Disinfecting Your Work Desk Post-COVID-19

How do you disinfect your desk from COVID-19?

  1. Know The Difference Between Cleaning, Sanitizing, And Disinfecting
  2. Equip Yourself With Proper Gear
  3. Proceed With The Routine
  4. Disinfect and Sanitize

 

You may be using your desk currently or you may have left it alone to favor a work from home setup. Either way, it’s important to keep your space clean and sanitized the next time you work and use your desk again. To disinfect your desk post-COVID-19, you don’t need fancy UV sterilizers and chemicals. This is a quick and easy to do project that’s affordable. Here’s how you can make your desk work-ready!

 

Know The Difference Between Cleaning, Sanitizing, And Disinfecting

Different tools used for cleaning

Cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting are very different in definition. For starters, cleaning removes germs and surface impurities with soap and water. It will not completely kill all germs and viruses but it can lower infection risks. You will need to start with cleaning before disinfecting and sanitizing. After cleaning, properly disinfecting your desk should be a top priority. This will further lower the risk of infection by using chemical disinfectants to kill germs on the surface. To further ensure that your desk is safe, sanitizing will lower the number of germs and eliminate viruses on your desk to an acceptable safe level. Once again, the use of chemicals will make sure that this can happen.

Equip Yourself With Proper Gear

A person putting on gloves

The CDC has graciously provided detailed instructions on how to disinfect your workspace. You can check that out to find useful tips and tricks. They also have a list of approved disinfectants. There are tons of useful information on the CDC website which you can also apply at home.

For cleaning and disinfecting, it’s best to use disposable, personal protective equipment. This includes masks, gowns, and gloves. You will need to remove and throw these away immediately after using them.

 

Proceed With The Routine

A person wiping a table using gloves

Start with cleaning before disinfecting. This will remove physical particles that can become viral agents. Using a detergent will remove particles that can carry COVID-19. If you don’t have detergent, simple soap and water will do the trick. Make use of disposable rags when cleaning your desk. Remember to dispose of them immediately after use. This will help your disinfectant be more effective in killing the remains of the virus.

Disinfect and Sanitize

A person spraying a towel

The easiest disinfectant to access is a bleach and water solution. Focus on high-touch surfaces. High-touch surfaces include your keyboard, phone covers, touch screens, and hard-backed chairs. If you have shared electronics and equipment, you will need to work on cleaning and disinfecting that as well.

 

Key Takeaway

Disinfect your desk post-COVID-19 to prevent the spread of dangerous pathogens. Even if you think that it’s safe to use because it looks clean, taking the time to clean, disinfect, and sanitize will go a long way in making sure your surroundings are safe to work in. There are tons of sources online where you can find easy yet effective tips for cleaning and disinfecting your desk. Starting with this short guide is a good primer to help you get started on creating a safe workspace.

How to Get Your Office Ready for the New Normal

How do you make your office ready for the new normal?

  1. Divide and conquer
  2. Provide proper supplies
  3. Set up a disinfection station
  4. Social distancing while eating
  5. Look for alternatives

 

If you’re able to practice proper social distancing at the office, a new normal must be implemented to keep everyone safe and healthy. Preparing your office for various situations is nothing new, however, with the current unpredictable pandemic, new changes must be made. It might also entail some investments or necessary upgrades. Either way, it’s important to consider this as you continue your business. Here’s how you can make your office ready for the new normal.

 

Divide and Conquer

If your office tables are close to each other, social distancing may be a problem. Being at least six feet away from someone else is going to be a key player in your strategy. If you’re confused about guidelines, you can follow the ones listed on the official CDC website to be sure. Another problem you might encounter is that the spaces are too open. Adding dividers can help alleviate that and shield your employees. There are plenty of suppliers that provide dividers at this time and can be ordered online. Having a divider can help separate tables and keep employees distant from each other.

Alternatively, if you don’t have the means to provide dividers, distancing office tables is a good idea as well. You may have to limit the number of employees you have per day but it should work well if you have a proper team circulating instead of having all employees concentrated at once.

 

Provide Proper Supplies

Provide proper supplies

Once you’ve decided on a strategy for social distancing, provide enough supplies for your employees. Fundamental items like alcohol, handsoap, hand sanitizer, and paper towels are a good start. If you have a water cooler, it may be time to invest in a touchless or motion-controlled mechanism to avoid the spread of germs. If you’re worried about the spread of germs around the pantry and cooler area, encourage employees to bring their own water instead to be safe.

For managing bathrooms and other high touch areas, hiring extra personnel to keep it clean or asking your employees to deploy high standard hygiene habits will prevent viral incidents.

 

Set Up A Disinfection Station

A disinfection station can be as simple as a plastic mat with some bleach on it. Adjacent to this, you can place some alcohol and hand sanitizer to the side. These can be purchased online or in your favorite stores. If you can afford it, touchless thermometers and temperature detectors can be purchased as well. These important tools will ensure that whoever is going inside the building is healthy and fit to work. In general, you should discourage employees from going to work if they have the slightest fever or cold. Risking your company is not a good idea when there are no solutions available as of yet.

 

Social Distancing While Eating

Social distancing while eating

If you happen to have a cafeteria within the building, social distancing must be practiced as well. Dining in should not be an option as this can expose non-essential employees and essential employees to potential carriers. If possible, limit the number of people eating within an area and use disposable utensils instead. It’s also a good idea to avoid using the pantry microwave as this is also a proven high-touch area. It’s a small sacrifice but can affect the overall integrity of your workforce.

 

Looking For Alternatives

Not everyone can report to work and it might be a good idea to keep it that way. The more people you have concentrated within an area, the higher the risk. It’s much better to look for alternatives that are proven to work. There’s an option to work from home and to try a coworking space. Working from home allows your employees to work from the comfort of their house without risking their health. You can let them take home their laptops or use their personal computers at home to get work done. Alternatively, if a couple of employees have no access to proper utilities, a coworking space is another option. Coworking spaces are office spaces where an individual can rent an area temporarily or for a set period of time. The coworking space has utilities and facilities that can work for social distancing if the space is limited. It’s also one of the cheapest alternatives to renting an office floor from a leasing company.

 

Key Takeaway

The office’s new normal is something everyone should be prepared for. Remember to be understanding at this time and prioritize the health of your workforce. They are the backbone of your production and keeping them safe and healthy during this time can prevent the pandemic from getting worse. Different plans and strategies can be worked on to help ease the new normal at work. Try these alternatives out and help everyone stay safe.