Narrative:

I had just taken the positions and had began to disinfect my work areas. I cleared aircraft X to land on runway xx; the aircraft was approximately 6 miles out. I saw that I had aircraft Y; with a release time; approaching runway xy. West departure began flashing me a point-out for aircraft Z assigned 040; moving into my departure path. West then called on the shout-line; to provide me with more information regarding aircraft Z's intentions to fly a radial from center for 20 miles; and will approach my departure path. I then cleared another aircraft Y's company flight to land on runway xx.at this point I was distracted with avoiding the point-out; making the release time for aircraft Y; and disinfecting the work area. I cleared aircraft Y for takeoff on runway xy; and had overlooked the aircraft X that was cleared to land on runway xx. By the time I noticed my mistake; aircraft X was over the threshold of runway xx and aircraft Y was aligned with the runway. I canceled aircraft Y's takeoff clearance; before aircraft Y began the takeoff roll; and kept him in position on the runway. Aircraft X landed runway xx; followed by the other aircraft Y's company flight. Before clearing aircraft Y for departure. Even though aircraft Y could have departed in between the aircraft X and the following aircraft Y's company flight; I decided to go with the larger gap.under normal circumstances; even with working all the positions; I would not have overlooked aircraft Y that was cleared to land on runway xx. All of the memory aides were in use. However; my scan was ineffective because I was distracted with disinfecting my work area; and remembering what stuff I had cleaned or did not clean; what stuff I touched that was clean or was not clean; and to disinfect my hand before touching already cleaned surfaces; if I touched something that was not clean. Combine that with the required head-down time to disinfect and that I had just taken the position; led to me being mentally unfocused enough to scan properly or remember my previous instructions. I honestly am unsure about what could be changed. It is not really possible to clean a position before you take it; as the person still working the position needs to be there and touch everything; and cleaning around a person would be distracting. Aside from eliminating covid-19 or testing everyone when they get to the facility; work is still the most likely place for me to contract the coronavirus.

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Tower Controller reported being distracted with sanitizing the work area while operations were still going on resulting in an aircraft being cleared to taxi on to the runway while another aircraft was landing on an intersecting runway.

Narrative: I had just taken the positions and had began to disinfect my work areas. I cleared Aircraft X to land on Runway XX; the aircraft was approximately 6 miles out. I saw that I had Aircraft Y; with a release time; approaching Runway XY. West Departure began flashing me a point-out for Aircraft Z assigned 040; moving into my departure path. West then called on the shout-line; to provide me with more information regarding Aircraft Z's intentions to fly a radial from Center for 20 miles; and will approach my departure path. I then cleared another Aircraft Y's company flight to land on Runway XX.At this point I was distracted with avoiding the point-out; making the release time for Aircraft Y; and disinfecting the work area. I cleared Aircraft Y for takeoff on runway XY; and had overlooked the Aircraft X that was cleared to land on Runway XX. By the time I noticed my mistake; Aircraft X was over the threshold of Runway XX and Aircraft Y was aligned with the runway. I canceled Aircraft Y's takeoff clearance; before Aircraft Y began the takeoff roll; and kept him in position on the runway. Aircraft X landed runway XX; followed by the other Aircraft Y's company flight. Before clearing Aircraft Y for departure. Even though Aircraft Y could have departed in between the Aircraft X and the following Aircraft Y's company flight; I decided to go with the larger gap.Under normal circumstances; even with working all the positions; I would not have overlooked Aircraft Y that was cleared to land on Runway XX. All of the memory aides were in use. However; my scan was ineffective because I was distracted with disinfecting my work area; and remembering what stuff I had cleaned or did not clean; what stuff I touched that was clean or was not clean; and to disinfect my hand before touching already cleaned surfaces; if I touched something that was not clean. Combine that with the required head-down time to disinfect and that I had just taken the position; led to me being mentally unfocused enough to scan properly or remember my previous instructions. I honestly am unsure about what could be changed. It is not really possible to clean a position before you take it; as the person still working the position needs to be there and touch everything; and cleaning around a person would be distracting. Aside from eliminating COVID-19 or testing everyone when they get to the facility; work is still the most likely place for me to contract the coronavirus.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.