They can spread in just two to four hours, infecting a great percentage of the workforce.
Many of us are still working from home. The day will finally come, however, for those who work in an office, when we will all return to our desks, be they in a room with a view, or a cubicle with three (boring) walls. At the very least, most of us will go back to the same routine and environment. Hopefully, this will be done with companies and organizations taking proper precautions to ensure we all stay healthy.
For those in charge hoping to open at the earliest possible moment- or even earlier, if you are a boss like Elon Musk- you may wish to take note of the way COVID-19 actually does spread in offices.
According to a report on BBC.com, keeping workplaces entirely free of COVID-19 may present a large challenge. Just a single surface tainted with the coronavirus can go so far as to contaminate a large part of the workforce in just a few hours.
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In a study done by researchers from the American Society of Microbiology, it was found that a harmless virus planted on one lone doorknob in an office building spread to between 40% and 60% of all workers, visitors and commonly touched objects within two to four hours. Yes, it happened that quickly.
Where are the most dangerous hot spots at work? According to BBC.com, Jonathan Sexton, a researcher at the College of Public Health at the University of Arizona has a good list. Push-out exit doors, fridge and drawer handles, as well as faucets and coffee pots tend to harbor the greatest concentration of unwanted germs.
And not only surfaces are a concern. The air in many offices could also be infected. Large office buildings rely on HVAC systems to circulate their air, and it is important that the systems be properly maintained. If they are not and filters are dirty, circulation is poor, or necessary levels of humidity are not adhered to, viruses like the new coronavirus can potentially circulate more easily. Essentially, the dirtier the system, the dirtier your air.
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Safety Strategies
How can workplaces be made safer? The CDC has comprehensive information listed on its website providing interim guidance to businesses and employers in relation to keeping workplaces free of the coronavirus. Many tips are related to keeping common surfaces clean, maintaining clear air, and practicing social distancing at your desk.
If you are an employer, you may also consider taking other, specific steps. It could be a good idea to keep common gathering places like kitchen facilities closed for the moment, as well as any on-site gyms and break rooms.
And, with enough money, you could help people avoid touching things like doors altogether. Technologically advanced workplaces like The Edge in Amsterdam are looking at doors that can be opened with an app or by voice control. There are also cameras that can count numbers of people. This can reinforce social distancing measures.
Some hotels are looking at lighting that mixes violet light and white light to disinfect surfaces by killing bacteria present. If we can get this to work in a way in which no one is harmed, and it is cost-effective, this seems like it could be the wave of the future everywhere.
There are many measures to take, to keep workers safe. With patience and conscientious attention to detail, lives can be saved.
