Simple, Yet Effective Ways for Businesses to Improve Hygiene
With the current ongoing situation, it’s clear to see why more and more people are taking improved sanitation and hygiene increasingly seriously. With Coronavirus spreading at an exponential rate, it’s important to consider what can be done to protect both employees and customers from the spread of germs and bacteria.
Whilst many stores and businesses may be closed at the moment, it’s still crucial to be thinking about what steps can be taken to ensure that hygiene is at its highest, if not now, once you start to open your doors again. Whether a retail store, cafe, bank or school, to name a few, it’s vital to take this seriously and ensure as many steps are taken to protect each individual.
If you’re not sure where to start, don’t fret! The team here at VKF Renzel have put together a guide of simple steps, many of which you can easily implement to guarantee a safer and cleaner working environment for everyone.
Shield Your Products
Particularly if you’re dealing with fresh and unpackaged food, it’s crucial to ensure that the products being sold are well protected from customers and outside germs. Let’s take a bakery for example: by failing to shield your freshly baked cakes, pastries and breads from customers prying hands, you’re not only allowing germs to spread to your goods through touch, but through coughing and sneezing too!
A simple solution to your problem, sneeze guards offer maximum protection of your products on display, yet are also a sleek option with a crystal-clear view. The Sneeze Guard “Fagus” and “Borago” are great sneeze guards, as they allow for protection of the goods from all sides, with a single opening at the back for your staff members to reach inside. Remember that these foods should typically only be touched with sanitised and preferably protected hands, or with the use of tongs.
Offer Multiple Hand Sanitising Points
Crucial for reducing bacteria levels, these hand sanitising stations are in greater demand for both employee and customer use. Whilst it’s important that everyone has access to these in the toilets, you may want to think about placing them elsewhere too! Think about your employees, particularly if they’re going to be directly in contact with the public; why not offer them plenty of opportunities to hand sanitise - perhaps in staff rooms, changing rooms or by even providing each employee with a small anti-bacterial gel to carry around.
As for customers, it would be worthwhile to place hand sanitisers at both the entrances and/or exits of your premises. This allows each individual to clean their hands before coming into contact with your staff and also removes any unwanted bacteria afterwards. Alternatively, if your premises is fairly large, placing these sanitising stations at multiple locations will give people the chance to sanitise their hands whenever possible. The Hygiene Station “Score” is an ideal sanitising option. This station is easy to move around and the automatic feature offers everyone the possibility of cleaning their hands without even touching the stand, again, reducing the spread of germs.
Minimise the Spread of Germs Between People
Remember, the people in your store who are most at risk when it comes to spreading germs are those within the checkout area. These employees are constantly speaking directly with customers and are often being handed money from potentially dirty hands. As previously mentioned, it might be an idea to provide each employee with a small hand sanitiser, however other tools can also be used to minimise the spread of germs. If not already offered, providing your customers with a contactless payment method can help significantly, as it reduces the need for money to be physically transferred from one person to another, and means that fewer customers are pressing the buttons on the card machine.
Alternatively, a large sneeze guard could be implemented to reduce the likelihood of airborne germs spreading between two people. The Sneeze Guards for Checkouts and “Unico” are perfect for use on a countertop. Both of these crystal-clear sneeze guards are tall enough to use for person-to-person spit protection and have a small slot at the base in which money can be passed to and from the customer and employee if necessary.
Build a Clear Path
When thinking of a queuing system, you might imagine a winding line, zigzagging in a fairly enclosed space. Even though this is an ideal solution for reducing space used, it’s a breeding ground for bacteria and germs. With the use of a Barrier System, you can create a walkway in which customers are evenly dispersed and germs are less easily spread. Additionally, they can also be utilised to cordon off an area within your premises. To your benefit, these barrier systems are easily moveable, meaning you can create a custom queue system whenever you need it, wherever you’d like.
Inform From the Start
With today’s world changing day by day, you may also be looking for alternative solutions to showcase different business policies and updated news to your visitors, without customers touching flyers or the likes. Consider placing multiple information points in and around your premises, including at entrances and near checkout areas. With the use of Information Stands, Window Displays and Pavement Signs, you can easily update each individual on opening hours, hand sanitisation in store or perhaps stock control, without the use of leaflets. Our Waterproof Pavement Sign with Posters is a great option, as it comes with a pre-printed “Please keep your distance sign”, ideal for the current situation in the world right now.
Hygiene Management with VKF Renzel UK
Regardless of what business you run, whether you’re currently operating as normal or not, it is imperative to consider what tools can easily be implemented to improve the hygiene within your premises. Even when COVID-19 fades away, sanitisation and cleanliness will be at the forefront of everyone’s mind, and failing to implement adequate hygiene solutions will only aid in creating a bad impression for your business.
If you’re unsure where to start, feel free to contact the lovely team at VKF Renzel UK to discuss our hygiene management tools further. We have many cost-effective solutions that will appreciated by employees and customers alike, showing each individual that you truly care about their safety.
