and the economy! This case shows powerfully that the measures first imposed by regional and federal governments weeks ago are only partially effective. They are only effective if people keep a large enough “safe distance” between each other, in addition to all of these hygiene measures.
Why is it so important to keep a minimum distance?
Epidemiologists and scientists agree that, according to our present state of knowledge, the coronavirus can spread in three ways:
- Droplet infection – through “moist” speaking, coughing or sneezing. The virus enters the body through the eyes or mucosal membranes.
- Smear infection – through direct contact with infected persons or indirectly via contaminated objects. The virus enters the body through the eyes or mucosal membranes.
- Airborne infection – through breathing in pathogen-carrying aerosols, which are dispersed through room and breathing air.
Face masks minimise the danger of droplet infection, and frequent hand-washing protects against smear infections.
But what protects against free aerosols in closed rooms, which are released into the air when someone speaks, coughs or sneezes?
“We have specialised in room air filtering from day one. After the first case was announced, our Heinsberg-based company immediately started work on a solution that actually helps and doesn’t just offer perceived protection, explains Trotec Managing Director Joachim Ludwig. “Masks and sneeze guard walls are one part of this. However, in the meantime, all the experts have come to the conclusion that aerosols, which can stay in the air for several hours, pose the greatest risk of infection. The goal then must be to filter them out of the air quickly and efficiently.”
And nothing does this better than the Trotec area air purifier TAC V+.
The cause of the high infection rate at Westfleisch lies not in the hygiene policies of the meatpacking industry, but in the communal accommodation for employees. Often hundreds of people live in these places cheek by jowl and spend their free time with one another. If there is just one infected person among them, the virus spreads through the whole accommodation complex like wildfire and then distancing rules do not help one iota.
When speaking, coughing or sneezing, we release not only large, visible droplets into the room in a sort of mist (known as moist speech), but also tiny particles known as aerosols in much larger quantities. These floating particles measure just a thousandth of a millimetre, are invisible to the naked eye and, when released by infected persons, carry bacteria and viruses. It is these tiny little particles that are particularly infectious, because they are breathed deeply into the lungs, while the larger droplets sink to the ground immediately after sneezing or coughing.
Without protective measures, coughed up pathogens spread across a wide area within seconds, and remain airborne and infectious for several hours.
Only one thing helps against this spread of the viruses: permanent air purification that filters the illness-causing aerosols from the air before they are breathed in by other people in the room. Sneeze guard walls, minimum distancing of 1.5m and wearing simple face masks don’t offer effective protection against infectious aerosols, since these rise from time to time through the air like smoke and only sink to the ground over a large area slowly after several hours. They can even get in behind supposedly safe sneeze guard barriers, long after the cougher has already left the room. Infectious aerosols can be breathed in even through face masks because of their small size. If the room has air conditioning units, these disperse the virus-carrying aerosols even more widely across the whole room.
Because of this, use the greatest protection against infection by ridding the room and breathing air of viruses: The TAC V+ air purifier makes this possible.
The TAC V+ was developed in Germany, and is available to buy and rent immediately. It is the perfect solution for establishing virus-free areas in:
- Communal accommodation for seasonal workers and harvest hands
- Production facilities with many workers in a small space
High-frequency air purification with the TAC V+ filters 99.995% of pathogenic viruses from the room air and reduces the risk of infection to a minimum.
The danger of becoming infected with the coronavirus through room air despite observing distancing regulations is significantly reduced by using a TAC V+ air purifier from Trotec! Whether in communal accommodation, production line, picking area or canteen – the TAC V+ can filter infectious aerosol clouds as quick as a flash from the air in nearly any room. The mobile TAC V+ air purifier creates clear and virus-filtered “Clean Air Zones” wherever it is. The ambient air in these zones remains generally free from airborne germs and viruses, as the TAC V+ sucks in the contaminated room air from its surroundings and cleans it using an effective Hepa virus filter.
“Plug & Play” setup! No installation, no complicated connection process. Simply plug in and provide the highest possible protection against infection!
Maintenance-free air purification – without disturbing business
The TAC V+ has a thermal self-cleaning function so that employees can focus on the tasks at hand. The filter decontaminates itself 100 % automatically. This occurs overnight or outside working hours for example, so as to give reliable protection against pathogenic germs and viruses in the ambient air during the day!
Thanks to its globally unique combination of filter and decontamination technology, the TAC V+ safely reduces the airborne risk of infection in all areas with high public traffic.
You can’t ask for more, and you should demand no less of your protection:
- Compliance with hygiene regulations in business and living quarters
- Distancing regulations and sneeze guard barriers to protect from droplet infection
- Air purification to reduce the airborne risk of infection
Useful information about the suspended matter filter (H14 HEPA virus filter), with transmission level of ≤ 0.005 %
H14 virus filters, specifically developed by Trotec for the TAC V+ and the TES 200, impress with their first-class filter efficiency and their innovative performance characteristics. With their transmission level of just 0.005% and separation level of 99.995%, they offer 10 times higher separation compared to conventional H13 filters.
Thanks to these first-class properties, H14 high-performance filters are even used to produce clean air in operating theatres and in other comparably hygiene-sensitive areas. The best conditions, therefore, to protect your own employees in their in their living and working areas during rampant epidemics.
All H14 high-performance filters offered by Trotec meet the highest quality standards, which are obligatory for the filtration of bacteria and viruses:
- Each H14 high-performance filter is individually tested and given its own serial number.
- The test report is enclosed in duplicate as a certificate with each H14 filter.
- The original test certificate can be filed away and a copy attached to the air purification device when required.
- H14 HEPA high performance filters are tested according to EN 1822 and EN 60335-2-69.
Trotec has developed special high-performance air purifiers for almost every occupational safety application
In addition to the TAC V+high-performance air purifier, Trotec also offers other air purifiers, such as the TES 200 or the TAC 6500. We can supply you with free-standing air purification solutions as required, as well as air purifiers for integration into your existing room air system!
Our technical advisors will be pleased to discuss which device is optimal for your application in a personal meeting with you.
Buying a unit: If you have any questions, please contact us by email at info@trotec.de or give us a call on +49 2452 962-400.
Equipment rental: Please contact our TKL Rental Centre directly – by e-mail to info@tkl-rent.net or call us on +49 2452 962-160.
