The manufacturing industry is labor-intensive, so managing virus safety is a concern for factory owners. Workforce scheduling enables you to stay ahead of social distancing to curb the spread of the virus on the shop floor. But maintaining hand hygiene is a bigger challenge as it is impossible to monitor the entire workforce at all times.
You can hardly know whether people follow the rules, failing which an outbreak is possible. But you can take some measures to double up on worker hand hygiene in your factory. Here are some tips that can help.
Educate workers about good hygiene practices
The foremost measure is to educate your employees about good hygiene practices. Nothing else will work unless people realize the significance of good hand hygiene in pandemic times.
Conduct awareness sessions and use signage to remind them repeatedly. Education should include proper hand-washing techniques and the importance of doing it frequently, whether on or off duty.
Maximize sanitation in the production line
Surface germs are the most daunting concern in pandemic times. They increase the risk of cross-contamination in the production line. A thorough cleaning regime on the shop floor can curb surface germs significantly.
Other viable measures include Installing adequate handwashing stations and providing sanitization for workers. Ensure a no food or drink policy in production, storage and packaging areas.
Go hands-free with hygiene facilities
You can go the extra mile by installing hands-free hygiene facilities around the manufacturing floor and in common areas.
Invest in contactless dispensers for soap, sanitizer, and industrial paper towels to ensure the highest standards. Install surveillance cameras around these dispensers to track people and make sure no one touches these devices.
Provide adequate facilities in communal areas
Communal areas like washrooms, dining halls, lifts, and corridors are at high risk. These areas have high foot traffic, making them prone to crowds and surface germs. Providing adequate facilities in such shared spaces can keep infection at bay.
Limit crowds and implement regular surface cleaning schedules to prevent germs in the first place. Having additional hygiene installations and educational signage can make a difference.
Ensure visitor safety
While you should pay attention to worker hand hygiene, do not confine your initiatives to your team alone. Since factory floors often have visitors like suppliers, drivers, maintenance staff, and clients, ensuring their safety is also your responsibility. Provide a safe experience for them with hand hygiene facilities in the visitor areas.
Regular cleaning for high-touch surfaces such as door handles and reception counters can control the infection and keep visitors safe. Maintaining overall cleanliness in these areas is important as it makes a good impression on anyone who visits the premises.
Optimal hand hygiene is the key to good health and safety, and it becomes even more crucial in pandemic times. Keeping your factory safe from the virus requires you to double up on it. Educate your workforce and do your bit by providing them with hygiene essentials, and you will not have to worry about an outbreak.