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Contributed by: Admin 2

Workplace Safety Basics: Employee Health & Safety in Offices

Contributed by Jim Hartweck, Client Relations Executive

All non-essential businesses faced numerous unprecedented challenges during the pandemic related lockdown. As business operations are slowly gaining traction with different regions being allowed to re-open, both employers and employees can play a crucial role in controlling the spread of coronavirus within the workplace. One of the first measures workplace safety initiatives is to revisit the original emergency response plan and revise it according to the COVID-19 crisis. Some of the most effective and important infection control and workplace safety measures include assessing the likelihood to main social distancing in offices, increasing the number of work shifts to divide number of employees in smaller groups, minimizing shared spaces to restrict interaction, allowing part of the workforce to continue work from home, and establishing sick leave policies according to public health guidelines by experts.

Re-opening offices with COVID-19 preparedness and control plan should not only entail dedicated efforts by businesses, their employees, but their selected partners for cleaning, disinfecting, and maintenance services can also play a significant role in supporting employee safety at all times. Facilities maintenance companies have a twofold approach for safety – health and safety is top priority for both, their own on-ground team and the people occupying or visiting the customer facilities. The degree of commitment to safety depends on the service provider’s company culture. A facilities maintenance company with a safety culture embedded across all organizational levels is likely to have a dedicated team responsible for safety planning and hazard prevention programs.

At Diversified Maintenance, safety is an integral discipline that supports the core services and operations performed for corporate headquarters and offices of all types and sizes. Similar to the personalized service plans tailored to meet the unique requirements for every office, safety program also combines both, standardized and custom safety protocols to ensure that each team member is trained to remain productive and proactive within a safety framework on a daily basis. To learn more about new safety training and best practices, send me a note at: Jim Hartweck jhartweck@diversifiedm.com.