If there is one word that is on everyone’s lips at the moment, its ‘Coronavirus’, or COVID-19 as known formally.
In this blog, Remax shares some of the measures we are taking to help prepare and mitigate the effects of this virus on our business.
In just 76 days since its first recorded outbreak on December 31st 2019, there has been over 170, 000 cases of Coronavirus worldwide, and nearly 6700 reported deaths.
Transmitted through the eyes, nose and mouth, the novel Coronavirus has a basic reproduction number of R2.8, meaning that for every 1 person that contracts the virus, they are likely to also infect 2.8 others. Diseases of less than R1 are likely to peter out, whereas those of R1 or higher, will rapidly increase.
In times like these, personal health concerns and economic uncertainty often gives rise to paranoia and panic, especially within a corporate environment. However, there are responsible measures businesses can take, to boost hygiene and prevent/eliminate the spread of the Coronavirus pathogen within your workplace environment.
1. Sanitisation Protocol
• Encourage staff to wash their hands when arriving at work first thing in the morning, and then periodically throughout the day before and after interacting with communal surfaces. Automatic sanitiser gel dispensers are highly recommended, if possible.
• Request staff to wipe down their desk spaces minimum 1 – 2 times a week with antibacterial wipes.
• Encourage staff to refrain from shaking someone’s hand, or other similar forms of contact. While it may seem rude to refuse a handshake, this is becoming more common practice and is deemed necessary in the current social environment regarding the Coronavirus, in order to prevent germ transmission.
2. Encourage unwell staff to stay home from work
Employees who have symptoms of the common flu, - coughing, sneezing, sore throat, congestion – should be encouraged to stay home until the symptoms pass, in the possibility the symptoms may be the Coronavirus.
Employees showing signs of an acute respiratory illness are recommended to stay home and not come to work until they are free of fever (37.8° C or greater using an oral thermometer), signs of a fever, and any other symptoms for at least 24 hours, without the use of fever-reducing or other symptom-altering medicines (e.g. cough suppressants).
3. Make preparations for the provision of staff working remotely
In the event that a member of your staff becomes infected with Coronavirus, or has come into contact with another Coronavirus-infected person, it is highly likely your business will be forced to work remotely, or temporarily cease operation.
While your company is still in operation, carefully plan contingencies, and make provision for staff to be able to work from home.
• Configure remote login platforms on both company and personal laptop/computers.
• Configure off-site time recording platforms, for staff to be able to accurately log their hours whilst working remotely, and ensure accountability.
• Prepare corporate LiveChat platforms on staff computers and phones, to allow for prompt, efficient communication outside of an office environment. Remax suggests Microsoft Teams, Skype, or Whatsapp.
• Prepare phone extension options, to allow open communication, and the transfer of phone-calls to remote devices.
• If possible, simulate a ‘Working Remote’ day whilst your business is still in healthy operation, and free from Coronavirus! Distance staff, test remote login platforms, and ensure your communication mediums work smoothly, prior to an emergency.
4. Plan for the future
COVID-19 hasn’t been the first world pandemic, and it won’t be the last. Foresight and planning for the future can not only improve your operation efficiency, but also mitigate effects of any future epidemics. Especially if your company is in a hygiene-specific industry, for example the Hospitals & Healthcare sector, or the Food & Beverage processing industry, it could be worthwhile investing to implement systems and automation in order to prevent the spread of harmful bacteria and pathogens.
• Re-evaluate your traffic flows, to minimise manual interaction and processing.
• Invest in hygiene control measures in high-traffic areas, e.g. hand sanitisation stations, glove dispensers, and sanitary clothing.
• Invest in equipment for automation. High-traffic areas like doorways when manual touch is required for access, can be a risk for bacteria transfer. Automated, remote-activated high speed door are very common solutions in these environments, increasing hygiene control and sanitation through minimising the transmission of bacteria via human touch, and reducing airflow between openings. We (obviously) recommend the Movidor range of automated, high speed doors, by Remax. 😊
Conclusion
There’s no question, these are definitely uncertain, concerning times ahead, which can be somewhat frightening! However, careful planning and preparation, increased sanitisation protocol and heeding government direction can be instrumental in assisting your business to remain healthy, and in uninterrupted operation.
Remax would like to wish you all the best in the times ahead, in both economic and personal health.
If you would like to contact us, call today on 1800 010 221 or send an email to info@remaxdoors.com
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