The coronavirus crisis of 2020 has been a strange time for many companies, with offices, businesses and construction sites mothballed for months on end.
Now, though, with lockdown restrictions finally easing, many businesses are keen to get going again. But with workspaces out of use for so long, you’ll need to make sure everything’s ship-shape and, above all, safe for you, your employees and your clients.
Here are a few pointers to make sure getting back-to-work works for you:
Air-con and ventilation systems
It’s likely that your landlords will have kept ventilation systems running even in an empty office, but do check with your landlord’s maintenance team, as coil fan units and A/C systems can be a breeding ground for Legionnaire’s disease if not in constant use.
Taps and water
Legionella is also a potential problem for taps that have been idle for some time. It’s also worth considering installing infra-red taps for your office from a hygiene point of view, as this minimises physical contact.
Tea points
Offices run on tea, but again unused water points and kitchenettes can harbour legionella.
Social distancing
Sufficient space for social distancing to be practised should be taken into account: if necessary, make sure you have well-signed one-way walking routes for entrances and exits. It’s a good idea, too, to think about providing floor mats and signs that encourage people to remember to stay two metres apart from one another.
Desks and office layouts can be more of a challenge – but we are working with office furniture and space planning companies to help provide you with advice on how to create safe working conditions in the post-COVID-19 era.
General hygiene
Good hand-washing routines are now more important than ever, so before you re-open you’ll need to ensure all the facilities for handwashing are fully stocked. You’ll need to institute plenty of signage reminding people to waste their hands regularly.
To get your site, office or business ready to go again, get in touch with our small works department and we’ll make sure you’re prepared to get your business back to normal. Or a new kind of normal at least…
