Top 5 Essential Items Companies Need To Keep Their Team Safe

South Africa’s national lockdown is scheduled to come to an end on the 30th of April. Many employees will be returning to their respective offices ready to start working again. Of course, the risk of infection still exists and companies are faced with the challenge of taking the necessary steps and following local and international guidelines to keep their staff safe and office hygienic. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has released a document that confirms that personal protection equipment is a fundamental weapon to use in the fight against COVID-19. After the lockdown, people will ultimately start to come in contact with each other again, whether that be at a client-facing facility or in a place of work. The WHO confirmed that employers need to be proactive in creating a safe working environment for their staff during the global pandemic by making the necessary protective equipment available. The question is, of course, what constitutes as the most appropriate personal protective equipment to make available in an office space? At Brandability, we compiled a list of the top 5 essential products that businesses should buy to keep their employees protected. 1. Hand Sanitizer One can almost not imagine a time when people did not carry hand sanitizer with them in their pockets, cars or even on their keychains. Several studies have confirmed that hand sanitizer is one of the most effective ways of preventing the spread of viruses. The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) has also said that hand sanitizer is paramount in preventing the spread of germs, but they have recommended that one use a product that has an alcohol level of at least 60%. Although social distancing will probably remain a guideline that is to be followed at work, employees will undoubtedly be in contact with more people and objects than they would have been at home. By supplying your team with sufficient amounts of hand sanitizer, you can assist them in making personal hygiene a priority. This can be done by strategically placing sanitizing stations at your offices or by giving each employee their own pocket-size hand sanitizer to keep on their person. For those companies that are in the service sector and regularly have clients coming through their doors, it is advisable to also create sanitizing stations in all public, client-facing areas to further protect staff and customers. 2. Face masks and shields One way in which the coronavirus spreads is through droplets that might not even be visible to the naked eye. There has been a debate among authorities regarding whether face masks should be used by all or only by those who have tested positive and could potentially infect others. The South African Government and the NCID have officially stated that face masks ought to be worn by everyone, no matter the state of their health. Certain people might be or presymptomatic and spread the virus without even knowing that they themselves have contracted it. Face masks are an excellent way of containing droplets that are released from the nose or mouth. Authorities have said that even a cloth mask is a good choice when it comes to deciding which masks to buy. The most important thing is that the spread of droplets is avoided. An alternative to face masks is face shields. These cover a person's entire face, protecting them from droplets while containing their own as well. They are reusable, easy to replace and cost-effective. Businesses should make face masks and shields available for their personnel. Especially for those staff members that work with clients, making their risk higher than those who only come in contact with a set number of colleagues. 3. Perspex screens Masks and shields are the best first step to take towards containing droplets from spreading, but employers can take it one step further by installing perspex screens at all client-facing areas, like reception desks and checkout counters. By installing perspex screens, another layer of protection is added between people. In a sense, these screens help to create a physical barrier that will stop any germs from spreading from one person to the next. Perspex shields are ideal to use, because they let almost 92% of light through, making them ultra-transparent. They are also easy to clean and install. 4. Provide closed bins at prominent locations Waste in an open bin leads to the spread of germs. The US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has said that closed bins are the best route to follow to make sure that waste is disposed of in the proper, hygienic manner. In open office spaces especially, open bins can lead to unhealthy environments, seeing as several employees might share one bin. If closed bins are installed, disposing of items like tissues, wipes and gloves or masks can be done safely, limiting the possible spread of any viruses that they might contain. 5. Social distancing tape Even after the lockdown ends, people will need to be wary of coming into close contact with other people, even if they know them well. As we know by now, the virus spreads through human contact and droplets, which don’t travel very far. If people keep their distance from others, they can drastically reduce their risk of infection. Encouraging social distancing can be tricky, especially if people need to form a line to clock in for the day’s work, queue to pay, or if they work in close proximity to each other. By using social distancing tape, employers can visually demonstrate to staff and clients that they need to refrain from coming too close to one another. The tape can be placed on the floor where people tend to form a line. Each strip needs to be at least 2 meters from the next to form the most appropriate amount of space between persons. Be sure to make your staff members aware of the reasoning behind the tape and explain to them how to interpret it! It can lead to confusion and ultimately defeat the purpose if not understood and respected by those it is meant to protect. Where to buy essential protective items Brandability’s online store offers a wide range of personal protective equipment (PPE's) that companies can invest in to ensure the safety of their team as they head back to work. These include things like hand sanitizers in different sizes and a variety of approved face masks and medical-grade face shields. We can supply you with the equipment your company needs, no matter the size of your order. What makes us unique is that we are able to brand these items with your company’s logo and corporate identity. In these uncertain times, it might just give your team a sense of solidarity and something to unite behind while each of us plays our part in overcoming this pandemic. To view our range of products, click here.