With the last lockdown still fresh in people’s minds, many can still recall the precautionary changes their office had to undergo to be covid-safe on their return. While a lot of those changes may still be in place, it bears repeating that office safety is key to helping keep COVID-19 infection rates down.

With many people still office-bound, staff and employers should continue doing their bit to ensure office safety and cleanliness is prioritised for everyone. So, from the importance of hand sanitiser to floor markings, signage, and socially-distant working, here are our top 10 tips to keep your office safe.

1. Socially distant desks

With fewer people in the office, it should be easier to maintain the crucial 2m distance between each people, whether working alongside or opposite others. Work stations and desks should be clearly marked if they’re not to be used.

2. Try not to share

Think about your use of things like pens, desk phones, keyboards and mice, even office chairs. If everyone uses their own items without sharing, the risk of transmission is reduced – especially in open-plan offices and communal areas.

3. Visible floor markings and signage

Use floor tape to mark out designated working, standing, or queueing areas, as well as clear signage displaying the required direction of movement. This helps give everyone the right amount of space and prevents unnecessary contact.

4. Clean communal areas

Larger businesses may have a cleaning team to undertake a ‘deep clean’ either before or after working hours. If not, employers should provide the necessary products and encourage staff to keep office desks and high-touch communal and kitchen surfaces clean after every use.

5. Ditch the tea round

Taking turns to do the tea round is a big part of office life up and down the country. But for now, tea rounds for multiple people should be avoided. Always make sure you use your own mug and take it home to clean each evening.

6. Use tech for meetings

Platforms including Microsoft Teams and Zoom have given us the ability to have face to face digital meetings. It’s not quite the same as in person, but it’s the next best thing. If you do have an in-person meeting, remember to keep 2m apart.

7. Hand sanitiser stations

Keeping your hands clean is essential. Regular handwashing with soap and water is always recommended, but not always convenient. There should be a general supply in every workplace for everyone to use, especially in communal areas.

8. Stay prepared

Always keep a good supply of hand sanitiser on your desk, as well as anti-bacterial wipes to clean surfaces and items that could be used by others. Keeping a stock of face coverings is also useful if you need to move from area to area.

9. Safety posters

It can be easy to get complacent around the office, especially with fewer people around. So make sure there are plenty of clearly visible office safety posters, reminding people to wash their hands, cover their face, and keep 2m apart.

10. Spot the symptoms

If you or anyone else in your office is feeling ill or showing symptoms of COVID-19 – including a high temperature, a new and continuous cough, or a loss or change to your sense of taste or smell – go home, get tested, and self-isolate.

Hand sanitiser from Thirsty Work

It can be worrying to have to go back to the office, even – or especially – during a lockdown. But by following, or maybe even implementing, these tips, it will help keep you and your office safe, remembering that hand sanitiser is especially important.

To keep your workplace well-stocked, Thirsty Work has a range of zero-contact, fully-automatic PuraGuard hand sanitiser dispensers which are ideal for any office or workplace environment. With a choice of wall-mounted or free-standing models, they give everyone 100% contactless protection by delivering a pre-measured shot of 70% alcohol sanitiser gel every time.

Contact us today for more information and to order your hand sanitiser dispenser.