How to make workplaces safer in the COVID era?

If you take a look back and recollect the initial days of the spread of the Coronavirus, there was a ton of vulnerability about how to try not to get the illness. People were busy disinfect their homes and offices, and there was a common notion that those masks weren’t effective.

From there till now, things have completely changed since researchers and specialists have had the option to test and assess the conditions that are best for the infection to flourish.

Because of their work, most organizations have taken actions to adapt to hybrid work models while also practising safety norms to keep the virus from spreading. These endeavours incorporate making the compulsory wearing of masks, social distancing, providing ventilation, and routinely sanitizing any common surfaces or spaces.

Despite the regular measures the cases in newly infected people have been seen fluctuating, keeping both office goers and the companies on their toes. Neither can they apply the best HR practices nor the right healthy policies.

With the researchers now confirming that the Covid is now airborne, pivotal disinfection tools have come into the picture when it comes to keeping workspaces healthy.

Fortunately, researchers have also tracked down that the infection probably won’t last long on outside surfaces or permeable surfaces. Yet, it’s as yet conceivable to become ill by coming in contact with the contaminated surfaces.

Along these lines, organizations following a hybrid work model should keep their offices additionally clean. Physically cleaning and sanitizing each surface as people did in the past – using phenol or floor cleaners – is a tedious and time taking task.

This World Day for Safety and Health at Work, let’s take a look at some of the tools that will help you make your workspaces better equipped to tackle any issues –

Electrostatic cleaning –

These sprayers work by charging the antimicrobial fluid as it goes through a spout. The emphatically charged antimicrobial drops attract negatively charged natural surfaces and work with improved inclusion of hard, non-permeable surfaces.

Electrostatic cleaners are basically aerosolizing sanitisers, which can sanitize a whole room simply by waving the nozzle through the air. Scientists claim that this form of sanitizing is highly effective against the coronavirus, but it’s not as clear whether they’re effective when used as fog.

UV light disinfection technology –

Though UV technology has been utilized in the past in hospitals and clinics to sanitize emergency rooms and wards; it hasn’t been put to use in commercial and retail sectors. Also, the number of cleaning devices using UV light is very limited.

Yet, this method is a lot quicker than manual cleaning, and there’s no danger from the chemicals. In a flexible workspace setup, this could be helpful in daily cleaning of seating areas and common spaces where new visitors are present every day. Cleaners just need to wave the UV wands over the workspaces to eliminate germs and viruses.

However, there are few critical questions related to the theories about UV lights harming skin and eyes in case that they’re utilized inappropriately. Thus, and to stay away from expected fakes, search for devices from reputed sources that accompany safety highlights like auto turn-off modes.

The new social distancing tools at the workplace –

It goes without saying that one of the best ways of containing the spread is by social distancing. If you’re running a flexible workspace where the frequency of visitors and members is high, practising social distancing could be difficult.

Apart from asking everyone to put on their masks all the time, the workspace should be redesigned to make the efforts useful. With flexible workspaces, the ability to customize the workspace as and when needed, whether it is an event or so, is highly beneficial.

With the flexibility to redesign workspace, new workstations can be installed in work pods, private cabins, a limited number of seats in meeting rooms, smart access to cabins and remote visitor check-in apps, which might make that job a little easier for managers. Built-in air purifiers and automatic doors that operate with facial recognition, so there’s no need for employees to touch shared surfaces.

The workforce can also be asked to make use of wearable technology. Through it, office managers can adhere to safe distancing norms and permissible level of human concentration at any part of the workplace.

Also read: How organizations can create a winning work culture post-pandemic?

Contact-less visitor management systems at the reception look not only smart but also are the way toward the future of work. Display units can be installed at the reception area with unique QR codes for check-ins, booking meeting slots, or simply sending notifications to the members upon arrival. For even more security and convenience, employees can send out unique URLs to scheduled visitors ahead of their visits so that they can begin the check-in process at home and limit their time in the office lobby.

With such great tools and technology in hand, office space providers can stick to safety norms whilst not losing on their operations yet providing an ambient and healthy workspace to their employees and clients.

Are you too looking for a safe and healthy workspace to work during the pandemic? Explore our vibrant and feature-rich workspaces that can manage teams of all sizes efficiently.