In Safe Hands: Entertainment Venue UV Disinfection Stations Poised to Help Deter Viral Outbreaks
Crowded sports stadiums, concert halls, convention centers, amusement parks, and other entertainment venues must be ready to combat the latest viral outbreaks. Whether due to influenza or other respiratory viruses, winter is often a time of viral spread and commonly touched items become a source of infection. Simply putting out hand sanitizer at a minimum is insufficient to prevent potential outbreaks.
So, proactive entertainment venue leaders are looking to technology partners to help protect their business operation and the community more comprehensively. One promising development is portable UV disinfection stations can protect everyone at entrances and communal areas to quickly disinfect any handled items, which otherwise can spread viruses to hands, noses, mouths, and others.
At the top of the list are our mobile phones, tablets, and other smart devices. According to various studies, individuals check their phones approximately 150 times each day. Consider that scientists at the University of Arizona found cell phones carry 10 times more bacteria than most toilet seats. Many of these items pass through other people’s hands as well, including credit cards, bills, and coins. Athletes, entertainers, support staff and venue workers also may share equipment, costumes, uniforms, microphones, tablets, and workstations.
One solution that warrants closer scrutiny is the use of ultraviolet (UV) light devices. These devices utilize short-wavelength ultraviolet C (UV-C) light to inactivate pathogens including viruses (such as SARS-CoV-2), bacteria, mold spores, and yeast. UV-C light irradiation is already a proven technology, verified in many studies and utilized prior to the pandemic in both commercial and residential settings.
To be clear, there are already many UV light devices on the market. However, many require direct contact and manipulation to operate the appliance, and there can be questions about the intensity and contact time of the applied UV light.
Based on this observation, Tebots, Inc., a design-build company, decided to design a better mousetrap that would address many of these limitations. The patent-pending UV disinfection appliance resembles a small, portable charcoal grill. Tablet sized, or smaller items are placed on a rotating platform and then move in a 360-degree arc through the chamber where they are bombarded from all angles by UV-C light for approximately 10 seconds.
“By controlling the internal environment and the time within the chamber very precisely, we can kill more than 99.9% of the pathogens on the surfaces of the item,” says Robert Tegel, founder, and CEO of Tebots, Inc.
Tegel envisions the self-service disinfection stations being installed in front of entertainment venue entries/exits, bathrooms, and shared spaces. This includes restaurants, rides, and any enclosed areas such as locker rooms, green rooms, box seating, halls or theaters. At entertainment venues, administrators could install the POZ to protect visitors, entertainers, staff, and the whole community as part of an important public health and safety initiative.
Tebots is currently in discussions with several entities to license the technology. The initial design and several full prototypes have already been created.
For more information, visit https://tebots.com/ or contact Robert Tegel at 847-669-6876.