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PANDEMIC PREPAREDNESS FOR BUSINESSES
PANDEMIC PREPAREDNESS FOR BUSINESSES
OFFICE ENVIRONMENT
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OFFICE ENVIRONMENT
17.1
Maintaining a clean office environment is one of
our best defenses.
17.2
The office environment cleanliness integrity of the office will be
compromised by sick persons and carriers (those who have the virus but do not
suffer symptoms) entering the office and depositing the virus on surfaces and
in the air, where it waits for susceptible persons to pick up.
17.3
The office environment cleanliness integrity of the office may also
be compromised by faulty or inadequate air ventilation systems which can carry
the virus from one office to another.
17.4
In order to maintain a sterile office environment thoroughly
examine these weaknesses and implement whatever measures are necessary to plus
the holes in your office defenses.
17.5
Air
ventilation and filter effectiveness
17.5.1
There is scientific and medical evidence that
influenza can spread in inadequately ventilated environment internal spaces. It is recommended that all internal spaces should be well ventilated, preferably by fresh air via opening windows, or
otherwise by properly designed and maintained air-conditioning systems.
17.5.2
As part of their workplace health and safety
monitoring, employers should gain assurance from the owner of any air
conditioned building they occupy that air conditioning systems are maintained
regularly and to the appropriate standard.
17.5.3
Do not underestimate the importance of proper
and adequate air filtering systems. There is little point in having an
effective visitor monitoring system to keep sickness out of the office environment when the virus is
entering the offices through the ventilation system.
17.6
Office
cleaning methods
17.6.1
As mentioned in Managing Ill Employees, quiz your office cleaning contractor or building management company as
to what additional cleaning measures they will undertake during a Bird Flu
pandemic outbreak.
17.6.2
If necessary deploy supplemental cleaning of
high traffic touch surfaces (such as lift buttons and door knobs) with frequent
cleaning and disinfecting.
17.7
Pantry
for shared crockery/cutlery
17.7.2
Remove any shared crockery and cutlery from
pantry areas.
17.7.2
Individuals who use their own crockery (coffee
mugs) and cutlery should store them themselves and thoroughly clean them after
use.
17.7.3
Visitors can be offered refreshments using paper
or plastic cups which should be disposed of after use.
17.8
Reception
for newspapers & magazines
17.8.1
Remove any newspapers and magazines from
reception areas. These items are handled by multiple visitors and are an ideal
medium (especially glossy magazine covers) for the virus to remain whilst
waiting for susceptible persons to pick up.
17.8.2
If your business uses communal newspapers (ie.
one newspaper is ordered and shared amongst several individuals) then either
cancel this facility or order one newspaper per person (at least for the
duration of the outbreak).
17.8.3
Individuals who have their own newspaper should
keep it to themselves and dispose of it after use.
17.9
Arrangements
for identifying visitors/staff who have symptoms.
17.9.1
Consider practical ways of identifying if
persons attempting to enter the office have symptoms. Thermal Imaging Cameras
such as those in use at airports are not expensive, however this may not be
practical for your office entrance environment.
17.9.2
Notices coupled with a 'visual check' by a
receptionist may suffice provided door locking mechanisms are in place which
keeps visitors out until they have been quizzed and checked before letting them
in.
17.10
Have all visitors wear fresh face masks.
17.10.1
For visitors who pass the visual check and are
allowed to enter the office environment, provide each one with a fresh face mask which they
must keep on for the duration of their visit.
17.10.2
For those on an extended visit to the office
must be required to don fresh face masks frequently as face masks which become
damp through breathing are no longer effective.
17.10.3
Dispose of used face masks in a sealed bag or
envelope.
17.11
Use
'visitor checked' stickers
17.11.1
Visitors allowed into the office should be given
a 'visitor checked' sticker to be displayed conspicuously at all times.
17.11.2
Visitors without such a sticker must be
challenged and checked immediately before being allowed to resume their
business.
17.12
Put
delivery drop-off outside office
17.12.1
Put your delivery/drop off box outside of the
office so that delivery/collection personnel do not enter the office
environment.
17.12.2
All items dropped off should be wiped using
alcohol wipes or any other method of disinfection to ensure sterilisation.
17.13
Remote
door lock installation
17.13.1
For security reasons most modern offices have a
remote door locking/unlocking device which allows receptionists to unlock the
doors from their desks.
17.13.2
If you office does not have a remote door
locking/unlocking devise then consider installation of one.
17.13.3
Visitors and other persons trying to enter the
office environment should not be allowed to freely walk in without being checked.
17.14
Employees should be advised not to come to work
when they are feeling unwell, particularly if they are exhibiting any influenza
symptoms. It may be helpful to inform staff of the differences in symptoms between influenza and a common cold. Unwell employees should also be advised to
see a doctor. Workers who are ill should stay at home until symptoms resolve.
17.15
Adopt the following guidelines for general
sickness prevention in the office:
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Protection measure |
Where applicable
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Hand hygiene, cough etiquette, ventilation |
Everyone, all the time. |
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Organisational policies |
Every organisation, all the time. |
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Social Distancing |
Everyone, whenever practical. |
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Protective Barriers |
Institutions where regular work practice requires unavoidable
relatively close contact with the public. |
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Disposable Face Masks |
Workers/Visitors in any community |
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