As the COVID-19 crisis continues, hospitals hit warp speed in their commitment to operationalising their personnel and resources to meet the new challenge in a safe environment. Hospitals are taking new measures and enacting new policies to stay safe during the pandemic, this includes deploying PPE, installing IPS panel toilets, and glass or perspex safety screens.
Their trials and successes offer a blueprint for regular offices that are scheduled to reopen during the pandemic within safety parameters.
Here are 5 ways hospitals are preparing for the pandemic that could help you:
1. Create a Visual Schedule and Meet up the Experts
Some healthcare facilities have used calendars and visual maps of their expected date of reopening to make sure they stay on schedule.
They’ve also made estimates of the number of required personal protective equipment (PPE) such as masks, cloth masks, gloves, etc. Creating a stockpile of these resources based on the number of employees. For places with larger numbers of workers, consider staggering your schedule to limit occupancy.
If you’re an office considering reopening, fit out contractors in Manchester are specialists who can install critical equipment including IPS panel toilets and Perspex safety screens so you can meet the required safety standards. It’s also worth noting, you may want to designate a specific time of day for installation of equipment and repairs, to ensure employees won’t interact with contractors.
2. Gradually Implementing New Changes
Hospitals have gradually introduced their new changes, bringing back workers slowly and on different schedules to allow for social distancing. You can follow suit and adopt an incremental approach to how you reopen your office. This will help you quickly resolve problems as they arise. If you can, begin with a few shifts a day and restrict access to personnel so they can complete their jobs at home. It is recommended to bring back workers in phases, or work on alternate dates, or at different times of the day. This will reduce contact and prevent the virus from spreading.
After all, there are only so many commercial toilet cubicles and Perspex safety screens you can have installed in a limited space. Communication is key here, so make sure to regularly speak to your staff and customers.
3. Modify Worker and Client Schedules
Where hospitals have to bridge the gap between workers and patients, it can work the same with business if you handle an influx of large clients. You might want to consider modifying employee schedules to ensure they don’t come in contact with each other and spread the virus.
New social distancing rules for businesses require that all people who visit the office must be required to wear a mask or a cloth to minimise their exposure to the virus.
4. Ensuring the Workplace is Safe for all Staff
Deep cleaning and distancing is important when reopening. Hospitals have typically provided employees with guidelines and policies about what they should and shouldn’t do at work.
Whilst most key workers were always on the front line, if they have developed COVID-19 symptoms, such as losing their sense of smell or taste, having developed a fever, dry cough, or have come in contact with a person who tested positive for the novel coronavirus then they need to self-isolate and stay at home.
High temperatures are relatively easy to track with equipment like thermal cameras and thermometer guns. So if you can, it might be worth getting yourself some new equipment.
Ask employees to minimise contact as much as possible. But you can also install an IPS panel toilet to keep the virus confined within a safe environment.
5. Limit Non-Essential Visitors and Workers
Most hospitals have actually been quite empty during much of the pandemic, as it was only essential and emergency patients that were given treatment. This can work for the office too. Create a clear policy for individuals who are not employees. For example, reroute them to virtual communication tools such as phone calls and video conferences.
There may also be staff who can speak with vendors, salespeople, and suppliers via phone instead of in-person.
Wrapping Up
Hospitals have provided a good example of how to stay safe during the Covid-19 crisis.
To safely reopen your work premises, it is vital to coordinate with all your employees and clients. Get in touch with our experts and we’ll be happy to help provide you with guidance on safety equipment such as glass screens, office refurbishments or washroom safety equipment.