One of the key worries of employees when returning to the office is their personal safety. Consequently, employers should make sure that workspaces are as clean as possible before bringing people back to work.
Initial Evaluation
If your office space has been closed for a prolonged period, there are certain health and safety evaluations that should be made before reentering. This evaluation should include checking for things such as mould growth and pest control. Any water systems left stagnant should be checked for safety as well. Ventilation systems should be checked to see if they are operating properly if they have been dormant for a long time.
Deep Clean
Before returning to the office, it is the employer’s responsibility to ensure that the space is as clean and hygienic as possible. By undergoing a thorough cleaning of the office space, you are indicating that you are taking the health and safety of your workforce seriously. It will create a safe space and make employees feel more comfortable about returning to the office.
Clean and Disinfect High-Touch Surfaces
High-touch surfaces should be regularly cleaned to reduce people’s possible exposure to the virus. Surfaces which are frequently touched by multiple people include door handles, light switches, toilets, printers and drinking fountains.
There are specialist products that you can purchase and install in your premises. Although typically used for hospitals and clinics, the use of wall cladding available from providers such as Trovex, is strong, robust and naturally bacteria-free – making surfaces easy to wipe and reduce the risk of infections.
Consequently, these surfaces should be regularly disinfected using specific cleaning products. To minimise the risk of Coronavirus and any other diseases associated with water, all water systems such as drinking fountains should be checked regularly to see if they are safe, especially if the premises have been closed for a prolonged period.
Wash Your Hands
Access to sinks, soap, water and hand sanitiser should be made readily available around the office. Additionally, staff should be given sufficient time to wash and dry their hands thoroughly at regular intervals throughout the working day. If using hand sanitiser, there should be at least 60% alcohol.
Personal Work Spaces
Employees should take responsibility for their personal work spaces but should be encouraged to clean these regularly. Workplaces can encourage employees to take a proactive approach for their own work spaces and regularly wipe down the items they touch most frequently. These include computer mouses, keyboards, desk surfaces and phones. If this is introduced as a habit across the workforce, risk is reduced on a larger scale.
Staff Arriving Via Public Transportation
Those employees arriving via public transport or carpooling are most exposed to the virus. When entering the workplace, there should be a mat soaked in bleach in order to disinfect shoes upon entry. There should also be access to hand sanitiser as soon as staff enter the building before they are able to touch anything inside the premises.