Top tips for infection control In The Workplace
After suffering a global pandemic, it’s more important than ever that workplaces are hygienic and safe places to be so we aren’t in that situation again. As workplaces can be high traffic areas, with some offices being busy and full of people and many welcoming constant or regular visitors, the workplace must be a sanitary place.
It is important for everybody to take action to control the risk of any infection spreading. The last thing you need is for all of your staff to be out sick, meaning they still cost the same but no work is actually being completed. What can you do in order to control the potential spread of any infections, whilst also maintaining a happy workplace?
How are infections spread?
The most common ways that infections are spread in the workplace are airborne (droplets spread by coughing and sneezing) and by contact (hands from person to person or by objects and surfaces that have germs on them).
Check out Consumables Unlimited’s recommendations for what you can do to not only save money and time, but protect the wellbeing of your employees.
PLAN
You can advise your staff to make healthy life choices but this may not be enough. Sometimes illness is unavoidable and it does happen, but you can do things to minimise the risk of it happening and in turn, spreading. Do the best thing for your business so that if a staff member is unexpectedly ill, your business can continue to run as usual. Ensure your staff are multi-skilled, so if there are pressing and important projects happening, the load can be shared between the team. Have fresh fruit and water available to your staff, helping to boost their immune system and remind them of the importance of good hygiene by having hand washing reminders in washrooms and kitchens.
Since the Coronavirus pandemic, many workplaces have had to adapt to make working from home possible, and this can be transferred to the general running of a business. Where possible, make it easier for staff to work from home so that if you have a member of staff who is feeling under the weather but still wants to work, they can work from home instead of coming into the office and infecting more people.
Infection risks are heightened by proximity a lot of the time, so see if you can arrange workplaces so that your staff are spaced away from each other. Making space means the risk of infections spreading through airborne particles is lessened.
IDENTIFY TOUCH POINTS
How many places in the office do you have that multiple people touch on a daily, maybe even hourly basis? Doorknobs, taps, water dispensers, fridges, the list goes on. Then there are keyboards, telephones and other general office equipment that is touched constantly.
Once you’ve identified the areas that will have the highest germ transfer rates, you can use STERiZAR hard surface wipes which are multipurpose heavy duty, antibacterial and are alcohol free. They can be used on any hard surface including doors, sinks, telephones, air-con filters, work tops and more and can also be used on hands safely. The hard surface wipes are a great product to have around to keep areas safer in between regular cleaning with STERiZAR hard surface cleaner. STERiZAR products are one of the fastest acting and most powerful germ killing products available today, killing 99.99% of bacteria yet remaining alcohol-free and kind to skin.
CREATE AND MAINTAIN A CLEANING SCHEDULE
You need to keep on top of the cleaning, but it can be hard to remember to do it whilst you are prioritising business and the cleaning may work its way to the bottom of the priorities list when in reality it should always be high. If you don’t have a contracted cleaner, integrating small cleaning tasks into the workplace routine and sharing them out between the team is the best way to stay on top of things. Stay organised by keeping track of certain dates, times and tasks and create somewhere to mark off so you know it has been completed.
DOWNLOAD OUR CLEANING SCHEDULEGerms survive and multiply in unclean surroundings and that includes dust. Make sure you are hoovering and removing dust regularly and make sure any spills are cleaned up immediately.
Cleaning regularly is important, and make sure that your general workplace is kept clean and tidy. Whether you have a cleaner or you do the cleaning in-house, take a look at our ‘Workplace Cleaning Cupboard Essentials’ blog that guides you through the workplace cleaning essentials and why you need them.
PRACTICE GOOD HYGIENE
Remind your staff and colleagues of the importance of good hygiene. They should be regularly washing their hands with soap and water or sanitising them with an effective sanitiser when soap and water isn’t available, especially after visiting the bathroom and before handling food. Washing or sanitising your hands throughout the day will help to keep germs at bay and stop the transfer of them as you go about your day.
PRODUCTS
It’s important to have the correct products when carrying out any sort of cleaning, as you want to ensure that cleaning is carried out efficiently. What products can you use to help you and your team achieve the highest level of cleanliness and sanitisation? You need to think about whether they need to wear protective clothing, if wipes and hand sanitiser will do the job, if you need to consider cleaning the whole room with a disinfecting spray or cloth, or if you need to carry out a deep clean with a fogging machine. Read on for our top product recommendations:
Gloves may be suitable for your staff if they are regularly touching other people. These Clear Vinyl Powder Free gloves are suitable in many settings but have proved particularly popular in schools, nurseries, care and any setting where the wearer might need everyday protection from dirt and contaminants.
Face Masks are now worn in many more settings than they were pre-pandemic and are not just for medical use. These Type 11R Disposable Face Masks provide nose and mouth protection for the wearer, can help prevent the spread of illness and are ideally suited for Public Sector workers and those working in Health Care. For a more everyday use face mask, this box of 50 disposable masks are the perfect product.
Fogging Machines are suitable for most environments from Offices, Nurseries and Schools, Restaurants, Leisure Centres and more. These machines are able to sanitise whole rooms quickly and effectively and, when used with STERiZAR fogging solution, gets to work immediately. With minimal disruption and no need to move furniture or equipment, fogging machines are a cost and time-effective solution to sanitising premises. Use STERiZAR fogging solution in your fogging machine for a complete immediate deep clean. Read our blog on fogging and Coronavirus here.
Hand Sanitiser is a useful product to carry in your bag or to have available around workplaces and the home as it can be used to effectively clean hands where soap and water is not available. Get one that is suitable for everybody – we’d recommend Sterizar as it is alcohol free so it is safe and soft for children to use and is kind to skin and the environment. It kills 99.9% of bacteria, and is effective against Norovirus, Coronavirus, and much more.
Multi-purpose cleaners that can be used anywhere should be a staple of any workplace. This Sterizar one can be used on many different surfaces and provides lasting protection, killing 99.9% of bacteria. It is food safe in its unscented form and is safe for use around children. For another option, our Antibacterial Spray & Wipe from our Clean Up range is also food safe and can be used both front of house and back of house effectively – pick one up for only £1.69!
Hopefully you will be able to take away some action points from this list on what you can do in regards to infection control within your school or business, or even just for your family home. Please feel free to take a look at our full range of products and contact us if you require any further information. You can email us at info@cugroup.com or call us on 01202 375511.
