Cold and flu season is upon us again, which means your business needs to prepare before the sniffles strike. Taking the appropriate measures for your business can help you not only keep your customers safe but also your staff.
One of the most important things when it comes to preventing the spread of cold and flu viruses is sanitation; keeping your hands and surfaces clean ensures you can kill germs, provided you use the right products. Ideally, products with high concentrations of alcohol.
However, there are some additional steps you can take for your business to keep the cold and flu illnesses at bay. In this blog, Swan Dust Control will provide you with the 5 steps to prepare your business for cold and flu season.
#1: Make Hand Sanitizer & Soap Fully Accessible
Hands are one of the most common ways infections spread. Practicing proper hand hygiene is one of the simplest and most effective ways to reduce transmission.
Advanced Hand Sanitizer contains 80% ethyl alcohol, formulated to be tough on germs and effective in protecting against viruses like the flu.
Swan Dust Control provides hand sanitizer services to ensure you have ready access to powerful hand-cleaning products. Our products meet the World Health Organization’s standards, meaning your employees and customers get the best cleanliness.
Here are some tips for proper hand sanitizer usage:
Use enough: Apply enough sanitizer to cover the surface of hands and fingers, even if it takes more than a pump or two.
Rub Thoroughly: Rub in the sanitizer until the solution is completely dry (this takes about 20 seconds or more, depending on how much product you use).
Cover All Areas: Ensure you get every inch of your hands: between the fingers, around the nails, and the backs of your hands.
Don’t wipe it off: Let the sanitizer air-dry completely; wiping it off can reduce its effectiveness!
Use on clean hands: Hand sanitizer works best when hands are not visibly dirty or greasy.
Store it safely: Keep sanitizer out of reach of children unless supervised and away from heat or flame.
Swan Dust Control provides hand sanitization rental services along with our Advanced Hand Sanitizer, which consists of 80% ethyl alcohol. It’s designed specially to eliminate germs and help keep your staff and customers safe. Our products help prevent the spread of the cold and flu and COVID-19. We also provide refill and maintenance services, eliminating a lot of the work for you.
Handwashing stations with antibacterial soap are also mandatory based on Canadian regulations and shouldn’t be replaced by hand sanitizer; rather, hand sanitizer should be provided in the scenario where handwashing stations are impractical.
Why should you choose Swan Dust Control to provide you with all your hand sanitizer needs?
We’re glad you asked. Let’s explore some of the primary perks:
Promotes a Healthier Workplace
The more sanitation you have available in your workplace, the more likely you are to prevent the spread of germs and illness. This also means providing ample access to antibacterial soap. Providing hand sanitation stations along with handwashing stations ensures that all employees and customers are a part of the effort to reduce illness and cross-contamination.
Supports Public Health Compliance
According to Occupational Health & Safety (OHS) legislation, employers need to take reasonable precautions to protect their workers, including providing hand sanitizer in scenarios where soap and water aren't practical options. Offering sanitization options
Builds Customer Confidence
When customers see you take sanitization seriously, they know you care about their health and the health of your employees. This also suggests to them that you have high hygiene standards, which is a major plus when choosing to work with your business. This makes your business easier for your customer to trust.
Reduces Maintenance Workload
When the season gets busy, the last thing you need to worry about is maintaining your sanitation station. Let Swan Dust Control handle the labour for you so you can focus on what matters: doing what you do best. See our monthly promotion for our hand sanitization rental services.
#2: Promote Hygiene Practices
Everyone needs to be on board when it comes to promoting good hygiene in the workplace. This means making sure that your employees understand and regularly practice appropriate hygiene measures. But how do you make sure everyone is following protocol?
Post Informational Signage
Post proper handwashing and sanitation signage near these stations with clear visual and written instructions on proper hygiene practices. These signs should be available to both employees and the public. You can even go as far as to provide signage on the appropriate way to cover coughs and sneezes in the workplace to avoid the spread of germs.
Employees Experiencing Symptoms Should Stay Home
If employees are sick, they shouldn’t be in the workplace. Employees are entitled to stay home when sick. Full-time employees working 37.5 hours per week typically earn 9.375 hours of sick leave for each month they receive 75 hours of pay. Outside of regulations, keeping employees home when unwell ensures that other employees don’t get sick, while also ensuring the workplace isn’t contaminated. This is particularly important in the food service industry, where illness could potentially be passed through contact with food and food products.
Keep Employees Informed
Keep employees up-to-date with industry standards and regulations while providing ongoing/updated training in cleanliness practices.
#3: Limit Cross-Contact Where Possible
Your business is likely to have high-contact areas that receive regular traffic. Keeping these areas clean is essential when it comes to preventing the spread of the cold and flu. Let’s look at how we can effectively manage cross-contact:
Create Physical Barriers
To prevent the spread of illness, you can install physical barriers such as sneeze guards at the customer service counter. This way, both employees and customers won’t have to fear a rogue sneeze or cough coming their way. Research into the effectiveness of sneeze guards on airplanes, for example, shows that shields have the potential to lower the inhalation rate of aerosol particles up to about 70%. How impressive is that?
Space out Workstations
Don’t overcrowd the workplace. Where possible, provide ample space between workstations. This not only allows your employees to enjoy having their own space, but it also limits the potential for spreading illness.
Use Contactless Payment Methods
We’re in the future, now. Contactless payment methods reduce the spread of germs and are simply more convenient in our fast-paced world. If you have the option, adopt these more modern technologies.
#4: Promote the Flu Vaccine
It’s often encouraged that workplaces (especially those most at risk) encourage their employees to get the flu vaccine. While it isn’t mandatory, providing information on the benefits and locations of local vaccine providers can help promote health and wellness to your employees.
Vaccinating Against the Flu Reduces the Risk of Potentially Serious Illness
Some people are more at risk of serious illness caused by the flu. Receiving the flu shot can reduce the potential morbidity and mortality associated with the flu. This not only reduces the stress on the workplace, but it also reduces potential pressure on the healthcare system during cold and flu season.
#5: Hand Sanitization Rentals Provide Ongoing Prevention
Swan Dust Control can help ensure the health and well-being of your workplace year-round by installing and maintaining hand sanitation stations. You don’t have to worry about keeping up with the repair or refill process, as our skilled team will be there to make sure your station is always in tip-top shape.
Stand-Alone or Wall-Mounted Units Available
Whether you prefer to have an entire stand-alone unit or a wall-mounted sanitizer, we have options to fit the needs of every business. Seeing as hands touching surfaces and people is one of the main ways illnesses spread, having convenient options to clean your hands is ideal.
Cross-Industry Application
Swan Dust Control has sanitation stations that work across nearly every industry. From healthcare to the food industry, we have something that is designed to fit everyone. Our formula of Advanced Hand Sanitizer is 80% ethyl alcohol that meets the WHO standard. We also personalize the experience and will help you find additional services to improve the safety of your business.
Why Choose Us?
Swan Dust Control is a Canadian business through and through, with several locations across Southern Ontario. We've been in business for more than seventy years, providing mat and mop solutions and more to thousands of businesses. When you work with us, you don't have anything to worry about:
No up-front charges
Wide selection of sizes and colours
Bi-weekly service visits included
Careful removal of soiled goods
Fresh, clean replacements every visit
No hidden fees or extra service charges
