Essential workers on the frontline… we salute you.
It’s scary times with the world facing a pandemic, and yet many workers out there are putting their health at risk in order to provide essential services to the UK.
We’ve already talked about ways to cope with working from home, but what about ways to cope with working on the frontline?
Keep Your Distance Whenever You Can
It’s not always possible, but distance is important. If you can, try to avoid physical contact with others in the workplace.
The government suggestion is to remain 2 metres apart, but if more than 2 metres is available then it’s a safe idea to give as much space as possible.
Rather than directly handing people things, leave things at an accessible point to maintain a safe distance.
The practice of having to space yourselves out can be frustrating, especially if it means waiting for others before you can get past. Try to be patient and remember the noble reasons behind these precautions.
Sanitise Yourself
You can’t control other people’s hygiene, but you can control your own.
The key to cleanliness is regularity. Wash your hands before and after handling items, or use a hand sanitiser if sinks aren’t readily available. Do this as often as you need to.
It’s crucial for the workplaces of essential services to make these precautions easy to follow by providing any necessary cleaning stations or supplies for all employees to be safe.
Maintain a Hygienic Workspace
Sanitising the space you’re working in is just as important as sanitising yourself. Consider all of the things your make contact with in your workplace and all the potential risks these pose.
Ask yourself “is it possible for me to make my workplace more sanitary?” – chances are there are some extra precautions that could be taken to minimise hygiene-related risks.
Here are some options suitable for a range of workplaces:
- Use anti-bacterial wipes or anti-bacterial sprays with single-purpose cloths
- Dispose of cleaning products in bins that don’t require hand contact
- Have specialist cleaning supplies at the ready if your workplace requires it
- Invest in a professional cleaning service
Protect Yourself
There are extra measures you can take when keeping yourself safe on the frontline, including wearable protection.
In some workplaces, Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) is standard. However, during the current crisis, everyone from shop workers to social carers should be considering protective wear.
Consider whether the following protective measures might be appropriate for your workplace:
- Hand protection like rubber gloves
- Face protection like surgical masks or respirators
- Disposal clothing like aprons and caps
Help Others to Follow Precautions
These safety practices aren’t “exclusive” to essential workers – all of the general public should be following them.
Allow visitors to your workplace to get on board with these extra precautions by making hygiene supplies safely accessible to all.
Make your current policies clear to workers and visitors alike so everybody knows the rules they should be following. Browse our range of signs here to find out which ones may be suitable for your workplace.
Don’t Neglect Other Safety Practices
In a pandemic crisis, everyone’s focus is on one thing. However, it can be dangerous to divert your attention away from the many other issues your workplace might face.
It’s crucial to remember the other risks around you and remain vigilant with usual safety practices.
You can trust in us at Direct365 to take the hassle out of your hands and help your business with a range of professional, competitive and reliable services, including:
- Waste Management
- Electrical Safety
- Fire Safety
- Legionella Testing
- Pest Control
- Specific COVID-19 Services and more
From everyone at Direct365, we’d like to thank all of the UK’s essential workers – and please, #StaySafe.
COVID-19 UPDATE: At Direct365, it’s business as usual! Our dedicated team are working hard from home so you can #StaySafe & get all the essential products & services we supply.