Practical Covid-19 Advice For High Risk Areas Within The Workplace

Getting straight to the point, there is a lot of advice out there about safe working practices in the workplace for Covid-19. But let’s focus on those high risk, high traffic areas, including entrances, canteens, kitchens and washroom facilities.

What can you do to reduce the risk of contracting and spreading Coronavirus in these areas?

We have created a simple guide with ideas that are easily implemented to make a big difference.

Entrances

High touch point door handles are obviously a huge issue in these areas as everyone in the building will have physical contact with them at more than one point throughout the day. What can you do?

• Install hand sanitisers on both sides of the entrance ways so that only sanitised hands touch the door. Then re-sanitise on the other side.
• If it is not practical to install external sanitisers due to being on a busy street and there is a risk of vandalism, then install on the inside of the building so all hands are sanitised following entry to the building.
• Swop touch point fingerprint and button entry systems for individual key cards or fobs.
• Clearly mark safe distancing from reception desks and consider installing screens to protect reception staff.
• Install hand sanitisers outside lift doors or use antimicrobial lift button covers to eliminate viruses.
• Ventilate the area well where possible.
• Increase cleaning frequencies.
• Use a combination of antibacterial and virucidal cleaners. The clue is in the name! Antibacterial cleaners will only kill bacteria where as virucidal or anti-microbial cleaners will kill viruses and the later does both. (N.B. Please check which viruses the chemicals are effective against)

Canteens and Kitchens

Staff kitchens and canteens are high traffic areas, in addition to multiple people wanting to use the spaces at the same time during lunch and break times, tables, worktops, fridges and microwave surfaces are high touch point risk areas. What can you do?

• Stagger lunch and break times to limit the number of people in these areas at any one time.
• Place hand sanitiser at the entrances.
• Consider installing a sanitisation station within the space, containing hand sanitiser, virucidal or anti-microbial surface sprays and paper hand towels and encourage staff to wipe the surfaces they use before and after use.
• Consider removing high touch point items like microwaves.
• Mark vacant seating and table areas to clarify social distancing guidelines.
• In larger canteens mark out a one-way traffic system.
• Ventilate areas well where possible.
• Install electronic air sanitisers (Not to be confused with air fresheners) which actively kill germs in the air and neutralise smells.
• Increase cleaning frequencies.
• Use a combination of antibacterial and virucidal or anti-microbial cleaners.

Washroom Facilities

Washrooms are another high traffic area. When you’ve got to go, you’ve got to go. There are multiple areas to consider including door handles, toiles flushes and seats, taps and hand driers. What can you do?

• Limit the number of people in the toilets at any one time.
• Place hand sanitiser at the entrance.
• Mark vacant urinal and sink spaces to clarify social distancing guidelines.
• Ventilate the areas well where possible.
• Install electronic air sanitisers which actively kill germs in the air and neutralise smells.
• Install electronic washroom hygiene monitors which can track cleaning time and attendance. Manage, audit and review your cleaning regime and also alert the onsite cleaning team to immediate cleaning requirements or the replenishment of stock items such as soap and paper products.
• If you don’t have the budget for an electronic hygiene monitor you can always use a wall mounted toilet inspection sheet, which can be signed hourly or at a suitable frequency for your business, by the onsite cleaning team.
• Increase cleaning frequencies.
• Use a combination of antibacterial and virucidal or anti-microbial cleaners.

By Nina Wyers, Family owner and Marketing and Brand Director of The Floorbrite Group

The Floorbrite Group are one of the largest family run Cleaning and Facility Services companies in the UK. If you would like to discuss your cleaning requirements or Covid-19 strategies further, why not contact us on 0161 972 3000 or take a look at our website www.floorbrite.co.uk and specialist services at www.floorbrite.co.uk/coronavirus