COVID-19 is still with us, and businesses must be careful about reopening to protect employees as well as customers. While you may already be aware of and implementing standard recommended safety procedures, here are some of the most common steps that companies are taking when opening their doors to the public again.
Body Temperature
Employees are usually asked to take their temperature before coming to work, and if they have a temp, they are urged to stay home until they receive a negative COVID-19 test result. Many employers are taking temperature checks as workers arrive at the job, which can be awkward and time consuming. Some managers are installing thermal cameras that automatically scan people who enter the premises for a heightened temperature and alert management when elevated temps are noted. This protects everyone from possible exposure to the dreaded novel virus.
Monitor for Symptoms
Employees are also asked to be aware of common COVID-19 symptoms. Depending on the person’s age and general health, symptoms may include extreme fatigue, temperature increase, a cough, runny nose, unexplained rash, pink eye, and other changes in regular body functions. Anyone who notices symptoms like these should stay home from work and contact their doctor for advice. An employer who becomes aware of a worker exhibiting these or other COVID-19 symptoms will probably ask the employee to go home until the symptoms subside.
No-Touch Service
When dealing directly with the public by distributing food, documents, or other products, it is best to switch to no-touch service when possible. This can take various forms, from employees wearing suitable gloves and/or handing products to customers in a basket or carrier that prevents employee directly touching the contents that will be handed to the customer. Employees should wear gloves when working with or near the public while performing duties like cleaning or moving things around.
Physical Distancing
Public health experts recommend that everyone stay six feet or more apart from others while out in public and preferably wear masks. Arrange the public areas of your office where customers interact to maintain adequate physical distance. Plastic screens can be installed between company representatives and customers.
Required Masks
Recent medical reports indicate that if everyone would wear masks for four to six weeks, COVID-19 might die down or fade away at least to manageable levels or completely. While many states require employees to wear masks, you should post signs requiring customers to wear masks, also.
The pandemic is forcing businesses to change their practices to keep everyone safe. Take steps like these to comply with local directives and to protect everyone’s health.
Lizzie Weakley is a freelance writer from Columbus, Ohio. In her free time, she enjoys the outdoors and walks in the park with her three-year-old husky, Snowball.
