Given the concern over the global spread of influenza A(H1N1), all stakeholders are strongly advised to take precautionary measures to maintain high standards of sanitation and food hygiene to prevent the transmission and spread of infectious diseases.
2. The National Environment Agency (NEA) strongly urges hostels’ managers/operators to maintain good cleanliness and hygiene that is essential for good public health because these places are a popular and affordable choice of housing for many students seeking educational opportunities in Singapore. In a communal living environment, any lapses in hygiene can easily result in rapid spread of infectious diseases. By observing these standards, students can enjoy a clean living environment and stay healthy while studying here.
3. The NEA advises the following good practices be implemented immediately:
a) Cleaning and Maintenance of Premises and Facilities
Clean and disinfect the following daily:
· Surfaces with frequent human contact such as door knobs/handles, staircase railings, lift buttons, counters and tabletops.
· Common areas/rooms used frequently by students and staff.
b) Housekeeping/Refuse Management
· Have an assigned team of workers to do cleaning and housekeeping daily.
· Designate a cooking area for students, where necessary.
· Provide enough refuse bins lined with plastic bags and tight covers in the living quarters and canteen areas. The bins must be covered at all times.
· Dispose of all food waste and other refuse in refuse bins daily. Clean up any refuse spillage immediately.
· Clean/disinfect all refuse/litter bins within the premises/compound daily.
· Remove refuse from the bin centre daily.
· Wash and disinfect the bin centre daily. All bulk bins must be kept within the bin centre and be properly covered.
· Have a programme for cleaning drains and cutting overgrown vegetation.
c) Sanitary Pipes
· Check your sanitary pipes, especially at the joints. Call a plumber to fix any leaks or defects, and to clear any chokes immediately.
· As a further precaution, disinfect the area in the vicinity of the leak with household bleach after the repair.
d) Pest Control Programme
· Engage a registered pest control operator to carry out regular pest control works.
· Look for signs of pest infestation such as rodent droppings/burrows and cockroach droppings.
· Check for stagnant water which can breed mosquitoes and destroy all potential breeding habitats.
· Ensure no stray animals/crows in the premises.
e) Toilets
· Clean toilets regularly, paying attention to areas with high human contact such as water taps, cistern handles, seats and cover flaps, wash basins, door knobs, buttons and switches.
· Provide adequate supply of toilet paper, paper towels (if provided) or hand dryers and liquid soap at all times.
· Ensure toilet-flushing apparatus is functioning at all times.
f) Personal Hygiene
Hostel managements/operators are also encouraged to educate their students, staff and workers:
· To observe good personal hygiene and toilet practices (e.g. wash hands with soap and water before and after meals and after visiting toilet).
· Not to feed strays/crows.
· Keep the living environment tidy and litter-free.
· Spit, cough or sneeze into tissue and throw the soiled tissue into litters bin and wash hands.
· Do not share personal items (eg. toothbrush, razors).
· Participate in clean up projects.
· If ill, report to the hall masters/supervisors and stay away from fellow residents.
· Give feedback to hall masters/supervisors about dirty places or unhygienic practices in hostels.
4. Section 60 of the Environmental Public Health Act requires the owner, occupier or lessee of any building to which public has access, to regularly clean, keep clean and keep the building free of such conditions as may endanger the lives or health of his employees, members of public and other users. The Director-General of Public Health will require the owner, occupier or lessee to carry out these measures if they fail to do so by way of Notice under section 60(2) of the Act. Failing to comply with the Notice shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000 under section 85(1) of the Act.