The outbreak of COVID-19 has changed the nature of business in 2020 drastically. Although research is still ongoing, scientists have learned a lot about how businesses can protect themselves from becoming hotspots that contribute to infection rates. The virus can spread before you know it, and it can take several days before a person knows if they might be carrying it to others. There are ways you can maintain a business and mitigate COVID risks at the same time.
Clear Communication and Signage
It’s nearly impossible for people not to know about the virus at this point, but having clear guidelines is still important. Putting up signs with reminders to distance, wash hands frequently, and wear masks in appropriate settings can help. It might be a good idea to appoint a specific person to be a line of communication between any employees who have particular questions or concerns about the virus. This person could be responsible for taking temperatures as needed and monitoring other health data.
Professional Cleaning Services
The virus can spread via a cough, sneeze, touching services that are infected, or touching your face after you have been in contact with an infected area. There are a lot of different points to remember here, and your office may not be as clean as you think. You can lower some of the risks of transmission by hiring a commercial cleaning company to come in and do a thorough sweep. These professionals will use rigorous standards to ensure that all areas of your space are sanitized appropriately.
Good Ventilation
Air quality is important in keeping out microscopic particles that could be harmful, and it could be a good line of defense against the virus. If your company is just returning to the physical site after a remote hiatus, your first task should be making sure that the ventilation system is functional. Your system should have a minimum efficiency value. The higher this number is, the better your ventilation is at filtering harmful pathogens out of the air.
Change the Office Layout
COVID-19 can’t survive if it has to travel over distances of more than a few feet. Maintaining proper social distancing can be an effective way to control any spread that might happen. The employees in your building might sit close together or share desks, but you’ll need to change this layout for the foreseeable future. Spread out desks or stations so that employees can stay at least six feet apart from each other. It might be a good idea to install sneeze guards as well.
Many people work remotely for now, but not all companies or services can make this a viable option and keep business flowing. If you are part of the HR department and responsible for making sure employees are able to return to work safely, some of these regulations and tips can help you stay on top of this unprecedented threat. In addition to these tips, consider a rotational schedule that limits how many people need to be in the office at the same time.