Ergonoma

Men behind the machines / Derrière les machines, des hommes

Well-being 

Antibacterial technologies to secure air transport

Thomas Julia , ,

The new hygiene rules have not finished invading our daily lives. The pandemic we are currently experiencing calls for changes. And professionals from all walks of life have understood it. Stricter hygiene measures are needed, especially in public places where people pass each other in droves. Like airports for example. The Florida-based company SecurityPoint Media (SPM), a major player in airport security control areas, is certainly moving in this direction.

It has entered into an agreement with Microban International, a world leader in antibacterial technologies. The goal ? Let the know-how and standards of the second company spread over the products of the first. From this union were born first trays for the delivery of antibacterial personal effects. Sensible replaced the ubiquitous gray bins in airports for decades. Overview of this one step closer to hygiene in public places.

A necessary effort in air transport

Airports are fertile places for the spread of pandemics. They had each time played a major role in the SARS episodes of the 2010s. With COVID, a leap forward had to be made. Especially at the level of the platforms present in the control points. A 2018 study by researchers at the University of Nottingham and the Finnish National Institute for Health and Welfare found that these plastic trays harbor the highest level of virus among all surfaces of airports.

Antibacterial trays

The new security control trays are treated with antibacterial technology that inhibits the growth of bacteria on their surface. The new trays also include patented safety enhancements. And are all equipped with the SecureTray system. The SecureTray system is a patented process that allows travelers to dispose of their belongings when passing through airport security checkpoints. The platforms have been deployed by SPM since 2019 on the airport network. They will be fully distributed by the end of the summer. They were first introduced at Denver Airport, which was followed by Chicago O’Hare, Seattle International, and then Washington Dulles. They are now available at 30 different locations in the United States. “Our collaboration with Microban reflects our philosophy of delivering solutions that are both simple and effective,” said Joseph T Ambrefe Jr, CEO of SecurityPoint Media.

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A colossal challenge to take up

Now everyone is asking the question: will the new trays withstand the test of fire, when they are put into service? The opposite would have serious consequences. For the record, before the onset of the coronavirus pandemic (which reduced air travel at US airports by 90%), the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screened up to two million passengers per day. For Joseph T Ambrefe Jr, no need to worry, his company masters the technology. “For decades, our chemists and engineers have successfully developed antimicrobial solutions for high traffic and hygiene critical environments such as restaurants, hospitals and schools, and for high contact surfaces in many environments. different ”he assures us. So far, the use of the trays has not been accompanied by any major health problems. Bodes well for the future.

Air transport needs hygiene measures, that’s for sure. If only to bring back passengers, the sector being in peril like never before. Air France, for example, has lived since the start of the pandemic on a state infusion. The world after is only in its infancy.

Source: Microban