Following Proper Protocols in Workplaces for Virus Control and Employee Safety

Employees are returning to the office as the lockdown restrictions lift, but that doesn’t mean that proper protocols shouldn’t be followed to continue to reduce the risk.

Aside from proper cleaning and disinfection of the workplace by professional office cleaning services, there are a number of things that employers can do to ensure the safety of their staff. They include having the right policies in place, as well as encouraging all employees to follow certain guidelines and wearing protective equipment when appropriate.

Reasons to increase cleaning services

If you find you have overflowing garbage cans you can increase the frequency of office cleaning services.

High traffic from outside sources entering your building may be a reason to increase cleaning services or place a hand sanitizing station at each entrance and placing signage or staff there to enforce customers are sanitizing their hands and wearing a mask upon entering your facility.

Proper Hand Hygiene

One of the simplest things you can have employees do is to properly sanitize their hands. That’s because employees will touch a range of common surfaces from doorknobs to light switches, which could be a way for the virus to spread from one person to another. Office cleaning companies will often target all those touchpoints and highly-used surfaces as part of their routine with disinfectant, it is advisable that between office cleanings your staff continue to either disinfect those touchpoints or use hand sanitizers to ensure proper hygiene is taken.

Staff should be washing their hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Aside from hitting all the spots on the hands including under the nails, proper drying is important to make sure the skin’s surface is free of germs. Paper towel is preferred for this purpose, although an air dryer would be sufficient. If possible, schedule intervals for employees to wash their hands and place the proper signage for proper handwashing in your restrooms.

Those wearing gloves for routine cleaning tasks should wash their hands properly after removing them. And if staff is doing some light cleaning between visits from office cleaning companies, they should be informed never to mix bleach and ammonia-based cleaners, as it can be a serious hazard to there health and others. Please ensure all employees have been trained and given the proper instructions on how to clean and what to use to avoid any accidental work hazards.

To help with this process, you can also install hand sanitizer dispensers in key places around the office – such as entering the kitchen or boardroom, for example. Employees can also have their own supply at their workstation.

Social Distancing Considerations

When it comes to physical distancing, it may be wise to give up the shared workstation (several employees along one long desk) in favour of individual stations that are spaced six feet apart. Screens and partitions can be used to further divide employees. Minimize the use of sharing phones, keyboards, computer mouse and pens or pencils.

Some employers are choosing to have employees wear masks while limiting how many people are in meetings. Virtual meetings can be a way to avoid face-to-face interactions.

Do not engage in hand shaking with customers or staff.

Let The Professionals Handle Sanitizing

You should be searching for office cleaning services near me to sanitize and disinfect your commercial office space.

Learn more about how office cleaning services near me can properly sanitize and disinfect your office for safety and peace of mind from Arelli Cleaning.