There is a considerable difference between keeping the office clean and keeping your workspace safe and hygienic during a pandemic.
We have been wiping and sanitising for many months now and it is easy to feel that enough is being done. Although we make concerted efforts to maintain optimum standards of cleanliness, it is human nature to become a little complacent. With more and more workspaces opening up as the spike dips we must continue to keep doing what is required to ensure that we are all kept safe.
We are still in a pandemic and the virus is minuscule so stringent measures are constantly required.
Staying one step ahead, especially if your environment requires the regular movement of staff can be a challenge.
Here we outline some simple steps that can lighten the load on this ongoing responsibility:
A regular deep clean:
Office management companies have been deep cleaning premises for many years before the pandemic hit. They have highly trained staff and industrial strength and quality chemicals. These chemicals are oftentimes more potent than the available store-bought products and require specialised training and protective gear.
Having an office management company do a thorough deep clean regularly not only ensures that the premises are in a state of optimum hygiene but also reinforces the strict protocol required during this time.
From management, down to cleaning staff, it is understood that the pandemic is serious business when an outsourced department is brought in and the place gets a good scrub! And the responsibility can be lessened if staff are not tasked to do the cleaning themselves.
It also makes it easier to maintain a hygienic environment and keep everyone as safe as possible and we highly recommend a monthly or preferably twice monthly deep clean, depending on the number of staff you have.
Extra things to consider at the office:
It is worth noting that certain habits can easily fall by the wayside, yet imperative to keep a workspace safe and clean.
For instance, ensuring that all staff, contractors, and security staff have water and soap for handwashing readily available.
Another is not cutting down on the number of dispensers available. These should still be installed in prominent places and sufficient refills kept in your stock cupboard.
Posters may have had a bit of wear and tear. If they are removed, they should be replaced, if at all possible with updated information and new graphics so that staff are more likely to be reminded to rejuvenate habits.
It is also worth keeping a supply of paper tissues should anyone develop symptoms. Although it won’t eliminate exposure, it can be somewhat controlled better by holding a tissue in front of the mouth. Of course, anyone exhibiting symptoms should be quickly isolated and sent home immediately.
When discarding tissues, pedal bins are possibly the best option for hygienic disposal.
To bring the team onboard with protocols, it helps to have a response plan. It needn’t be wordy. The more straightforward and concise it is, the better.
You will need to meet with staff and assess that everyone understands the expectations clearly.
Monitoring exposure due to staff movement:
It makes sense to check advice from authorities in the area where you plan to hold the meeting or event. Be sure to capture the details of all attendees so that you can inform them should anyone develop any symptoms.
The below points can help reduce exposure during meetings or events:
Provide information or a briefing, preferably both orally and in writing, on COVID-19 and the measures that organisers are taking to make this event safe for all participants.
Build trust. For example, as an icebreaker, practice ways to greet one another without touching.
Encourage regular hand-washing or the use of sanitisers by all participants during the meeting or event.
Supply tissues and closed bins for disposal.
If space allows, arrange seats so that participants are at least 1 meter apart.
Open windows and doors whenever possible to make sure the venue is well ventilated.
Thank all participants for their cooperation with the provisions in place.
Ultimately, to limit exposure, consider whether the meeting could just as easily be conducted online or if a smaller group would achieve the same outcomes.
How to limit who comes to the office:
Management should encourage a limited number of staff at the office. This could include encouraging remote work, updating the office design, or using A/B shifts to accommodate cleaning schedules. Capacity can be determined based on physical distancing and the A/B shifts can be planned accordingly.
Touchless entry, such as an access control system, push double swinging doors, motion sensor lights, and other hands-free amenities are a long-term investment worth making.
If you find that you are spending too much time ensuring that your workspace is being kept hygienic, why not give us a call and we can arrange something that will work best for your organisation?
We can sanitise, fog and deep-clean your premises regularly which will assist you in keeping your workspace safe. Together with the above recommendations, your costs would remain manageable and the stringent habits of hygiene required at this time can be reinforced and maintained. Contact us for more information: https://fsgroup.co.za/contact-us/
