How To Prepare Your Workplace For Re-Entry
While non-essential businesses may not be able to reopen just yet, there are steps employers can take now to ready offices and work spaces for a safe return. Among our essential workers right now; cleaning crews are busy bees. Without a doubt these services will be booking up fast with deep cleanings of homes, offices and workplaces when the world finally begins to re-emerge. Now is the perfect time to schedule a top to bottom cleaning by professionals who have experience and will do the job safely.
That being said, the return to work will call for a new approach to the usual workplace cleaning routine. Regular cleaning and disinfecting of high touch surfaces will be more critical than ever. The need for a sanitary and welcoming workspace could mean assigning a few additional responsibilities to workers, or hiring a service to also perform maintenance cleaning. Here are some other ways to help create a safe and hygienic workplace:
– Promote hand-washing by employees, contractors and customers using signage and making sure your facility/office is well-stocked with soap, paper towels and hand sanitizer.
– Place hand sanitizer dispensers around the workplace and encourage use when hand washing is not an option.
– Strategically display posters promoting hand-washing around the workplace, especially around the restroom and break room. These materials should be available from your local public health authority.
– Provide tissues and no-touch disposal receptacles. Be sure to empty these receptacles frequently.
– Stock plenty of personal protective gear if your work calls for it and have it available for all employees to use with proper instructions.
– Whenever possible minimize contact among workers, clients, and customers.
– Choose virtual or phone meetings instead of face-to-face. Alternate days or shifts to reduce the number of employees physically in the workplace at the same time.
– If your budget allows, this might be the time to make a few engineering upgrades, such as improving your facility’s ventilation system and installing no-touch faucets, toilets, paper towel dispensers and light switches.
References:
World Health Organization Guidelines accessed at:
https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/getting-workplace-ready-for-covid-19.pdf?sfvrsn=359a81e7_6
Guidelines from OSHA cited on
https://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=230140
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/guidance-business-response.html