After several months of locking down businesses due to the coronavirus outbreak, the U.S. government has opened up the U.S. again. They are getting back to regular operations and bringing people to their workplaces. But as businesses consider reopening and returning to their regular operations, the U.S. government recommends business owners prepare for what reopening may be like, and implement appropriate policies and regulations that follow the standard set by the Federal, State, and local organizations. The reopening of business also requires employers to follow industry best practices with regard to social distancing, business travel, temperature checks, face coverings, basic hygiene, and disinfecting common and high-traffic areas. Following these guidelines for reopening businesses will help in containing the virus.
Guidelines For Reopening Businesses
Here are some of the guidelines for reopening businesses after the lockdown:
- Establish and maintain communication with State and Local officials to keep updated on the current mitigation levels in your community.
- Protect employees at higher risk, seniors, and those with underlying medical conditions, for serious illnesses by providing them support and options to telework.
- Consider offering vulnerable employees jobs that can minimize their contact with other people.
- Provide employees from high transmission areas options to eliminate travel to workplaces in lower transmission areas or vice versa.
- Ensure that employees sharing the same workspace follow proper guidelines.
Heath Department COVID-19 Guidance and Requirements
Aside from promoting healthy hygiene practices and ensuring social distancing in the office, which the CDC regulated for COVID-19, OSHA also implemented regulations for COVID-19 in the workplace.
Under The General Duty Clause, Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Act of 1970, 29 USC 654(a)(1), employers are required to protect their employees from the danger of getting infected. As a business owner, it is your duty to keep your workplace safe. Thus, you need to create a plan in case someone from your workforce has been infected by the virus. You may contact your state health department to get information about the screening and testing sites available in the area.
Employers should also monitor their employees for indicative symptoms. In case an employee shows symptoms of the coronavirus disease, the employer should allow him to physically return to work until cleared and tested negative by a medical provider. The federal government also asked the business owners to develop and implement guidelines and procedures for labor force contract tracing for an employee who tested positive for coronavirus.
Cleaning and Disinfecting of High-traffic Areas
Re-entering a facility after the coronavirus outbreak requires deep cleaning and disinfection. Evidence shows that coronavirus or COVID-19 can remain on surfaces for hours or even days. Thus, the CDC recommends a cleaning and disinfection routine of high-traffic areas or high-touch surfaces using EPA-approved disinfectants. Touched point or areas that require cleaning every day includes;
- Bathroom doors
- Stair railing
- Water fountain buttons
- Faucets
- Door handles and
- Elevator buttons
- Computer keyboards and mouse
- Remote controls
- Telephones
- Tables/countertops
- POS system
- Credit card Terminals
Cleaning And Disinfecting Are Different
Cleaning and disinfecting are very different in meaning, but they are both important in securing a workplace.
According to the CDC, cleaning will remove dirt and germs from surfaces. But cleaning does not kill them. Instead, cleaning will just lower the number of germs, thus reducing the risk of spreading infection. On the other hand, disinfecting requires the use of chemicals to kill germs. Disinfecting does not clean dirty surfaces and kills germs. However, this process is necessary after cleaning to lower the risk of spreading infections.
Professional Cleaning and Disinfection of Reopening Facility
Cleaning and disinfecting are very important in facilities where a person who got infected visited the area. Professionals who are highly trained and skilled in dealing with infectious disease disinfection can provide deep cleaning in your facility.
- They will begin the process by opening windows and running fans to increase the circulation of the facility.
- After 24 hours, these cleanup experts will begin the cleaning and disinfecting procedure. They will first pay ample attention to highly touched surfaces and shared equipment.
- After that, professionals will apply aerosol disinfectant solutions to these frequently touched surfaces.
- Areas that receive high traffic like bathrooms, entryways, conference rooms, and hallways should be shampooed and disinfected.
- Air movers will be set on for a quick-drying procedure.
Workplace Disinfection Services By Superior Restoration
If your business gets contaminated by the COVID-19 infection, there is no need to panic. Superior Restoration Temecula offers the most comprehensive re-opening cleanup and disinfection services.
Our cleanup crews are trained and certified to perform biohazard cleanup procedures. We have successfully handled cleaning and disinfecting facilities that involved previous viral outbreaks like MERS and SARS. Our experts utilize products and strategies that are effective against COVID-19 infection.
We wish nothing but to have your business back to its normal operations. And so, we are here to help you. Schedule your facility for cleanup and disinfection services with Superior Restoration. Call us today.
