Do you own or manage a company? Are you wondering how you can prioritize employee health and safety when a global pandemic is still a significant concern?
Everyone on your staff doesn’t need to walk around in a hamster ball to stay safe. However, you’ll need to be mindful of Covid-19 workplace guidelines to keep workers healthy and ensure your peace of mind.
Here’s what you need to know about doing your part.
Protect With PPE
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) has become standard in workplace settings. Masks are used to cover the mount and nose. They can prevent virus-carrying droplets from getting spread to others when you cough, laugh or speak.
It’s vital to require your staff to wear masks each day. Some may have a preference in terms of mask type, color, or style.
Staff, clients, and customers may occasionally forget their masks, however. Or an emergency may render one unwearable.
If you’ve got folks coming into your place of work each day, you’ll want to have some masks available for them to use just in case. Companies like Brookwood Medical offer wholesale PPE so that you can get a discount on all of your supplies.
Socially Distance Your Layout
Social distancing is designed to limit exposure to disease-spreading particles by limiting face-to-face contact. The CDC recommends that you stay at least six feet apart from those who don’t live with you whenever possible.
To create a safe office environment, you’ll want to make sure that there are at least six feet of space between the workstations’ chairs. This may require moving some seats or even removing some chairs.
You can identify high-traffic areas in both office and retail settings and use clear, visible signs to create one-way zones. This can help folks avoid coming into contact that is too close.
Many retail spaces also use floor makers on check-out lines, so customers are safely distanced. Curbside pickup options can also make it possible for your customers to get what they need while limiting the number of people handling merchandise.
In a warehouse setting, you may need to modify your picking strategy to reduce the number of touches by different employees.
You can also limit the number of employees who eat in the same space, as the virus is spread through particulates, and it isn’t easy to eat with a mask on. If you have an office kitchen, you can remove some chairs. You may also wish to put up desk shields in between eating sections.
Go Hybrid
One thing that makes a distanced workspace complicated is that it usually involves reducing the number of workstations. This means it may benefit you to limit the number of people who work in your building on a given day.
With a hybrid schedule, workers alternate between working from home and coming into the office. This can improve productivity, as well as job satisfaction. Some employees find that hybrid schedules help them better balance their work and personal lives.
Your employees at home must be well-equipped with communication tools for staying in touch with the rest of the staff during the workday. This could include conferencing software, phones, or keyboards.
Some employers also offer small stipends to their employees to encourage the setup of a home office. Your employees may wish to invest in ergonomic chairs or standing desks to help them stay in top physical and mental shape during a trying time.
Get Clean
During the current pandemic, it’s critical to keep your office space as hygienic as possible. It needs to get cleaned daily using EPA-approved disinfectants.
In addition, you’ll want to make sure that any high-touch surfaces get wiped down regularly. These could include phones, keyboards, or doorknobs. Those that are used more frequently will need to be cleaned more often.
If someone in your place of work tests positive for COVID-19, the space they used will also need to be deep-cleaned. This involves removing dirt and dust as well as wiping down all walls and surfaces. If you’re working with a professional cleaning company, they should be trained on how to handle these situations.
Encourage Clean Hands
Signs and symbols can remind your staff and customers to get their hands completely clean. It’s important to lather both the front and back of your hands and scrub for at least twenty seconds.
Everyone will need to wash their hands often during this time. It’s essential after you’ve touched your nose, eyes, and mouth. It’s also important to wash your hands after you’ve touched an item that others have handled, such as cash registers, door handles, or tables.
Washing your hands can prevent the spread of respiratory infection. However, a sink may not always be accessible to your staff and customers.
If this is the case, make sure you have hand sanitizing stations throughout your workspace. This may not reduce the spread of all types of germs, but it can reduce the number of germs on hands. Many business owners have found that they also make staff members and customers feel safer.
Ensure Employee Health
The best business owners and managers make employee health a top priority. During a time when the spread of germs is of serious concern, you’ll need to demonstrate a commitment to cleanliness and distancing. With the proper precautions, your employees and staff can stay as healthy as possible during a difficult period.
Don’t stop getting smart about your business and health now. For more great advice, read our blog today.
