First and foremost, remember that cleaning is not the same as sanitizing. A clean office is free from surface dirt, where as a sanitized office has also been treated to remove germs.
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IMPLEMENT A SANITATION SCHEDULE
In addition to proper frequency, your cleaning staff should use the right tools and supplies. Ask your cleaning service to use these products or those that are approved to destroy both bacterial and viral pathogens.
FREQUENCY
TOOLS AND SUPPLIES
How often you sanitize depends on several factors.
in high traffic areas during the height of cold and flu season, surfaces that are touched frequently may require sanitizing several times a day. These areas include restrooms, services desks, and even items like telephones and elevator buttons.
In lower traffic areas, such as at individual desks, daily or weekly sanitizing may be sufficient, especially in times of low risk. A cleaning service can provide sanitation for high traffic areas, and personal areas can be sanitized by the individual employee in charge of that area.
PROVIDE EMPLOYEE SANITATION TOOLS
Your cleaning staff are not the only ones responsible for maintaining a sanitized office. Some of the responsibility also falls onto your employees.
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SANITIZERS AND SOAP
The proper tools make it easier for your staff to maintain sanitary work practices at the office. The proper tools make it easier for your staff to maintain sanitary work practices at the office.
COURTESY MASKS
Many cold and flu viruses are spread in the air when someone coughs or sneezes, so wearing a face mask provides a method for cutting down on the spread of illness in the office. You can help by not only providing masks to those employees that are battling minor colds and illnesses, but also to any clients or visitors to the office that request them. Work to foster an office culture that accepts mask-wearing as normal.
MINIMIZE CONTACT AREAS
Although you can create office protocols to cut down on the spread of illness among your staff, it can be more challenging to manage illnesses brought in by customers, vendors, and office visitors.
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LIMITED PUBLIC AREAS
Consider limiting public access areas throughout your building, particularly in large buildings. For businesses that bring a lot of clients on site, dedicated central waiting areas are also simpler to keep clean compared to lots of small waiting areas throughout a building. A single point of entry for visitors and clients can help manage the flow of people into these dedicated areas.
CUSTOMER SERVICE SHIELDS
Since germs can be spread by hands or coughing and sneezing, a service shield can protect these employees. These shields are often used in banks and medical settings, but they can also work well in the office.