Hello Comrades,
Given the recent health situation, I reached out to a supplier about recommended methods of camera sanitisation. Given that we have been advised to not touch our faces – and class sets of cameras press up against multiple faces. I thought I would share with you my findings to support eachother.
This was passed onto me from Nikon:
Thank you for contacting our support team.
We would recommend the following when cleaning cameras.
1. make sure to have a body/lens cap or the lens closed when wiping with disinfectant wipes and also make sure to not push too hard on the microphone area where the camera is not sealed.
2. You can use disinfectant sprays such as Glen 20 at a distance of 30-40 cms and again use a body/lens cap and avoid the microphone.
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I would personally go with option 1 over option 2 because, as an OSH rep, aerosol cans should NOT be used in school due to the risk to asthmatics (among others), and if these MUST be used (sealing art work for example) they must only be used in well ventilated spaces in accordance with risk management plans. I don’t know about you but my store room is a windowless, airless bunker!
Given that most shops are presently OUT of disinfectant or alcohol wipes, the science Lab technicians at school suggested that using windex might work. Spray it onto a microfibre cloth first (not too much) and then gently clean the outside of the camera.
If you choose to try this I of course accept NO liability and you do this at your own risk. 😉 I did this to one of our dying Canon600D cameras first as a test.
Also I told students to use the LCD and NOT hold cameras up to their faces to look through the viewfinders.
I have attached the SDS (required OSH document for chemicals in the workplace) for Windex if required.
PS – this would probably work for computer keyboards too!
Yours in health and safety,
Kristyn