Social Distancing at Work

Throughout the Coronavirus pandemic many workplaces in the UK have encouraged staff to work from home if possible. Now that the UK has reached it’s peak and cases of COVID-19 are decreasing thoughts are moving towards returning to work. Certain measures will need to be put in place to keep the infection rate below 1 and in turn, prevent a second wave occurring while keeping all employees safe at work.

The virus that causes COVID-19 is mainly transmitted through droplets generated when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or speaks. These droplets are too heavy to hang in the air. They quickly fall on floors or surfaces. You can be infected by breathing in the virus if you are within 1 metre of a person who has COVID-19, or by touching a contaminated surface and then touching your eyes, nose or mouth before washing your hands. (source – World Health Organisation)

Social distancing is vitally important to stop any further spread of the virus. At present it has been implemented at many supermarkets and essential businesses but now the same methods need to be put in place for all workplaces nationwide.

There is a lot of emphasis from both the government and various health professionals that we need to stay 2 metres apart where possible. The further apart we are means the virus is less likely to travel between individuals and in turn, helps to contain it. If a 2-metre distance cannot be maintained within a workplace, staff should work side by side, or facing away from each other, rather than face to face if possible.

To protect staff and visitors to your workplace, businesses can provide a constant reminder about the 2 metre rule with signage that can be placed on the walls and floor indicating safe social distances.

Other ways to implement social distancing at work include staggered break times and have the same groups of staff working together at the same time, whether that be day or shift. Minimising how many colleagues come in to contact with each other will also help in reducing any future spread of COVID-19.

There is a lot of uncertainty surrounding how long COVID-19 can live on a surface for. Studies are suggesting that it behaves like other coronaviruses and may survive on a surface for a few hours or several days meaning if an infected person touches, coughs or sneezes near a hard surface, they could pass the virus on to the next person who comes into contact with it. Door handles, desks and kitchen counters the ideal place for the virus to spread, therefore employers have a duty of care to ensure these areas are cleaned regularly.

To protect your staff, you should remind colleagues daily to only come into work if they are well and no one in their household is self-isolating. By putting these simple measures in place, you will help to provide direction and protection to your employees, visitors and the general public. We all want life to get back to normal as soon as possible and that is why social distancing measures such as these are so important.