Amidst the COVID-19 panic, when workplaces were told to work from home, many companies up and ran from their premises.
So, now that it’s time to go back, have you ensured that the workplace is suitable to return to?
Issues like cleanliness, distancing and sufficient supplies and services all need to be addressed before you welcome workers back.
Make sure you tick off everything in this checklist so you can rest assured knowing you’ve prepped a safe and compliant working environment.
Step 1: Deep Clean
Before you do anything else, you need to make sure your premises are clean.
Can you be sure that any of your workers didn’t have COVID-19 whilst in the workplace? Or do you need to be extra cautious due to the needs of vulnerable employees or visitors? A deep clean will put your mind at ease.
Just tidying the place up simply won’t do, you need to ensure that bacteria is eliminated as much as possible and risk assess your surroundings to keep cleanliness sustainable.
You’d be amazed how a couple of months of inactivity can destroy previously hygienic premises, so don’t sweep the bacteria under the rug; trusting in a professional deep cleaning service will take the worry out of your mind.
Step 2: Legionella Testing
Speaking of inactivity, have you been keeping an eye on your business’s water systems?
Sinks, toilets, showers, boilers, air conditioning units, hoses, water tanks – all these and more must be monitored for Legionella.
Legionella is the waterborne bacteria that leads to Legionnaire’s Disease (a highly fatal form of pneumonia). The risk of this bacteria forming is highest in temperatures between 20-45°C and when water systems are left inactive.
We’re urging company’s to not be so focused on one form of bacteria that they forget about another. Legionella compliance is vital to keep staff and visitors safe, so make sure your systems are risk assessed, tested and monitored.
For reliable Legionella prevention services, use LCA-certified engineers who will keep you compliant to the L8 Approved Code of Practice.
Step 3: Sanitation Supplies
You don’t want to welcome people back only to have that “oops” moment when you realise you haven’t got enough hand sanitiser or antibacterial spray.
Don’t let your workplace down with insufficient levels of stock – make sure you always have enough to keep everyone safe.
There are a couple of ways to ensure that you always have plenty of the essentials. One way is to put a hand sanitiser service in place, which will install and restock dispensers for you. Another way is to simply bulk buy supplies from a reliable supplier, creating a stock in your workplace so you don’t run out.
Step 4: Personal Protective Equipment
The guidance above also applies to PPE provisions.
While you might advise staff and visitors to wear face masks or gloves, you can’t always rely on them to source their own. This could lead to workplace divisions between those who choose to use PPE and those who don’t.
As a business owner, it’s in your best interests to provide the right PPE to help everyone adhere to contamination control.
Step 5: Social Distancing Measures
Social distancing measures can make it difficult to get around without worrying that you’re imposing on others. Take the awkwardness out of it by using clear signage that everyone can adhere to safely and easily.
You can do more than signs. Get creative with social distancing floor mats, transforming your floorspace with distancing messages.
Step 6: Resume Necessary Services
Once you’re ready for workplace life to get back to normal, you need to reinstate any services that may have been halted.
Don’t wait until your knees deep in rubbish to remember about waste collections, and definitely don’t allow confidential documents to pile up before you restart your shredding service.
Check through everything you had in place before COVID-19 as a reminder of what you need to set up before reopening.