Whether it is one of the key sectors that has remained in operation throughout the pandemic or an industry that is slowly but surely looking to start back up again, keeping employees as safe as possible is of the highest importance now that Covid-19 is a part of our lives.
So, how exactly can employers keep their staff safe in these difficult times? From practical steps to ensuring that you are staying on top of the latest safety measures and government guidance, there are several steps that you can and must take. To find out what some of the most important ones are, read on below for our tips on helping your staff work safely in a warehouse setting.
Social Distancing
The Government has, of course, announced sector-specific guidance for all companies to follow but one piece of advice that is universal is the need for effective social distancing. Aside from retail workers, this is perhaps the most important for those who have been tirelessly working in warehouses over the past few months. As of the latest guidance, they, like all individuals, must keep a distance of one metre from one another when they “can mitigate the risk by taking other precautions”.
One of the most effective ways for employers to enforce this and keep their staff safe is through the use of visual guidance, such as the social distancing floor marking kits that can be sourced from companies including Strip Curtains Direct. These kinds of visible measures reinforce the need to not only keep a safe distance from each other but also to avoid all physical contact between employees and avoid any non-essential contact at all times.
The Importance of Anti-Microbial Products
Covid-19, like the rest of the coronavirus group, is one of the easiest viruses to deactivate thanks to its reliance on its liquid coating for protection. What this means is that, with the right antimicrobial products, viruses such as Covid-19 can be hindered in spreading. Products such as antimicrobial PCV strip curtains resist the growth of microbes, bacteria, and fungi because they contain a unique antimicrobial strip.
Antimicrobial products have been scientifically proven to create an inhospitable environment for bacteria to survive in contributing to a lower chance of that bacteria spreading and contaminating a surface or an individual. These products are also crucial because help to keep workers safe by reducing the risk of not only the virus spreading but also of cross-contamination that could quickly occur as warehouse workers move between different areas, often touching equipment, doors, or strip curtains as they do so.
Following Government Guidance
Of course, working safely in a warehouse or any other environment means not only taking the appropriate safety precautions then getting on with the job as it were. The “new normal” means that both employers and employees must remain continuously vigilant and keep up to date with the latest government guidance as this can quickly change in response to several factors including local spikes in infection rates.
Doing so will first of all help to keep everyone safe, but from a business point of view, will also guarantee that you have fulfilled your legal duty – something which not keeping up with the latest government guidance would be in breach of.
