Governor Abbott has lifted stay-at-home orders in the state of Texas and most businesses are trying to figure out how to get back to “business as usual” in this new COVID-19 world. As workers close down their home offices and start the commute back into office buildings, retail and service centers, business leaders are trying to create safe environments for their staff. Here are a few tips to help owners, managers and business leaders navigate during this time of transition.
Get Organized
Before going back to the office, get organized. It’s good to have a checklist of what needs to be disinfected and deep cleaned. Include items like disinfecting procedures and timeframes, keeping supplies stocked and workplace protocols. Check out the CDC, WHO and OSHA for guidelines for building these lists. You’ll also find it will come in handy for ensuring frequent sanitization around the office when workers are back.
Clean Before Disinfecting
Prior to disinfecting, surfaces should be cleaned with soap and water, or other cleaning detergents. Surfaces that are frequently touched in and around workspaces such as desks, handles and electronics, as well as eating and common areas should be disinfected routinely with a bleach solution or EPA-approved disinfectant products. Electronics can be sanitized with alcohol-based wipes containing at least 70% alcohol.
Team Effort
Everyone has a role in safety and both leaders and staff should work together to maintain a healthy workspace. Employers can provide face masks, hand sanitizer, and disinfectants for their employees, as well as conducting training and publicly posting guidelines for cleaning, disinfecting and personal hygiene. Employers are encouraged to adhere to social distancing guidelines inside office space and asking those who feel sick to stay at home to curb the chance of viral transmission.
Employees should abide by business guidelines and cleanliness practices, following quarantine protocol if they or a family member is sick, and rotating and washing face masks on a regular basis. Frequently disinfecting personal workspaces can be done by anyone and employees can help by cleaning and disinfecting their work stations inbetween professional service appointments.
When to Hire a Commercial Cleaning Company
Office spaces should be thoroughly cleaned before teams return. While most sanitization procedures can be done by in-house staff, some deep cleaning services require professional equipment. For high traffic areas or in environments with teams that are frequently interacting with large groups, scheduling frequent sanitization services might be advisable.
Routine deep cleaning of floors, carpeting and air ducts are essential commercial services provided by Aladdin. Give us a call today to help build a plan for a safe workplace.
