This week has seen more people returning to work, thanks to the recent announcement of our lockdown moving from risk level 5 to 4, which will allow for a gradual and phased recovery of the economy, and a welcome relief to many families around the country.

However, during this period, companies should take special care with regards to the safety of their colleagues, as the risks of Covid-19 spreading are still high. 

We have formulated a quick checklist to help you ensure that your office is hygienic before you open up for business again. These tips will help prevent the spread of the virus and help keep your employees safe during this time.

Office Behaviour Checklist:

• Ensure social distancing is practised at all times. This includes awareness sessions around the topic and adjusting all work spaces, desks etc to ensure maximum compliance with national social distancing guidelines.
  
  
• Ensure that those who can work from home continue to do so to help manage office health and safety.
  
  
• Have a screening and “vulnerable persons” declaration process for employees and visitors.

Important Hygiene Products & Services Checklist:

• Ensure that the correct personal protective equipment is available.
  
  Masks are mandatory during this lockdown phase but you may consider investing in desk screens, face shields and gloves. (You can read more about whether to consider providing gloves in our post “Gloves on or gloves off”)
  
  
• Book a specialist disinfection service on a regular basis for the office.
  
  
• Provide hand sanitisers and hand sanitising stations around work areas.
  
  
• Ensure all bathrooms are fully equipped with soap dispensers, hand dryers or hand paper towels and waste bins. 
  
  
• Ensure that gloves and masks are disposed of responsibly in a medical waste unit, to minimise risk on the premises

Other Top Tips:

• Put up hand hygiene posters around the office to help educate and remind staff to practice good hand hygiene.
  
  
• Have social distancing tape around areas such as the office printer, water cooler, coffee machine, canteen and kitchen as a constant reminder for colleagues.
  
  
• Update your sick leave policy to ensure employees stay home when they aren’t feeling well. This is not the time for presenteeism!

Incorporating these tips will help the business ensure that employees work in an environment where they feel protected and will go a long way in mitigating the spread of Coronavirus.

For more information on the Covid-19 and how to keep your office safe please visit take a look at our Coronavirus information page here. You can also download the steps above in a handy checklist.