A significant percentage of employees from around the globe have expressed concerns regarding their personal health and safety due to sanitation and hygiene issues inside of the facilities they work in.
World Wide Workforce Expresses Health and Safety Concerns Inside Facilities
Recently, Honeywell conducted a survey of more than two thousand workers from the U.S., Germany, the U.K., and the Middle East in an attempt to understand their perception of safety in regards to a probable return to the workplace.
A significant majority responded negatively--voicing concerns ranging from outdated HVAC systems and management's ability to enforce safety protocols, to potential surface transmission and cleaning frequency.
Of those surveyed:
- 68% do not feel completely safe working in their employer's buildings.
- 75% of those working from home expressed skepticism regarding facility safety, and;
- 23% of remote workers stated they would look for a new job before returning to an office they did not feel had implemented sufficient safety measures.
Worldwide, the primary source of concern was the airborne transmission and the state of the facility's HVAC systems.
- 56% of those surveyed expressed concerns regarding airborne transmission, as opposed to other methods, and;
- 41% felt outdated ventilation systems were more concerning than co-workers ignoring safety guidelines.
Additional concerns surrounded building managers' and owners' commitment to safety, long-term, with:
- 54% believing that management has not taken the necessary steps to safeguard facility staff.
- 42% do not believe management will consistently enforce health and safety guidelines.
- 60% are concerned that building owners and facility managers will only invest in short-term fixes vs. long-term investments in building improvements, and;
- 30% stated they are worried that management will not consistently invest in technologies to make working in the building safer.
When asked what would make workers feel safer returning to the office,
- 31% cited updates to the HVAC and ventilation systems as being critical; however,
- Only 25% of those working at the facilities claimed to have seen those updates occur.
Other criteria workers felt were necessary included:
- 49% - social distancing and mandatory masks.
- 41% - health screenings and temperature checks.
- 40% - enhanced cleaning procedures.
- 31% - touchless entry, and;
- 20% - contact tracking.
In the U.S., the biggest concerns were:
- 64% - co-workers not following health and safety guidelines.
- 36% - outdated HVAC systems, and;
- 49% - managements' inability to consistently enforce health and safety guidelines.
When asked what would make U.S. workers feel safer in the building,
- 61% of those currently working in a facility cited mandatory masks and social distancing, averaging out to;
- 57% overall when accounting for answers from work-from-home employees.
Ensuring Worker Health and Safety Through Enhanced Cleaning and Improved Indoor Air Quality
Enhanced cleaning measures:
- Cleaning with advanced touchless technologies.
- Using EPA-registered commercial-grade products.
- Increasing cleaning frequencies, and;
- Developing detailed room-by-room checklists and routes.
...combined with high-level disinfection practices:
- Electrostatic disinfection appliances.
- Day porter services, and;
- Touchpoint disinfection.
...as well as improved indoor air quality, via:
- Commercial-grade air scrubbers.
- UV-C disinfectant lights in HVAC air ducts, and
- Increase outdoor ventilation.
...have been shown to dramatically reduce the presence and risk of COVID-19, as well as numerous other pathogens, allergens, and bacteria, while simultaneously creating an environment proven to increase cognitive and creative functions resulting in significantly improved occupant output.
References & Resources
- Honeywell Survey Reveals 68% Of Surveyed Workers Do Not Feel Completely Safe In Their Buildings
- Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) - Los Angeles County Department of Public Health Cleaning & Disinfection Matrix" href="http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/Coronavirus/docs/protection/CleaningMatrix.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) - Los Angeles County Department of Public Health Cleaning & Disinfection Matrix
Takeaway
Enhanced cleaning and improved indoor air quality have been staples of the clean-for-health-first movement for years.
Surmounting the challenge of providing a skilled workforce with the technologies and services they require to feel safe when returning to the office can seem daunting, especially if you're just starting out.
However, with the right expertise and team on your side, achieving a safe and sanitary facility is an accomplishable goal.
Outsourcing is a proven method for ensuring the highest standards of cleanliness, safety, and training while controlling costs and eliminating management overhead.
If you would like more information regarding the effectiveness of high-performance infection prevention and control measures, or if you would like to schedule a free, no-obligation onsite assessment of your facility's custodial needs, contact us today for a free quote!
In Bakersfield, CA, call (661) 437-3253
In Fresno, CA, call (559) 206-1059
In Valencia CA, or Santa Clarita CA, call (661) 437-3253
In Palmdale, CA or Lancaster, CA, call (661) 371-4756
