- Establish clear guidelines for personal hygiene, sanitation, and PPE.
- Educate the team on proper protocols and provide high-quality cleaning supplies.
- Create an auditing system to ensure everyone follows procedures.
- Utilize technology such as UV light sterilization and air purification systems.
- Set up protocols for employee health, including medical leave policies in case of illness.
The Covid-19 pandemic has had a profound effect on how businesses conduct operations. With the need for social distancing, many companies have turned to remote work where possible, and for those that still require a physical presence, taking extra steps to ensure safety has become paramount. The result has been an increase in the level of cleanliness at businesses around the world.
To help promote this new standard for office life, companies have implemented strict guidelines focusing on personal hygiene, sanitation, and PPE. According to a survey by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), 98% of organizations reported implementing cleaning protocols, and 91% actively encouraged handwashing or sanitization among employees.
However, stepping up with cleanliness can be challenging if you do not have the steps to plan for it. Here are a few tips for how to stay organized and on top of your business’s cleanliness:
Improve the Cleaning Process
Since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, it has become increasingly crucial for businesses to step up their cleaning processes to protect employees and customers from infection. Enhancing existing cleaning protocols is critical for mitigating risk and creating a safe environment. Here are some steps you can take to ensure your business is doing all that it can to keep everyone safe:
Establish Clear Guidelines
The first step in improving your cleaning process is establishing clear guidelines that everyone in your organization must adhere to. This should include hygiene, social distancing, PPE usage, and regular sanitization of high-touch surfaces. You may also want to guide how often different areas should be cleaned throughout the day and what products should be used for specific tasks.
Educate Your Team
For your new guidelines to be practical, you’ll need to ensure that everyone understands them and knows how to implement them safely. Dedicate some time to training your team on the new policies and procedures so that they know exactly what’s expected of them when it comes to keeping areas clean and free from germs.
Invest in High-Quality Cleaning Supplies
Investing in quality cleaning supplies is essential to stopping the spread of germs and viruses within your workplace. Ensure you have enough disinfectant wipes, hand sanitizers, gloves, masks, and other supplies, such as mops or vacuums, to be readily available for use when needed.
Create an Auditing System
Creating an auditing system will ensure everyone follows proper protocols in your organization. Have someone regularly check areas for cleanliness and compliance with established guidelines so that any issues can be dealt with quickly before they become more significant problems later on.
Incorporate Technology
Technology can play a significant role in helping to keep offices clean and sanitized. By investing in the right technologies, companies can ensure their offices are safe for employees and customers.
One of the investments that businesses should consider is automated disinfection systems. These systems use ultraviolet light to quickly and effectively sterilize areas with minimal human interaction. UV rays can destroy bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other contaminants with up to 99% effectiveness. This process is non-toxic and doesn’t require manual wiping or spraying of chemicals, making it a safer option than traditional cleaning methods. You can partner with professional UV machine companies to ensure you have the right equipment for your business.
Another helpful technology that businesses should invest in is air purification systems. These systems filter out pollutants from the air using advanced filtration techniques such as HEPA filtration, carbon filters, ozone generators, and more. Air purifiers can help remove allergens like pollen, dust mite debris, bacteria, and viruses from the air, providing a cleaner environment for everyone in the office.
Set Up Protocols for Employee Health
Unfortunately, efforts to reduce the spread of disease and protect customers and employees can only go so far if your team members are unhealthy. Ensure everyone knows how to spot any illnesses early on, such as what symptoms to look out for and when to take a sick day. Have clear protocols regarding medical leave policies, especially if someone becomes ill with Covid-19 or another contagious virus.
Should an employee exhibit symptoms inside the office, you can also take action to minimize the risk of spreading the virus, such as providing masks and having them self-isolate in a separate room.
Final Thoughts
By following these tips, you can ensure your business takes all the necessary steps to stay clean and safe during this difficult time. With proper planning, you can create an environment that employees feel comfortable coming into each day. Taking precautions now will make it easier for your business to continue running smoothly while minimizing any risks associated with Covid-19 or other viruses.
