It goes without saying that COVID-19 is a highly contagious virus that spreads through the air over short distances. Given this, what steps should you take to minimize the risk of transmission in an enclosed space, such as your workplace?
Here you will find the various precautions to take in the office during this health crisis.
Office Organization
The relatively confined space of offices in a company or workplace is not conducive to maintaining the required safety measures over the long term. A new layout for the workplace is an effective way for companies to adapt to the health crisis. Indeed, the “open-plan” layout has been adapted and implemented to help mitigate the risk of infection to some extent.
This new arrangement will improve efficiency while ensuring safety (masks, hand sanitizer). Furthermore, it goes hand in hand with remote work. Open-plan offices promote better air circulation and help prevent the spread of viruses, all while maintaining the work environment and social distancing.
Risks
Despite the good air circulation it provides, the open-plan office still poses risks related to COVID-19. The primary advantage of the new office layout is that it breaks down partitions to create a much more open atmosphere. However, this is where the risk of virus transmission lies, as partitions also limit the spread of airborne germs. Indeed, removing partitions exposes office equipment, clients, and furniture.
Furthermore, the move to open up office spaces would make employees reluctant to come in, even when their presence is required. Certain solutions are therefore recommended. These primarily involve adopting appropriate personal hygiene practices or focusing on monitoring the workplace.
Practice good habits
It is essential not to let your guard down and to always follow safety precautions. In areas where masks cannot be worn, the best protection comes from maintaining a two-meter distance between employees. Educational materials must also be cleaned regularly, as should computer mice and desktop computers.
To avoid being caught off guard by COVID-19 or running into administrative complications, it is advisable to get tested regularly. Encouraging colleagues to stay up to date on their vaccinations also helps reduce the risk of infection.
Monitoring solution
Monitoring indoor air quality is also essential for managing the COVID-19 pandemic. Air quality can be measured using standalone wireless sensors placed in each high-risk room. The LoRa(WAN) CO2/VOC/temperature/humidity sensors offered by Enless help ensure workplace safety in two distinct ways. The first is to receive alerts when PPM thresholds are exceeded or air quality is poor. Manual ventilation measures can then be taken (such as opening windows). Enless air quality sensors can also transmit air quality data to building management systems, enabling the automatic control of ventilation dampers.
Learn more: our monitoring solutions
All of these recommendations can be put into practice to minimize the risk of COVID-19 spreading in the workplace.
