Returning to the workplace after days and months of continuous work-from-home looks looming to a lot of us. However, offices of all kinds and types wouldn’t be the same once restrictions ease and lockdown for the pandemic ends. There’s a lot that needs to be done when it comes to maintaining the health and hygiene of the office, from motivating your employees to adopt stringent safety rules to adhere to WHO-guided safety protocols, implementing serious changes, and lots more.
Safety protocols are important to maintaining, especially at open and crowded workplaces like healthcare units, garden centres, factories, supermarkets, etc. That said, a lot can be done to ensure complete safety, including frequent cleaning, floor markings, etc.
Tips and Guidelines to Prep Your Office Post Lockdown
To begin with, adhering to strict personal hygiene is essential for the healthiest and safest workplace culture. Here are some of the guidelines, and prep yourself for joining the office.
Keep Monitoring the Symptoms
The first thumb rule to joining after the office is to avoid going to the office if you feel sick. If any Covid-19 symptoms strike you, think of heading back home from the office immediately without any second thoughts. Individuals advised to stay at home by the pre-existing government guidelines prefer keeping themselves at home instead of thinking to come home.
Ensure Good Hand Hygiene
A lot has been talked about hand washing steps, and despite how busy you are, you must make it a point to wash your hands frequently when you are at the office. When washing hands, make sure you are doing it properly as per WHO guidelines. As per government-led guidelines, you must wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with the help of soap and water.
When Should You Wash Hands?
As per the Coronavirus guidance mentioned by the NHS, you are expected to opt for handwashing when:
- You return home from the office
- You either cough, sneeze or even blow your nose
- You deal or eat food
How Frequently Should You Wash your Hands?
Several companies are establishing timers to remind their workers to wash their hands every half-an-hour. As per studies and researches led by the scientists on hand wash, it is important to wash your hands 6-10 times every day to avoid welcoming infections from the deadly coronavirus. Your handwashing frequency should develop based on what activity you engage in and the type of your workplace.
Stick to the Same old Physical Distancing Norms
Maintaining social distancing should be kept up with at every workplace, especially when it is a public place like a retail store, cafeteria, marketplace, etc. You can try to stay away from outside food or eating food in the cafeteria by carrying your lunchbox to the office. The cubicle you are assigned should also be properly sanitized and if not, carry your bottle of disinfectant to do the needful.
Keep Your Mask on All the Time
Face masks are mandated by the NHS whenever you are stepping outside of your house. So, when joining the office, make sure to wear your mask all the time. But when wearing the mask, make sure it is covering your nose and mouth and not hanging on your neck or exposing your nose.
These are some of the essential safety tips that, if followed carefully, can help you stay safe and maintain good health. As much as returning to the office is crucial, maintain health and hygiene is equally essential to avoid getting infected with the virus.