Thousands of businesses around the country have reopened their doors since the end of lockdown, bringing much-needed relief to countless South African families. Now, more than ever, business owners have a responsibility to ensure the hygiene and well-being of their employees and customers. Essential measures need to be put in place to improve the cleanliness of the workplace.
Hygiene protocols should be formulated through a dedicated task team that comes up with a response plan. Every company should implement a structured approach to hygiene and disinfection. IWESCO is a certified contract cleaning company and is on-hand to take charge of your sanitisation and hygiene needs. Here are some guidelines for keeping your employees safe going forwards:
Have a zero-tolerance policy for hygiene
There are strict rules and regulations that have been enforced by the national government. These laws are designed to protect citizens from the virus. Legally, companies must ensure that their employees follow these rules in order to keep them protected. Businesses must have a zero-tolerance policy for disregarding these rules.
Practices such as wearing a mask, sanitising hands, avoiding physical contact and following social distancing guidelines must be adhered to in the workplace. Business premises should have a strict no-mask-no-entry policy. Personal hygiene must be enforced for the safety of everyone visiting the premises.
Hand sanitiser must be made available
Companies must ensure that hand sanitiser is available at all entry points for employees and customers. The best prevention strategy is the regular washing of hands, either with soap and water or with an alcohol-based hand sanitiser. This has been highlighted throughout the pandemic by health experts. Make sure that all employees know where to find hand sanitiser and that they use it regularly throughout the day.
If hand sanitiser is too expensive, then hand-washing stations can be set up in all communal spaces. Buckets of clean water, soap and metal basins can be laid out to make it easy for employees to wash their hands. Paper towels can also be provided as a disposable way to dry the hands after washing. Hand hygiene is an important aspect of protection.
Clean and disinfect all surfaces on a regular basis
Businesses need to be clean spaces for employees. This means that they need to be disinfected and sanitised on a regular basis. A professional contract cleaning company can be used to ensure optimal results and adherence to COVID-19 protocols. Certain objects, such as door handles, countertops and taps need to be cleaned regularly throughout the day - at least on an hourly basis. Communal rooms and spaces need to be disinfected at the end of every working day, while certain areas can be cleaned on a weekly basis.
IWESCO can help your business with its cleaning regime. Our highly trained staff can be on-site to disinfect and sanitise offices, warehouses, retail spaces and kitchens. We offer these services as often as required; hourly, daily, weekly or once-off. We use thermal fogging machines to ensure the complete disinfection of an entire room. Our staff also use the required personal protective equipment (PPE) to ensure their safety.
Provide training and access to information for all staff
Currently, there is an overload of information on COVID-19 - most of which is unproven and false. Employers have a responsibility to educate their employees about best practices for personal hygiene. They need to make the rules clear and provide updates on changes to the laws. Most importantly, business owners need to ensure that their staff members follow the guidelines.
This can be achieved through training sessions and improving access to information. Posters can be put up around the workplace to break down information and make it easier to understand. The use of pictures can help to convey information visually. Emails, webinars and noticeboards can be utilised to keep staff up-to-date with hygiene protocols and virus-related news. Communication is key in this regard.
Employees are the bloodline to any business - without them, the company could not function. They need to be looked after at all costs, especially in the wake of the global pandemic. Personal hygiene and the sanitisation of the workplace are the two best defenses against the virus. Allow IWESCO to clean and disinfect your business premises to the highest international standards. Contact us today to set up a virtual meeting or to get a quote.
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IWESCO offers specialised cleaning and waste control services to industrial and commercial customers in South Africa. These services are aimed at minimising our customers’ impact on the environment. Our services also include pest control, garden maintenance, fogging and disinfecting. Our staff are highly trained to offer the most professional services. IWESCO is a Level 2 B-BBEE supplier with ISO 14001 certification for environmental management.
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We are a one-stop shop for all your contract cleaning and waste control needs and have a national footprint. Our head office is located in Tshwane but we can provide services to any industrial and commercial client in the major metropolitan areas around South Africa, including Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth, Mbombela and more.
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