Covid 19 Implications for your Work Stations
With each day our Pandemic altered world changes forever. New guidelines, new rules, new lifestyles. The term “Social Distancing” has and will continue to change how we live, how we play and how we work. Generally, "Social distancing" means not interacting with anyone outside your household, and limiting trips to places where you might interact with other people. It is strongly recommended that you only leave your home for essential travel.
What are the ramifications to our businesses? How will we continue to operate under these new rules? Which workers can work from home indefinitely and which ones need to be on site? Is there a fairness issues associated with “Social Distancing”? How will I continue production when so many of our workspaces are designed to have workers in close proximity or even working side-by-side? How do we navigate the perils of a soft opening?
Pre-Pandemic
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Work areas were designed for efficiency.
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Work areas were designed for ergonomics.
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Sanitized work areas were not high priority unless required by the nature of your business (i. e. food, life sciences, high-tech, etc.).
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If you were sick you came into work, because missing work meant lost wages, lost productivity, potential loss of promotion.
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Our culture, business goals and strategic directions were clear and well-defined.
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We had utilized visual signals, standard work and documentation.
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Personal Protective Equipment was required only in hazardous work places.
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We communicated face-to-face or via in-person meetings.
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Post-Pandemic
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Do I have to accept a less efficient processes to accommodate distancing?
What needs to cleaned, who will clean, how often do we clean and how does that affect my bottom line? How do I handle shift changeovers, breaks, lunch, etc.?
The new world order has changed how we live and work thereby requiring us to change our culture and goals, where do we start?
PPE is now required for all workers on-site, what is my plan, who needs what, where will I find PPE?
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To provide for distancing, will workers operate in a less ergonomic stance potentially causing more injuries?
What is the new protocol If someone is sick, how will you test for illness?
Visual signage, standard work and documentation practices are now more vital to returning to work
We now communicate virtually; it is difficult to maintain some of the initiatives we had in place.
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This Pandemic has forced us to learn to live differently and even work differently. Some are working remotely but many are still required to work on-site. For the latter group we will need to ensure their health and safety beyond the basics. For without their labor we have no output. It is incumbent upon leaders today to understand the new environment and shift our ideas on what is possible in the workplace post curve flattening.
Rather than waiting for the reopening and being reactive, leaders need to prepare, set expectations for workplace health that will position the organization for success, so employees can focus on the strategic business priorities of now and the future. VIPGroup has teams working on responses and action that business can utilize to address these challenging times.
