Ex Porton Down consultant joins PP-L Health Technology Solutions

“Since this pandemic began, there has been loads of scientific research into COVID-19 and its transmission, and we now know that the virus is primarily spread through airborne microdroplets which can spread very easily from person to person. Studies have shown that it can spread up to eight metres from an infected person and linger in the air for up to 16 hours. The problem is, government guidance for workplaces has barely changed since the spring and so we’re still treating it like a flu-like virus that is mainly spread through contaminated surfaces, which is way behind the science.

“Fortunately, there is simple, safe, affordable technology which can destroy the virus and almost all other pathogens in seconds, whether it’s in the air or on a surface. Germicidal UV-C disinfection systems could easily be used in classrooms, offices, factories, pubs, restaurants, trains and buses to make indoor environments safe enough for us to get on with our lives and rebuild our economy.

“It’s vital that the government and business leaders recognise this, because right now, our attempts to tackle the virus aren’t doing enough.”

PP-L Health Technology Solutions was founded in Lincolnshire this year by Chartered Engineer Paul Waldeck. The company aims to help organisations prevent the spread of COVID-19 through their operations and to protect them from future disease outbreaks. PP-L designs, specifies and installs proven solutions from world leading manufacturers to eliminate pathogens in a range of environments.

Upon joining PP-L, Dr Thomas co-authored an open letter to all Westminster MPs, calling for urgent changes to the government’s COVID-secure guidance to prevent airborne transmission.

The open letter, which Dr Thomas co-wrote with Paul Waldeck, calls on the government to strengthen its guidance on the use of face masks and on increasing ventilation while also requiring some indoor locations to use UV-C air disinfection systems and recommending their use in other areas. Citing several recent scientific papers and studies, Dr Thomas and Paul Waldeck argue that these steps will be crucial to reducing the spread of the virus in indoor environments.

UV-C is a low wavelength ultraviolet light which has been used for decades to destroy viruses, with its effectiveness having been proven by more than 4,000 scientific papers and studies. UV-C air disinfection systems have even been shown to reduce the airborne transmission of even the most contagious airborne pathogens, such as tuberculosis by 80%.

As well as being used to disinfect surfaces, UV-C light can sterilise airborne microorganisms through upper room air disinfection systems

As well as being used in highly regulated environments where hygiene is essential such as in laboratories, UV-C is also deployed as a defence technology by military forces around the world against biological weapons. Germicidal UV-C air disinfection systems can be installed into heating, ventilation, air conditioning and cooling systems or as a standalone air disinfection system.

Dr Rhys Thomas and Paul Waldeck argue that while all occupied indoor environments would benefit from the use of this technology, this could be especially useful in cool, indoor environments with poor ventilation in which the virus can spread more easily.

Despite their criticism of the existing COVID-secure guidance, Dr Thomas and Paul Waldeck say that the government should be praised for the “positive steps” it has taken so far to prevent the spread of the virus. They explain that the guidance must now evolve to reflect the increased understanding of the virus, writing that the measures they propose would help the UK to adapt to the “new normal” and recover from the pandemic.

To find out more about PP-L health Technology Solutions please visit www.pplpro.co.uk and to read their open letter in full, click here.