What do businesses need to do to deliver a COVID-secure workplace?

By Kevin Rowe, Managing Director of SafetyBuyer.com

The four months since the imposition of lockdown conditions in the UK have been long and challenging for organisations across the country. However, the restrictive conditions brought about by COVID-19 are now starting to lift and, little by little, businesses are getting back to something approaching normal.

Nevertheless, as the government has been keen to stress, the progress the country has made on combating coronavirus remains tentative and potentially fragile. This means that all businesses still have to maintain a rigorous approach to site safety and hygiene to keep COVID-19 at bay, even as they welcome workers and customers back to their stores, offices, warehouses and other facilities.

As such, all companies need to be aware of the most effective measures they can take to ensure that everyone on site remains safe and protected from the threat of coronavirus, while maintaining their journey back towards business as usual.

Plan out what you will need

Before making any move to allow workers or customers back on to a site, your business will need to put together a detailed plan of how it will tackle potential COVID-19 risks. Examples include:

– Performing a deep clean of your premises and equipment prior to reopening
– Arranging for regular cleaning and disinfection of workspaces on a regular basis, including assigning a rota of responsibilities for this
– Rearranging your working areas or storefront to maintain safe distances between members of staff, customers and visitors
– Investing in appropriate personal protective equipment to minimise the risk of infection
– Referring to government guidance on COVID-19 risk assessments, as can be seen here: https://www.hse.gov.uk/coronavirus/working-safely/risk-assessment.htm

Control who enters the site

Controlling the number of people on your site at any given time is going to be essential in these early stages of lockdown easing. This can be achieved through the following measures:

– Placing strict limits on the number of visitors, and making sure that previous guests have left the premises before letting anyone else in
– Using custom-designed floor signs, coloured tape and markings to control the flow of foot traffic and ensure physical distancing for those queueing or passing through
– Setting up drop-off and collection points for essential deliveries
– Introducing protective plexiglass screens to protect staff who need to interact with customers
– Continuing to make use of phone calls and videoconferencing for meetings that do not need to happen in person

Keep everyone focused on hygiene

Hand washing, surface hygiene and regular disinfection are among the most effective tools for preventing the transmission of COVID-19. This message can be reinforced through the following steps:

– Provide handwashing facilities with running water, soap and paper towels, as well as disinfectant sprays, wipes and hand gel for people to regularly clean their hands, belongings and gear
– Replace communal or shared equipment with individually-assigned tools where possible
– Install no-touch doors, switches or other fittings
– Use safety signs and notices to remind staff of the proper ways to stay hygienic

Facilitate social distancing

Everyone in the UK will now be aware of the need for social distancing. Your workplace should be adapted to make this possible in the following ways:

– Rearrange desks and working areas to maintain greater distance between staff
– Use digital communication instead of face-to-face meetings and avoid the exchange of physical paperwork where possible
– Encourage the use of contactless payments over cash handling
– Stagger shift patterns and break times to minimise the number of workers on-site at any given time
– Use floor signs and markings to demonstrate safe social distancing limits
– When maintaining a two-metre distance is not possible, provide PPE and other safety aids to stay in line with the latest “one-metre plus” rule

By taking these steps, it should be possible to establish a productive and effective new way of working that keeps COVID-19 at bay, while ensuring your organisation is able to get back on track. Now more than ever, a commitment to strong safety standards is a prerequisite for getting ahead as a business – and this is a lesson that should be remembered even when COVID-19 is a thing of the past.

About the author:

Kevin Rowe is the owner and managing director of SafetyBuyer, a leading UK retailer of health and safety supplies with a strong reputation for excellent service. He is highly experienced in B2B direct marketing, and enjoys sharing his experiences and insights with the business community.