Balancing Business Efficiency and Hygiene Standards while managing Covid-19 risk

How to keep employees safe and productive

Safe hygiene practices can become second-nature when a workplace is optimised to manage the risks associated with Covid-19. An effective way to do this is to consider the journey through your workplace, and install hygienic solutions in all areas vulnerable to the spread of the virus - from entrances to exits; changing rooms to toilets.

Hands-free hygiene

Just as hands-free hand washing is a given, consider converting touchpoints such as doorways to sensor-controlled designs. If this canÂ’t be done, reduce risk by incorporating sanitising gel at the point of contact or converting to antimicrobial touchpoints.

A nudge in the right direction

Use “Nudge Theory” to encourage hygiene standards with minimal effort. Simple examples can include:

- Placing soap dispensers to the favored side

- Fixing hand gel dispensing door handles at all entrances, exits and production areas

- Floor marking to encourage the right flow and spacing

While these are practical tools in themselves, they also play an important role in subtly reinforcing the importance of COVID-safe hygiene standards throughout the facility.

Although common sense has a part to play, we do need to be pragmatic in that shared facilities often have high turnovers of staff, many temporary. ItÂ’s vital you can trust your staff to do the right thing when it comes to COVID-safe hygiene.

You donÂ’t have to be too draconian in instilling a hygiene culture, as weÂ’ve seen overt and subliminal cues have a role to play. The best solution is to ensure hygienic best practices are so easy that you donÂ’t have to think about it.

What should you do when social distancing isnt practical?

While social distancing is the primary means to stay safe and reduce the transmission of the virus, for some sites with limited space, spreading out is not an option.

However, there are other ways to reduce the risk of an individualÂ’s (infected) breath passing to a colleague and throughout the business.

COVID-19 Breath Transfer

Day-to-day, consider whether the employees that need proximity protection are static or mobile. Are they sitting or standing? Your review checklist should consider all variables to inform the cleaning process required for that location. This will determine whether the barrier needs to be structural or transportable. As Covid-19 is spread through droplets in the air, itÂ’s important to consider these things first.

Products that protect staff when space isnÂ’t an option:

- Segregation COVID-19 Screen - ideal for when itÂ’s not practical to enforce social distancing.

- Sanitising turnstiles - will control total numbers in areas such as canteens, provide enough time for people to socially distance and ensure hands are sanitised before the break.

Optimised changing rooms

Changing rooms present a challenge given space is often at a premium and people are often rushing at the start and ends of shifts.

Read more at teknomek.co.uk