If you’ve been paying attention to the news, you might be scared right now that coronavirus could be lurking on any surface. It seems like it’s everywhere, and entire sectors of society are shutting down because of it. Universities are moving online, events are cancelled, non-essential workplaces are shutting down, and we’re in a true national state of emergency.

In times like this, keeping good hygiene practices at work becomes more important than ever. Read on to learn how to keep your workspace clean and protect yourself and your co-workers from coronavirus.

Wash Your Hands

One of the most important things you can do to combat coronavirus in the workplace is to wash your hands. Coronavirus is spread partly through touch, and washing your hands frequently is a good way to protect yourself and others. You should wash your hands after using the bathroom, before, during, and after food preparation, before eating, after blowing your nose or sneezing, after touching someone else, and after touching garbage.

Make sure to wash your hands with warm soap and water for at least twenty seconds. You can sing “Happy birthday” or your ABCs to help you time this out if you like. In between washing your hands, keep some hand sanitizer nearby and use it liberally.

Provide Plenty of Sanitation Supplies

The key to making sure every employee is doing all they can to keep the workspace clean is to make it convenient. As much as possible, people should never be out of arm’s reach of a bottle of hand sanitizer. If they want to clean their workspace, breakroom, or hands, the tools to do so should be readily available.

Buy some extra hand sanitizer, antibacterial wipes, and paper towels. Place bottles of sanitizer near every doorway, and give every employee a pack of wipes to keep at their desks. Show everyone where antibacterial sprays and extra soap are, and encourage them to use them often at their workspaces.

Keep Communal Spaces Clean 

It’s also a good idea to encourage your employees to keep communal spaces clean. If you have cleaning staff, consider hiring them for some extra hours to keep communal spaces clean. You can also set up a cleaning schedule among employees to ensure that spaces like break rooms, kitchens, and bathrooms don’t become havens for germs.

Wash any towels you have around the office on a regular basis, and replace or sanitize sponges every couple of days. Wipe down communal spaces, don’t let dishes sit in the sink, and provide paper towels instead of hand towels in the bathrooms. Make it as easy as possible for your employees to keep their workspaces clean and you’ll have a much better chance at containing a virus. 

Learn About More Good Hygiene Practices

The coronavirus crisis is scary, but if you keep good hygiene practices, it doesn’t have to be. Make sure you’re keeping your workspace clean, washing your hands, and covering your mouth. And most importantly, if you begin to feel sick, please stay home from work to avoid spreading the disease.

Get more information

If you’d like to discover more ways to protect yourself and your company, visit our website to find out how Gallagher Bassett. 

Got a question about how coronavirus impacts our services, ask our taskforce GBTaskForce@gbtpa.com.au.