{"id":27535,"date":"2020-05-20T15:23:51","date_gmt":"2020-05-20T20:23:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ipromo.com\/blog\/?p=27535"},"modified":"2020-05-20T15:23:51","modified_gmt":"2020-05-20T20:23:51","slug":"reopening-offices-post-covid-ppe-safety-barriers-sanitizing-stations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.ipromo.com\/reopening-offices-post-covid-ppe-safety-barriers-sanitizing-stations\/","title":{"rendered":"Reopening Offices Post COVID \u2013 PPE, Safety Barriers & Sanitizing Stations"},"content":{"rendered":"

The new normal is coming to an office near you. As cities and regions make serious headway in combating the coronavirus, the focus will shift to prevention.<\/p>\n

Reopening offices after the worldwide COVID scare is not going to be a simple task. Everything, from additional PPE to reconstructing spaces to new best practices, is going to need to be addressed before you can reopen your doors.<\/p>\n

This isn\u2019t just a matter of keeping your employees safe. Many municipalities and states<\/a> are creating strict guidelines that businesses need to adhere to when reopening offices after coronavirus. Failure to adhere to these could result in heavy fines or your business even being shut down. Because each area has different rules, we can\u2019t predict exactly what your office will need to do. What we can do is show you a set of smart practices which should be the backbone of any reopening plan.<\/p>\n

Stocking Up On PPE<\/h2>\n

\"Return<\/a>The first, and perhaps most important thing when talking about reopening offices after COVID, is making sure that you have enough PPE to protect your entire office team while they are working, as well as having plenty of spares to go around.<\/p>\n

Part of what has made COVID-19 such a public health threat is the ease with which asymptomatic individuals can spread it. People may feel completely fine, go into a public area, and spread the virus to others without being aware of it. Adequate PPE is key to cutting down on asymptomatic spread.<\/p>\n

So, with that in mind, what are the best options to work with? One of the most essential things you should look into is masks for your employees, especially if they will be working in shared or close quarters. One of the best options we offer is KN95 Respirator Face Masks<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Chinese-approved equivalent of the N95 face mask, these masks do a great job of helping filter out particles from the air, viral particles included. If you do purchase these, make sure your employees are educated on how often they need to change the filter, and how to fit the mask properly. Effectiveness is radically reduced if you don\u2019t take these steps.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re looking for a more affordable option and your employees aren\u2019t at risk of major exposure, options like the Disposable 3-Ply Medical Face Masks – Non-Sterile<\/a>, are also a great fit. While these don\u2019t have the filtering capability of a respirator mask, they do a good job of preventing people from spreading their own particles into the air around them. In a situation where asymptomatic spread reduction is the top priority, these are a great substitute. An entire office of people wearing masks greatly reduces the risk of transmission.<\/p>\n

\"64<\/a>Something else that goes hand-in-hand with keeping your employees safe when reopening offices after COVID is gloves. From desks to writing equipment to tech like a copying machine, offices are full of shared surfaces that are ripe for disease transmission. Keeping gloves on at all times, but especially when handling equipment, is essential. Our Nitrile Protective Rubber Gloves – Blue – 100 Gloves Per Box<\/a> make a great option to distribute to your staff. They are made of nitrile protective rubber to reduce germ transmission.<\/p>\n

In some situations, touching shared surfaces may be a necessary part of office work, which is why your employees need to have a firm cleaning regimen for themselves and their spaces. We will talk more about some of the options on the table for this later, but for now, it\u2019s important that you have plenty of cleaning products on hand. One of the most essential items is 8.1 oz \/ 240 mL Hand Sanitizer<\/a>. Hand sanitizer is one of the most important products for a quick spot clean after risk of exposure. Not only should all employees have some at their desk, but it should be in all shared spaces and bathrooms as well. It\u2019s best to buy in bulk, as this precautionary measure may be necessary for quite some time.<\/p>\n

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Creating A Safe Work Environment<\/h2>\n

\"telecummute<\/a>Keeping with the idea of long-term planning, it\u2019s important that your business takes steps beyond just providing PPE to reopen safely. One major thing worth considering is whether reopening offices after coronavirus means the entire team needs to be present in the office or workspace.<\/p>\n

Even with all the best practices and all the PPE present, there\u2019s still going to be a risk of transmission. If there are some employees who can fully perform their duties while working from home, it may be a good idea to have them remain remote until conditions improve. Show your appreciation for them and their hard work with a Custom Telecommute Kit<\/a>. This provides them with all the materials they need to stay connected, including:<\/p>\n