The coronavirus outbreak has been a learning experience for promoting safety in the workplace. From wearing masks to social distancing, businesses must now adhere to a long list of rules and regulations to help keep both employees and consumers safe. As the pandemic continues, it is important to consider ways to maximize safety within businesses and ensure the safety of everyone that goes in and out of your establishment.
Follow The CDC Guidelines
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have published guidelines on how to protect yourself and others in a pandemic. One of the most important guidelines includes regularly washing your hands with soap and water. Individuals should also avoid close contact with one another and try to maintain at least a six-foot distance.
Employees should cover their nose and mouth with a face cover at work and always cover coughs and sneezes. Frequently touched surfaces should be cleaned and disinfected daily including doorknobs, tables, handles, countertops, phones, toilets, keyboards, sinks and faucets.
Distribute Free Sanitizer
By making certain hygienic supplies available, employees and customers are more likely to use these items which will benefit everyone. If possible, distribute free hand sanitizer to staff and consumers, this could be as simple as putting a container of hand sanitizer on the front desk where everyone can gain access to it as needed.
Alcohol rub sanitizers are able to kill most fungi and bacteria, as well as stop certain viruses. When alcohol rub sanitizers contain at least 70 percent alcohol, they are able to kill up to 99.9 percent of bacteria on the hands 30 seconds after application.
Clear Markings Of 6 Feet
Having a social distancing protocol in place during and after a pandemic is essential to help stop the spread of most diseases and viruses. Businesses that choose to remain open during a pandemic must have clear rules in place that outline how and when consumers can receive goods or services.
Social distancing is essential during the pandemic; therefore, having clear markings indicating six feet distances is critical. Businesses should place signs or have markings on the floor that guide customers where to walk or stand in order to maintain social distancing. This includes while moving through your establishment and while standing in line at the cashier.
Strict Policies On Wearing PPE
During a pandemic in which germs can be easily spread, resulting in serious illnesses, enforcing personal protective equipment (PPE) is vital. Personal protective equipment can range from protective clothing and helmets to goggles and other equipment designed to prevent infection.
What a person must wear during a pandemic will depend on the industry in which they work and the level of risk they are facing. For example, a doctor that works directly with COVID-19 patients will need to wear more PPE than the staff of an office that only works with minimal co-employee exposure.
Reducing Maximum Capacity
Due to social distancing rules and the serious risk of illness, businesses must now restrict how many people enter their buildings. Reducing the maximum capacity of your business will allow you to better handle crowds and keep your employees and customers safe.
Maximum capacities should also be regulated for certain areas inside your business, such as restrooms, employee break rooms and cafeterias. How much you need to reduce your business’s capacity will depend on a number of factors, such as the size of your business.
Hire Security To Enforce Rules And Ensure Safety
It can be challenging to be aware of all of the new regulations that businesses must face while also ensuring that those safety rules are being followed. While you cannot always ensure that your customers are going to follow the rules that you set, you can make it clear that there are repercussions for those that choose not to follow orders.
Having onsite security officers can help ensure that rules are being followed and that your staff and customers are staying safe. With a lack of clarity within the general public, tensions and unfavorable responses are an unfortunate possibility; it is more important than ever to have an experienced security officer available to handle challenging situations.
Speak With The Security Experts At American Protection Group
Private security officers continue to serve as a supplement to law enforcement. Many business owners rely on security staff to keep their business safe and secure, especially during uncertain times. Security officers can deter crime in the workplace, provide a sense of heightened security, improve customer service, handle security issues and provide a quick response when a problem does occur. For more information about how businesses can ensure safety during a pandemic, reach out to the experienced security experts at American Protect Group (APG) today.