Per the CDC’s guidelines, Fortna has assembled a quick-read summary of 8 BEST PRACTICES you can do NOW to help control the spread of COVID-19 in your facility. We urge you to read the CDC document in its entirety here: Updated CDC Guidelines, updated 06 May 2020.
This is not an exhaustive list: We suggest you identify a workplace coordinator who will be responsible for developing your individual response onsite. You may also need to hire additional cleaning staff during these unique times.
1. Repeatedly clean AND disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces such as workstations, keyboards, telephones, handrails, and doorknobs. Dirty surfaces can be cleaned with soap and water prior to disinfection. Don’t forget shared areas and equipment: time keeping systems, pack area surfaces, RF guns, voice picking headsets, forklift controls and mounted touch screens, etc.
2. Institute a mandatory cleaning and sanitization of work areas between shifts. Avoid using other employees’ phones, desks, offices, or other work tools and equipment, when possible.
3. Based on the lifecycle of the virus on different surfaces (i.e. cardboard for upwards of 24 hours, plastic and metal for 3 days), have employees wear latex gloves to ensure packages are going out to your customers virus-free and have workers change gloves frequently.
4. Consider improving your building’s ventilation system to provide more fresh air and limit recirculation.
5. Actively encourage employees with any symptoms to stay home. Employees with a sick family member need to notify their employer immediately. Consider a payment program for those impacted by COVID-19 to stay home and receive pay.
6. Encourage all employees to wash their hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Offer wipes and hand sanitizer with at least 70% alcohol throughout your facility. Discourage hand shaking and avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
7. Practice social distancing by spreading out workers by 6 feet (2 meters) and avoid gatherings more than 10 people. Use virtual resources for online meetings with suppliers.
8. Cross-train employees to perform essential functions so your facility can operate even if key employees are absent. Consider incentive pay programs to reward workers during this trying time.
Contributed by Sorab Mullan, Business Development Executive,
Fortna EMEA
