As business is far from usual, COVID-19 has transformed the way we work. With the world changing and adapting to this new normal, so too office spaces must adjust.  

Workplace hygiene has never been more important, with the average workplace having over 40 shared touchpoints. The workplace of the future needs to ensure staff are safely distance and there are more considerations on how to reduce shared touchpoints, especially surfaces which need to be cleaned regularly.

How will your workplace prioritise the safety of employees? Here are a number of procedures and design ideas management can put into place to lessen touchpoints and increase peace of mind.

Contactless Kitchens

The workplace kitchen is a highly frequented area in the office space that needs to be addressed. Recent research has shown seventy five percent of workplace tap handles tested have high levels of contamination. Given this fact, contactless solutions like the new HydroTap Touch-Free Wave will be crucial in designing the workplace of the future.

Pure tasting, filtered, boiling, chilled and sparkling water can be obtained with a wave of the hand and zero contact points. Zip HydroTap Touch-Free Wave offers a hygienic solution with filtered water benefiting the health of staff too. HydroTap Touch-Free Wave will be crucial for workplaces in delivering hygienic solutions, without sacrificing convenience.

 

Contactless Bathrooms

Contactless bathrooms are becoming more commonplace. Naturally, it is one of the first rooms we think of making contactless to ensure better hygiene. Sensors are used to activate the toilet flush, soap and water dispensers and driers. Indeed, these are all helpful ways of reducing touchpoints in the workplace. To further prevent contamination spread from bathroom doors, install hand sanitiser dispensers at the entry and exit points of the bathroom.

 

Keyless entry

Door handles are one of the most touched points in the workplace, therefore it is crucial to address this problem. Workplaces can install swinging or automatic doors to reduce contact. They may also utilise keycards or voice activated entries. There is no doubt that this is the way of the future for both convenience and hygiene.

Ditch Hot Desking

Hot desking, or flexible workplace scheduling, began in order to increase space efficiency in offices. However, in post Covid times, when trying to lessen contact, it is wise to return to a traditional designated work area. Liberty Sanger, a principal lawyer at Maurice Blackburn who specialises in workplace injuries, told ABC Radio National's Life Matters "Hot-desking is out. It's just going to be too hard to make sure that you've got a clean environment where the infection has been removed.” Each individual having their own space is the most common-sense way of reducing shared touch points.

A workplace with less touch points will give staff peace of mind that they will be working in the healthiest and safest environment possible. This is invaluable as they prepare to return to work. Invest in touch free solutions for your workplace now.

Experience the Zip Difference today with our Zip HydroTap Touch Free Wave and take the next step to a safer workplace.

 

References:

news.com.au May 6, 2020. Coronavirus Australia: No more hot-desking or office cookie jar as companies shift to ‘COVID-safe’ workplaces.

Zanda Architectural Hardware. March 7, 2019. The door handle is the most touched thing in your home.

Public, R. for Global Sign Internet Group. February 8, 2019. Totally Green Reasons to Go Paperless in 2019.