Workplace Strategy Post-lockdown: Workplace Essentials
15-05-2020
The safety of the workplace is integral for employees who are returning to the office after working from home. As COVID-19 is primarily transmitted through direct contact with an infectious person of even contaminated objects and surfaces, hygiene is paramount to the office and plans need to be put in place before employees can re-enter the office. As well as following the Government’s advice on regular cleaning and social distancing, we want to share our recommendations for putting a workplace strategy in place for the office, including products and services for before and after occupation. Contact our lead Return to Work Consultant, Roger Thomson, (roger.thomson@staging3.officeprofile.co.uk) to find out more about our products and services.
1. Allow Adequate Ventilation
Something as simple as keeping the doors and windows open allows fresh air in the office to help prevent stagnant and potentially infectious air droplets from harbouring in a room. Equally, the Government guidelines recommend checking that any air conditioning systems do not automatically lower ventilation for lower occupancy. More can be found in Government Guidelines for Employers here.
2. Wear Appropriate Equipment
Personal Safety Packs which include suitable hygiene supplies are beneficial to give to both employees and clients to facilitate a safe and efficient return to the workplace. Our safety packs offer an anti-bacterial cotton re-usable safety mask, vinyl gloves, antibacterial hand and surface wipes and antibacterial gel to provide a physical and chemical barrier to protect you from bacteria.
3. Greater Hand Washing Facilities
Providing reliable and accessible sanitisation services is crucial for the health of your workforce. These facilities can help transform a potentially dangerous area like a Reception to a cleaning station for employees to attend before entering the rest of the premises. Our Sanitiser Stations are designed for high traffic areas such as receptions, hallways, warehouses, and kitchens and for public spaces. Available in a range of metal and wooden options, we have many products available to suit any location. Please visit Sanitiser Station to discover more including purchase and rental options.
4. Sanitise The Office When Unoccupied
Even when the office is unoccupied, germs are still harbouring on services. X Misting is a disinfecting mist that diffuses throughout the room, killing germs and destroying bacteria with minimal effort that is an effective method of killing germs responsible for colds, flu, staph infections, and MRSA. Most importantly, X Misting implements a simple “lock and leave” system that reaches difficult areas and notably lasts up to 7 days on surfaces. Visit our Sanitisation Services page to find out more.
5. Install Desk Guards
Plastic and fabric desk guards do have mixed reviews. Whilst shielding with screens can make people feel isolated, clear plastic guards come in recyclable options and have been widely introduced in public places like chemists and supermarkets. They help to prevent germs spread through sneezes or coughs which is especially important if your desk is client facing or in a small office environment.
6. Tape The Floor
Much like in supermarkets, taping the appropriate 2 metre distance on the workspace floor helps staff visually understand the space that is needed. It also helps when rearranging desks or re-configuring furniture for a meeting.
7. Encourage Flexible Working
Flexible working means employees can sit where they feel comfortable at an appropriate 2m distance. Staggered shift times and workstations will help keep the office at a lower occupancy level and encourages a versatile work pattern which is particularly useful for businesses who do not have the finance to completely redesign their office space.
8. Implement A Clean Desk Policy
A rule already implemented in our office, a clean desk policy not only visually makes the office look tidier, it also helps to reduce anxiety levels and allow minimum contact between multiple surfaces. Putting paper down on desks before starting the working day and recycling at the end also helps to reduce the spread of surface contact.
9. Limit Printing
Limiting printing is important to reduce unnecessary waste, reduce ink costs and is now important to minimise contact with popular and potentially harmful surfaces. From working at home, many companies have realised there is less of a need for printing and storage facilities as many documents can be kept as a digital copy.
10. One-way Flow Of Traffic
If possible, implementing a one-way walking system through the office will help to minimise cross traffic within the building. Equally, allocating one half of employees to use one exit and the other half another reduces the risk of contamination and congestion.
Contact our lead Return to Work Consultant, Roger Thomson, (roger.thomson@staging3.officeprofile.co.uk) to find out more about our products and services.