Returning to Work: How to Create a Safe and Healthy Workspace Post-Pandemic
There is no doubt that as the period of self-isolation ends and workers return to the workplace, society will enter new normalcy. Along with it, comes lessons and experiences which will not soon be forgotten.
The government is enforcing stringent guidelines and curfews to protect its citizens and residents, the business organizations also when it comes to the safety and wellbeing of employees.
Figuring out how to best manage office utilization in a way that members of your organization remain healthy post-pandemic is venturing into uncharted territory for the management.
The following ways you can provide a safe and hygienic work environment to the employees who still harbour a fear of coming to work amid the tension of pandemic.
Frequent Cleaning: Prioritize the cleaning schedules
Keeping a close eye on hygiene and the frequency that your workplaces are cleaned should be the top of the priority list as employees return to the office. You may find that your buildings’ cleaning schedules are in urgent need of reevaluation. The following questions should provide a starting point for your reassessment:
- How often your floors are partially cleaned? Thoroughly cleaned?
- Do you need to adjust the frequency of partial or thorough cleaning?
- Which areas will most likely run out of soap/sanitizing towels/disinfectant the quickest?
- Are there enough supplies to accommodate an increase in cleaning frequency?
- Where are the areas of your buildings requiring more attention? (Bathrooms? Kitchenettes? Lounges? Meeting rooms? Others?)
Online Alternatives: Curtailing Desk employees
Many training organizations send out screening guidelines ahead of time via email, telephone, and text. The communications should always include a reminder of the potential signs of the novel coronavirus and instruct students with health concerns to reschedule. As an additional precaution, many organizations are taking temperatures before students enter the facility.
Next, consider which employees need to present in the office physically and whose work can be operated through remote working. In fact, this might be something to approach your counterparts in Human Resources and see if they have any “desk” employees who may be interested in taking an online alternative.
Sanitize Everything: Divide the office areas and clean with sanitizer and disinfectants
As a preventive measure against the new coronavirus (COVD-19) pandemic, the entire office areas must be sanitized properly.
For ease of implementation, the building may be divided into these areas into (i) indoor areas, (ii) outdoor areas, and (iii) public toilets.
According to the ministry, outdoor areas have less risk than indoor areas due to air currents and exposure to sunlight.
Indoor areas such as office spaces, including conference rooms should be cleaned every evening after office hours or early in the morning before the rooms are occupied.
The guidelines said that prior to cleaning, the worker should wear disposable rubber boots, gloves (heavy duty),and a triple-layer mask.
All indoor areas such as entrance lobbies, corridors, and staircases, elevators, office rooms, meeting rooms, and cafeteria should be mopped with a disinfectant with one percent sodium hypochlorite or phenolic disinfectants.
Cleantek serves a wide range of hand sanitizers, floor cleaners, and surface disinfectants. The team is dedicated to putting their vision of a healthy and hygienic environment into reality with their service and safety and hygienic products they sell.
