Essential Business Safety Protocols to Keep Employees and Customers Safe during the COVID-19 Pandemic

After months of lockdown following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in Wuhan, China, businesses around the world are gradually reopening their premises and resuming on-site operations. Even at the height of the pandemic, some essential businesses such as pharmacies, plumbing, healthcare facilities, banks, and grocery stores operated at full capacity, keeping their doors open to customers and clients. However, most other types of businesses came to a complete standstill and have only just begun the process of restarting their operations.

Reopening Businesses amidst a Pandemic

Businesses planning to reopen need to take all possible precautions to prevent the transmission and spread of the novel coronavirus within their premises. Managers and owners need to find ways to keep their businesses operational while preventing new outbreaks of the disease and keeping their customers and employees safe.

Of course, work environments can vary widely from one sector to another, so there are no uniform solutions that can be implemented across the board, unmodified. All safety measures need to be tailored to the unique business environment of the establishment and implemented steadfastly at all times and in all locations. Some of the popular safety protocols and practices that businesses everywhere have been adopting as they strive to reinstate their operations, will be discussed in this article.

1. At-Scale Testing

Many employers, including ecommerce companies like Amazon and electronics manufacturers like Foxconn, have invested heavily in COVID-19 testing facilities in order to ensure the wellbeing and safety of their employees and customers. In places where COVID-19 testing kits are widely available, onsite mass workplace testing can be a good way to minimize the risk of infection without a huge monetary investment.

During the mass testing process, all workers might be examined by physicians and questioned about various factors such as their symptoms, COVID-19 exposure risks, and disease history. Sample collections for laboratory tests are typically done in a separate facility to avoid the spread of the disease through droplets and aerosols.

2. Symptom Assessment

Various forms of symptom assessment procedures can also help companies screen for high-risk employees, who can then be asked to work from home or take a leave of absence. For instance, all the employees at Chinese e commerce giant Alibaba have to fill out a daily health questionnaire using an internal company app, and present the color-coded results to the building security, before they can enter the company’s headquarters. Symptoms can also be determined with the help of personal protective equipment such as touch-free thermometers, which can alert the manager if any of the employees (or customers) happen to be running a temperature, as fever is one of the foremost symptoms of COVID-19.

3. Hygiene Training

Many businesses are now providing comprehensive training to employees in order to familiarize them with new safety and hygiene protocols. Restaurants, hotels, and supermarkets are training employees to read the contactless, automatic thermometers installed at the entrance, in order to determine if a potential customer is showing any symptoms of COVID-19 infection.

Companies are also installing hand-washing stations in high-traffic areas of their offices and creating videos to help their workers understand the new social distancing and sanitizing protocols. Gyms and fitness centers have assigned workers to sanitize their exercise equipment after each session and many retailers are handing out disinfecting wipes, disposable face masks, and hand-sanitizers to customers at the store entrances.

4. Personal Protective Equipment

The use of high-quality personal protective equipment (PPE) is another way that businesses can keep their employees and customers safe from the virus. Many retailers and supermarkets require customers to wear a face mask before they can enter the establishment. Businesses can also offer multilayer, disposable masks to their workers at the point of entry, to make sure that nobody can enter the premises without a face covering. Moreover, employers should make quality hand-sanitizers with over 65 percent alcohol content freely available for the use of employees throughout the workday. They should also provide sanitizing wipes and any other PPE products that might enhance the safety and wellbeing of all stakeholders.

5. Temperature Checks

Many restaurants, gyms, retailers, and salons around the world have made temperature checks at the point of entry mandatory for all workers and customers wanting to enter the establishment. Most of them have installed high-quality contactless thermometers at their gates, to ensure that everyone stepping into the premises can get their temperature quickly and effortlessly screened. Many countries have also set up infrared thermometers in train stations and subways. Would-be passengers with a high temperature may be required to return home.

In Conclusion

Mentioned above are some of the precautionary measures that businesses should adopt as they prepare to reopen during the pandemic. For the best results, they should implement social distancing norms, disinfect their premises regularly, and invest in high-quality PPE products manufactured by reputed companies or brands. At Whizley, we make it easy for you to stock up on business essentials. Whether you’re looking for a thermometer, masks, gloves or hand sanitizers we have you covered. Let us focus on your safety and you focus on making your business thrive during these uncertain times.