The COVID-19 pandemic has drastically changed life as we know it. Our routines were changed almost overnight and it has had a devastating effect on many businesses. However, the world is fighting back and doing its best to return things to normal. Some countries are suffering more than others, but if it is safe to re-open your business in your area, once you open your doors, you need to make sure you do everything you can to keep your staff and customers safe. To help you do so, here are 5 ways to protect your staff from COVID-19 in the workplace.
Enforce Social Distancing
Enforcing social distancing in the workplace will help keep your staff and customers safe. To do so, you should keep people 1-2 meters apart. You may need to rearrange your office space to achieve this. If customers come into your business, then you should limit the number of people in the building to allow people to socially distance themselves. A risk assessment will help you manage COVID-19.
Encourage Hand Washing
Keeping the workplace clean and encouraging people to wash their hands frequently is crucial for reducing the spread of COVID-19. This is because it kills the virus, which lessens the potential for it to spread. Making quality cleaning products readily available, installing hand sanitizing stations around the offices, entrances, and exits, and putting up posters that show how to wash your hands properly will boost basic hygiene.
Install Physical Barriers
Installing physical barriers in the workplace will reduce the risk of your staff and customers coming into contact with droplets, which is the main method of transmission for COVID-19. You can install physical barriers in the form of plexiglass shields, like the ones available at sneezeguardz.com. Alternatively, you can urge your staff to wear face shields to protect their eyes, mouth, and nose from infected droplets.
Discuss Their Wellbeing
One of the best ways to protect your workers from COVID-19 is to communicate with them. Discussing their wellbeing and all of the changes you are planning to make to the workplace to keep them as safe as possible is essential. You should also listen to their ideas and suggestions. Making PPE readily available and educating your staff on how to protect themselves and others is also very important.
Offer Remote Working
If your staff can work from home, then you should let them. This can protect the vulnerable, boost productivity, and help retain the people you rely on to run the business safely. You should provide them with all of the equipment that they will need and keep in contact with them to monitor their progress. Making an effort to check that things are good at home and being supportive is essential as a manager.
Following this guidance is important for all staff and workplaces. It will help people return to work and safely get back into some kind of routine, which is good for the mind during this time. You should make an effort to take care of yourself and offer help and support to your team at all times.