As things slowly return to normal, employers, office building managers, and warehouse supervisors are trying to decide how to reopen their facilities as safely as possible during the lingering pandemic. Social distancing requirements and hygiene facilitation will now be expected everywhere, so it is important that you devise a plan for your building.
The CDC has issued an up-to-date list of Employer Information for Office Buildings. It is important that facility managers hire a BSC that can fulfill all of the new requirements needed to address the pandemic and that keeps their janitorial team members educated on the latest rules and regulations. Below we will discuss how to reopen your facility as safely as possible during a pandemic.
Evaluate Your Facility
Before reopening your building to tenants, you need to make sure that it is ready after an extended time being closed. You should get together with your janitorial team and schedule a walk-through that can identify problems and help with the creation of a health and safety plan. Supreme Maintenance Organization will conduct a hazard assessment of your facility to help identify potential risks.
Everyone with a vested interest in the safe reopening of your building should be involved in the evaluation process. Common areas where social distancing is difficult should be identified and addressed. Here are a few things you can do to neutralize potential hazard areas:
- modify work and meeting areas
- remove and rearrange chairs in reception
- post signs and information regarding social distancing
- consider using HEPA-filter vacuums
Educate Employees and Supervisors
Part of the health and safety plan that you create with the help of your janitorial team should include education for supervisors and employees. They need to know what to do in the instance they are potentially exposed to COVID-19, if they begin to exhibit symptoms at work, and if they return a positive COVID-19 test.
If an employee has been exposed to COVID-19 outside of work: Then they need to inform their supervisor immediately and stay home from work until they are cleared to return by their doctor.
If an employee exhibits COVID-19 symptoms at work: Then they need to leave the facility immediately and report to a supervisor so that contact tracing can be accurately performed. A BSC like Supreme Maintenance Organization will have an emergency plan in place for instances such as this. They will begin to address the potentially infected areas of your facility immediately with disinfectant. Employees who came into contact with the infected person should be notified so that they can get tested.
If an employee returns a positive test: Then they should contact their supervisor immediately and stay home from work. The same procedures need to be conducted as if they exhibited symptoms at work.
During this time of uncertainty, it is essential to hire a BSC who is prepared to address the increased cleaning demand of your facility and that is prepared to contain potential infections in your building.
Call Supreme Maintenance Organization 1-800-717-4766 to schedule a free consultation today.
