As Governor Reynolds allows businesses and organizations to resume operations after being closed for the COVID-19 pandemic, facility managers must plan a smooth reopening process. Customers will scrutinize the visual appearance of these facilities and question the processes and procedures in place to maintain cleanliness, and in turn, health and safety. Facility managers can help assure building occupants, whether employees or visitors, they are welcome and safe, even as the threat of coronavirus lingers in their minds.
Set reopening requirements
When preparing to open a facility after a temporary closure, it is imperative to not rush the process. Consider these five best practices before and after allowing occupants back inside.
- Conduct a top-to-bottom cleaning and reassess standards and procedures.
Oversee a thorough cleaning and disinfection of the building before it reopens, making sure there are enough cleaning and sanitizing products on hand to conduct frequent cleanings. Follow the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines for cleaning and disinfecting various surfaces. This is where your Great Western Supply representative can help you design your cleaning protocols over the long term. - Eliminate foul odors; create fresh scents.
Facilities should not only look clean, but also smell clean. According to a survey by the Harris Poll, foul stenches lead 56% of Americans to assume a facility is not clean. Odors may be the result of mold and mildew, urine and feces, or even sweat and body odors. It is crucial that facilities establish an odor elimination program that consistently eradicates malodors at the molecular level and replaces them with fresh fragrances. Envirox hydrogen peroxide cleaning systems work very well to eliminate these odors. - Make it easy for customers to sanitize hands and disinfect surfaces.
Since contaminated hands can spread pathogens, it is also important that facilities make hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes readily available. The CDC recommends using a hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol to kill germs effectively. Consider deploying hand sanitizing dispensers in high-traffic locations throughout the building, such as at entrances and near elevators. Have spray bottles of EPA Registered disinfectant cleaners and disposable wipers visibly available for frequent disinfecting. At a time when guests are nervous to touch things without wearing gloves, they will appreciate that the facility is encouraging everyone to keep hands and surfaces clean. - Elevate the visibility of cleaning and those who execute it.
During and post-pandemic, facilities need to regularly address germ hotspots, like restrooms and entrances, to assure customers of the facility’s dedication to cleanliness. Cleaning while customers are present is a great strategy for demonstrating that the organization prioritizes occupant well-being. Daytime cleaning protocols should include regularly disinfecting commonly toughed surfaces. Consider bringing your cleaning and maintenance staff members to the forefront by posting their photos, along with a message explaining how their work protects people, in restrooms, checkout areas, or entrances. Now is the time to shine a light on their important work and add a human element to the practice of cleaning. - Implement crowd-control measures.
As COVID-19 spread, essential businesses implemented measures to keep customers physically separated. Employees encouraged customers to stand six feet apart in line and limited occupancy to discourage dense crowds. Facilities that are reopening now can learn best practices from businesses that safely remained open. Those that stayed open can add further crowd control measures. For example, employees can give customers disposable gloves or masks. Overall, facility managers should make an informed decision about the crowd-control strategies best suited for their facility and then be diligent in enforcing these strategies to protect employees and guests.
If you have any questions about reopening your facility in regards to developing new cleaning procedures, or if you are interested in an improved hand hygiene program, please reach out to your Great Western Supply Representative at (563) 445-6644 or (800) 322-6815 during normal business and we will be happy to help.