Can non-alcoholic disinfection products strengthen the Norwegian Armed Forces' operational capability?

The Norwegian Armed Forces' operational capability is at all times dependent on healthy and combat-ready personnel. This report discusses the results from a larger field experiment with various disinfection products in Hemsedal municipality. The report highlights the importance of maintaining the ability of employees to perform assigned tasks. The experiences from Hemsedal municipality can contribute to strengthening the Norwegian Armed Forces' operational capability through increased access to healthy and combat-ready personnel. The experiences can also contribute to better prevention and greater delimitation of virus outbreaks in operations and exercises under the auspices of the Norwegian Armed Forces. A field experiment means that research is carried out in its natural context where the daily activity is "as usual". In collaboration with SoftOx Solutions, AirthingsTM and Hemsedal Municipality, FFI has analyzed the advantages and disadvantages of non-alcoholic disinfectants, compared with alcoholic disinfectants. In addition to the field experiment's big data analysis from 175 indoor air quality sensors, a series of controlled laboratory experiments were performed at AirthingsTM living laboratory in Bergen. A laboratory experiment means that the research is carried out in an artificial and controlled environment. Two surveys were also conducted, before and after an intervention period, among employees and users in Hemsedal municipality. The report analyzes and maps measured air quality and the subjective experience as a result of the use of various disinfection products in a given work environment. The results from the big data analysis show that non-alcoholic disinfectant products reduce the level of volatile organic chemicals (VOC) during the intervention period by 30–60 percent, compared with alcoholic disinfectants. Controlled laboratory experiments support the big data analysis from the field experiment in Hemsedal; non-alcoholic disinfectant products affect VOC to a lesser extent than alcoholic disinfectant products. The analyzes from the questionnaires show that the employees experience a better indoor climate and increased well-being during working hours when they use non-alcoholic disinfectant products. The results also show a statistically significant correlation between reported long-term sick leave, VOC and temperature. These findings are relevant to employee performance, well-being, the environment and sick leave in any organization.