Image by Klaus Hausmann from Pixabay
By Anica Oaks
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, small business owners need to keep up their efforts to maintain safety for employees and customers at the jobsite. There are several things you can do that require minimal cost or effort to protect everyone at work. Here are some tips to consider during this pandemic and beyond to keep people healthy and safe at all times.
Face guards
Employees and customers alike should continue to protect themselves and others from respiratory contagion by wearing masks or face guards. Additionally, for a business where employees work behind counters or cashiers, sneeze shields are a smart idea at any time to protect people as well as any food products from being contaminated. A sudden cough or sneeze as well as a few minutes of conversation can spread millions of unseen germs in the nearby air. Countless individuals could be impacted immediately or possibly for hours afterward. Encourage everyone onsite to maintain a germ-free environment by covering their faces safely and appropriately.
Physical distancing
Maintaining a safe distance from others in public is always a great idea. Many kinds of viruses can be spread in the immediate space surrounding a person, which usually constitutes three to six feet. Some experts believe that germs can pass from one person to another within twelve feet. Since germs are alive and active all year long, it doesn’t hurt to keep away from other people as much as possible, particularly if you might already have a compromised immune system. Your company can help to promote this safety practice by marking six-feet intervals at checkout points and other areas where people congregate or lines form.
Symptom checks
Obvious symptoms of viral illness include frequent coughing, sneezing, or a fever. You may want to quickly scan employees entering the workplace by using a thermal camera to check their body temperature and to record other symptoms of possible illness. These can be followed by a manager’s consulting with the employee to verify the presence of significant symptoms. If confirmed, the employee can either be isolated from other people onsite or sent home to recover. This is smart to do at any time and with any form of illness. To prevent understaffing because of rampant illness, managers should have a list of employees who can be considered “on call” at designated times.
Sanitizing the facility
More than ever, a clean, sanitized workplace is essential to protect everyone’s health. Make sure your maintenance crew are able to effectively sanitize the workspace and customer areas to keep those places germ-free. Handrails, doorknobs, and other contact spots should likewise be sanitized daily to reduce the risk of viral contagion. Employees can be encouraged to use hand sanitizer and wipes to clean their desks and countertops as needed.
With continued efforts to mitigate the spread of the pandemic and to reduce transmission of other germs in public places, employers need to take proactive measures to protect everyone in the building. With a few basic practices like these, the risk for illness can be reduced to keep people healthy and safe.
_________
Anica Oaks is a professional content and copywriter who graduated from the University of San Francisco. She loves dogs, the ocean, and anything outdoor-related. She was raised in a big family, so she’s used to putting things to a vote. Also, cartwheels are her specialty. You can connect with Anica on Twitter @AnicaOaks.
