As many return to work, or plan to do so soon, the big question arises: “How can we protect our workers and keep our offices virus-free, even amidst continuous COVID-19 concerns?”
Even prior to the coronavirus outbreak, many of us were already keen on keeping office spaces clean and disinfected. However, as we navigate through this new era together, it’s important to have a firm plan of action to prevent the spread of the coronavirus and other viruses throughout the office. To help keep your workforce in top running condition, we’ve compiled a list of best practices to ensure that your office is clean and safe for your employees to return to.
1. Regularly Clean Electronics
The typical office desk alone is 400x dirtier than an average toilet seat – and that’s not counting the thousands of germs that also live on nearby electronic devices. Making a habit of wiping down these electronic hotspots or using a spray disinfectant can help eliminate the buildup and spread of germs and viruses. Unsure how often you should clean these items? You can check out this handy guide for tips and tricks on keeping your desk and electronics clean.
2. Increase Ventilation
Air quality is often the last thing we think about when it comes to keeping the office virus-free, yet it can be one of the most crucial factors in preventing an outbreak. In fact, the EPA has ranked indoor air quality as one of the most concerning dangers we face on a daily basis. So, next time you’re in the office, crack open a window or take a walk outside to help get that much-needed dose of fresh air.
3. Wipe Down Kitchen Areas
This one seems pretty obvious, yet it doesn’t get nearly the attention it deserves. When it comes to communal kitchens, it’s not just about cleaning up your leftover crumbs, but rather taking the time to disinfect behind you. Take a look at this cleaning checklist to ensure that your office kitchen is up to speed.
4. Frequently Sanitize Hot Spots
Aside from technology, offices are home to several other germ hotspots – some of which are obvious, while others are not. Frequently wiping down these key areas will help reduce the spread of germs and viruses. When in doubt, it’s better to over-sanitize than to not sanitize at all.
5. Stay on Top of CDC Cleaning Guidelines
Before returning to work, the CDC recommends that every facility create a plan to reduce risk exposure to COVID-19. Whether you have a plan ready, or just looking to enhance your current practices, the CDC has created this guide listing everything from must-clean areas to EPA approved disinfectants.
6. Have Designated Hand + Cell Phone Cleaning Stations
While you might not be able to force your co-workers to clean their desks and keyboards every day, you can make it easier for them to keep their hands and other personal belongings sanitized. Readily placing hand sanitizers and disinfectant wipes throughout the office can be a helpful reminder to encourage co-workers to do their part in preventing the spread of COVID-19 and other viruses.
7. Encourage Sick Workers to Remain Home
This seems like a no-brainer, but surveys show that 90% of workers will still report to the office, even if they’re feeling sick. Encouraging employees to remain home, or take designated work-from-home days if they’re feeling unwell, can help prevent sick workers from spreading it to others.
8. Stock Your Kitchen Cabinets
While readily stocking your kitchen cabinets with vitamins and other immune-supportive products, such as Emergen-C, isn’t going to eliminate the spread of COVID-19 completely, it can serve as a healthy reminder for others to take preventative measures in caring for their own health first. After all, it will take everyone to keep the workplace safe and virus-free.
9. Practice No-Contact Greetings
In a world where “social-distancing” is an all too familiar phrase, it’s often easy to forget these practices once we return to work. It might feel a little strange to avoid a handshake with a client, but there are plenty of alternative no-contact greetings that you can still practice in the workplace.
10. Have a Supply of Masks Ready
As we all know, COVID-19 can be spread both symptomatically and asymptomatically. Because of this, the CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings, especially in areas of significant community-based transmission. Even if you don’t require employees to wear a mask during day-to-day operations, it’s best to keep a supply ready for use in high-traffic areas such as meetings and break rooms.
11. Hire a Professional to Deep Clean + Sanitize
At the end of the day, hiring a professional to deep clean your office can be the easiest route. Not only will it save your team time, but it will also ensure that the job is done right. Here at Environmental Remedies, we offer COVID-19 cleaning services for both precautionary measures as well as cases in which there has been a positive diagnosis within your organization. These services include both chemical spray and hand wiping methods to clean, sanitize, and disinfect surfaces throughout your facility, ensuring that your office is clean and your employees are safe.
As we continue to adjust to this new workflow, it’s crucial to have a plan in place that will keep your employees safe and your office virus-free. If you’re looking for more information on our cleaning services, you can head over to our information page, or feel free to contact us. Or, if you’re ready to schedule your upcoming cleaning, you can get started by requesting a quote!