HP has recently developed a set of recommendations with a team of board-certified infection preventionists to disinfect office equipment and devices to tamp down potential pathogen transmission. These devices in your office are valuable tools for accessing and transmitting data, however disinfecting these devices is now an important component of environmental hygiene for infection prevention. Your organization should come up with a clear plan for routine cleaning and disinfection of the devices and accessories. Clearly communicate who is responsible for these tasks, and provide the appropriate training.

General Guidelines:

• Presaturated disinfecting wipes are recommended for cleaning, rather than spray-on disinfectants applied to a cloth, to avoid dripping of the solution into the ventilation or other points of ingress, which can damage the equipment.
• Fibrous materials like paper towels and cloths should not be used for cleaning and disinfection of the equipment to avoid scratching the displays.
• The use of keyboard covers does not replace the need for cleaning and disinfection.
• Routine cleaning and disinfection of the computers and displays should start with the top of the display monitor, proceed to accessories, and finish with the cables. Routine cleaning and disinfection of the copiers and printers should start with the top of the control panel and finish with the keyboard. Ensure that disinfecting wipes remain wet during the entire application.
• Turn off the equipment to avoid electrical shock or damage to the components.
• Encourage use of equipment with clean hands.

Cleaning

• If the equipment or device is visibly soiled, it should be cleaned following these steps, prior to disinfection.
• Perform hand hygiene
• Remove soil from the device or accessory with disinfecting wipe or a water-dampened cloth (microfiber, chambois, or static-free cloth recommended)
• Allow device to air dry.

Disinfecting

• Perform hand hygiene.
• Disinfect all exposed surfaces of the computer and display, including the accessories.
• Disinfect the surface of the control panel and keyboard of the copier or printer.
  Ensure that the disinfecting wipe remains wet during this entire process, replacing if necessary.
• Ensure that the surfaces remain treated with the disinfectant for the contact time specified by the manufacturer of the disinfecting wipes.
• Allow to air dry.
• Perform hand hygiene.

Frequency

Routine disinfection of devices and accessories should be performed daily.

Types of Wipes

• Hypochlorite (bleach) wipes
• Hydrogen peroxide wipes
• Alcohol-free quaternary ammonium compounds (QAC) wipes
• QAC/alcohol wipes

We hope this information helps you in your efforts to keep everyone in your office healthy. If you have any questions about the right kinds of cloths and cleaning supplies for your office equipment, contact us.[/cz_title][cz_gap height=”30px” id=”cz_62034″]

Organizations are relying on technology in the workplace at an ever increasing pace. As such, it is now more critical than ever to not only have an office equipment supplier, but a partner that will support you long after the sale is made. Banging your head on your desk is probably not listed in your job description, right? 

We’ve all been there.

You need to print a crucial document or product brochures for a sales meeting, only to find out that your printer in out of commission. What now?

Not only is it extremely frustrating when office equipment goes down or does not work properly, but it also can slow your work to a halt and bring your office to a standstill. We understand that you need as little downtime as possible, which is why all of our service technicians are factory-trained and certified. That means when we repair your device it will be done right the first time by a technician committed to your business needs. In addition, Les Olson Company is a Sharp Platinum Service Provider, demonstrating the highest level excellence in copier service.

Each of our nine locations offers a warehouse that is well-stocked with parts, supplies, toners, ink cartridges and paper. In addition, we’ll bring your supplies to you! We offer free supply delivery across the Wasatch Front as well as in Central Utah, Southern Utah and Las Vegas, to keep your devices supplied and running smoothly.

Les Olson Company is here to help your business with all of its diverse technology needs. We take our customers’ satisfaction very seriously and commit to providing outstanding customer service. When you call Les Olson Company, you will be greeted by a live person dedicated to superior customer care and experts that can provide assistance specific to your unique needs.

What features and functions do you need in your office technology?

We know that technology is always changing. New advanced features and breakthroughs are being engineered every day. As these advanced functions are implemented into office technology, it can be hard to know which functions and features your organization will need. When you partner with Les Olson Company, we take the time to learn about your business and processes. This goes above and beyond print volumes, color vs monochrome requirements, or finisher needs.  We try to understand what is being produced as well as the why. Being able to define customers’ needs and workflow allows our dedicated experts to place the right technology with the right functionality into your unique environment. We strive to give our customers everything they need to do what they do best.

Whatever your needs are, Les Olson Company can help your organization! We offer a robust product line of state-of-the-art technology including; small document imaging products, multi-function copiers, wide format printers, digital presentation systems, network servers, document workflow solutions, business computers, data security & backup and I.T. services.

Getting to know your new technology.

When your equipment is installed, our experts will ensure that users are fully trained to maximize the full potential of their equipment.  If new users are added or you need a refresher during the life of the machine, let us know! We’ll be more than happy to assist.

As your office technology partner, Les Olson Company is here to help you get the most out of your office technology. No matter what your needs may be, please feel free to contact us and let us show you how we can help![/cz_title][cz_gap height=”30px” id=”cz_62034″]

Take a minute to ask yourself some basic questions. Are you seeing growth in your industry? Is your industry becoming more competitive? Is quality a high priority? If you answered “yes” to any of these then you may want to consider a lease. Leasing will provide the flexibility required to grow with your business and upgrade to more productive technology when you need it. Leasing also provides a quick way to acquire the equipment necessary for business with small manageable payments all while building credit, not to mention certain tax benefits.

Know the difference between a Fair Market Value lease or “FMV” and a Dollar Buyout Lease or $1.00 b/o.

With most good leases you will have the option to buy the equipment at the end of the lease term or after the maturity date has passed. Usually there is a cost to do so, called the fair market value. With a $1.00 buyout, you pay a higher monthly payment so that at the end of the term the transfer of ownership is shown with the payment of just one dollar. Your best bet is to do a $1.00 buyout with shorter term leases and a “FMV” lease with longer term leases. This is in part because after a long term lease (48-63 months), the equipment is now considered aged; why would you want to pay to own it? A $1.00 b/o on a 12-39 month lease still leaves enough life in the machine to justify paying the higher monthly amount during the lease term but to continue owning it without payments for a few more years.

Now, a look at purchasing.

The obvious advantage here is avoiding term obligations. You may rid yourself of any month-to-month lease payments, but most copy and print equipment need to be serviced regularly. It is very wise to obtain a service agreement on your equipment, but that will bring you back to a reoccurring payment, making the idea of eliminating ongoing costs moot. A better argument for purchasing is avoiding interest. Cash is king, and if you can purchase without interest you can save that money for other aspects of your business.

Beware, the common purchasing pitfall.

The temptation with purchasing equipment, however, is holding on to it for too long! The older the equipment the more money you will have to invest in it and the less efficient and reliable it becomes. Pretty soon you will be using the money you saved from not paying interest to paying for service to keep your equipment running. I always explain to my customers that efficiency and cost savings are absolutely good goals to have, but reliability is the key. Any money saved is almost always lost if the equipment is not reliable.

Another issue with purchasing is the loss of flexibility. Many vendors are unable to “buy back” used equipment. Manufacturers may offer incentives to do some type of a “trade in,” but this can be hit or miss. I have seen businesses purchase equipment only to have their needs change. As the value of equipment typically depreciates if you try to sell it yourself, you could end up taking a loss.

To Lease or Not to Lease: Final Thoughts

Leasing provides an avenue to keeping equipment relevant. Newer equipment will boost morale and productivity for the end users. The best thing to do is work with a company you trust. Ask for references and check out their reviews online. Do your homework when seeking out a vendor, and be sure to look at more than just the price tag.[/cz_title][cz_gap height=”30px” id=”cz_62034″]