COVID-19 has made us all very aware of how germs and infections are spread. We are now washing our hands more often and more thoroughly. We’re also more conscious of coughing and sneezing into our elbow or tissue. However, in the workplace, we also need to be more acutely aware of the hazards lurking in frequently touched areas.
Business premises are now required to implement more frequent cleaning of their premises as well as educating staff on behaviours that will help to prevent infection. The following are some of the cleaning and hygiene guidelines your workplace will be expected to follow.
Understanding The Difference Between Cleaning And Disinfecting
Cleaning means to physically remove bacteria, viruses, dirt and grim from surfaces using soap or a detergent and water.
Disinfecting means using chemicals to kill bacteria and viruses on surfaces. To be effective, cleaning should be undertaken to remove dirt and grime before commencing disinfection. Disinfectants require a specified amount of contact time to be effective. The time required is usually included in the instructions.
Depending on your industry, cleaning is usually sufficient unless:
- There is a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19 at your workplace
- You have a large number of staff, customers or suppliers visiting your premises
Understanding The Risk Of Your Workplace Operations
Maintaining a safe and healthy workplace may mean changing the way you do business. Examples include:
- Removing the need to handle documents e.g. hard copies of architectural plans or legal documents
- Multiple users sharing workspaces and equipment such as keyboards, mouses, chairs, desks, monitors and phones
Focused Cleaning Of High Touch Areas
Every workplace has high traffic/high touch areas that will require additional cleaning such as door handles, shared printers, lift buttons, kitchen and bathroom surfaces, meeting rooms and breakout areas. Look around your workplace to identify which areas will need frequent cleaning and implement a process for doing so.
Hand Sanitiser Stations Are Essential
Hand sanitiser stations should be located throughout your premises including entry and exit points, staff facilities such as kitchens and breakout rooms. Alternatively, you could supply each staff member with their own bottle of hand sanitiser.
Reminders And Education
Not only do you need to communicate and educate staff on the new behaviours, but you also need to constantly remind them of what is now expected. Examples include:
- Notices or posters located around your workplace
- Online reminders as they logon to their computer each day
It’s Not As Hard As You May Think
As you think about COVID-19 and the changes you and your staff need to make, it can seem overwhelming. In fact, you may be struggling to know where to start. The simplest way is to call End2End Business Solutions to ask for help – (02) 8977 4002.