The Role of Hand Sanitizers in the Workplace during the Global COVID-19 Pandemic

It was the 21 ^st of January when CDC confirmed the first American travel-related case of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus. Since then, a lot has changed. From the way we live our lives to the way we work, COVID-19 has changed the world around us. It has also presented a new set of challenges and opportunities for business.

As the workforce is slowly coming back to offices and factories, the onus of the health and safety of the staff is on the owner/management. Along with routine cleanliness measures, hand sanitizers will continue to play a big role in the fight against the SARS-CoV2 virus.

You need to remind your staff to use hand sanitizers repeatedly. And, the best way to remind them is by making the sanitizer easily accessible. Here are the different locations that warrant the use of hand sanitizers.

1. Entrances and Exits

The door to your workplace can prove to be a cause of the spread of COVID-19 illness. Several hands touch it every day. And, so thorough disinfection at the end and beginning of the workday is not enough. A hand sanitizing station near the entrance and exit can help in combating the risk associated with Coronavirus effectively.

2. Employee Desks

Because employees spend a large part of their time at the desks, disinfection is necessary. Along with regular sanitization before the beginning of the day, employees should be provided with mini-hand sanitizer bottles for the desk. It ensures that good hand hygiene is always accessible for your staff.

3. Meeting Rooms

A packed meeting room increases the risk of getting infected with Novel Coronavirus. So, conduct a large number of meetings virtually. It will help you to avoid the entry of strangers into the building. For unavoidable circumstances, schedule staggered appointments with visitors. Do not forget to install a hand sanitizing station at the entrance for proper disinfection before entering the room.

4. Break Rooms and Lounge Areas

Considering the fact that employees will consume a majority of their meals in the break room, providing hand sanitizers at the entrance is not enough. Each table should have a hand sanitizer bottle for proper disinfection before eating.

5. Restrooms

The Healthy Hand Washing Survey by Bradley Corp. revealed that a majority of Americans are not washing their hands long enough. Often, people simply rinse their hands with water instead of using the soap. The survey corroborates the need for hand sanitizers in the restrooms and bathrooms in commercial complexes.

6. Transaction Counters

All places where bills are exchanged, especially check-outs at the cafeteria, departmental stores, clothing stores, etc., carry a high risk of transmission. It increases the risk of several diseases such as E. coli, salmonella, and even COVID-19. Keep sanitizers handy and encourage people to practice hand hygiene.

7. High Traffic Areas/Communal Areas

Every organization has communal areas such as the stairs, elevator, escalator, sink faucets, drinking fountains, locker rooms, waiting rooms, reception area, etc. You can conduct a thorough hazard assessment survey to identify high traffic areas in your organization and include social distancing measures as well as enhance the sanitization routine to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission.

Choose FDA-Approved Hand Sanitizer

While installing hand sanitizing dispensers at various places in the organization is essential, using a quality, effective and FDA-approved hand sanitizer is equally important. Due to the sudden demand for hand sanitizers, many manufacturers have started selling sub-standard products to gullible buyers. And, many have started concocting their own version of hand sanitizers.

To avoid the spread of the virus, the CDC recommends a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol content. Using a product with a lower alcohol percentage will render it impractical. So, it is essential to buy FDA-certified hand sanitizers from a reliable manufacturer.

Ensuring the Steady Supply of Hand Sanitizers

Now that hand sanitizers are flying off the shelf, businesses need to ensure the steady supply of hand sanitizers from suppliers. Order hand sanitizers in bulk and you can even discuss a subscription service with the manufacturer so that you get access to guaranteed supply each month.

Private Label Hand Sanitizers: A Marketing Opportunity

While you employ the use of hand sanitizers at several locations in your organization, you can consider private label hand sanitizers. This way the sanitizer packaging will include the logo and branding details of your business. It is a surefire way to differentiate your brand from other businesses.

You can use private label sanitizers as corporate event giveaways and business gifts to your vendors and customers. It will encourage a stronger sense of brand recognition. It can prove to be an off-the-clock marketing tool, especially when the public sees your customers and employees using the sanitizers outside of the workplace. Everyone will be drawn to the efforts that you have taken to ensure the safety and hygiene of your workforce.

You can buy custom-branded hand sanitizers in multiple sizes for the hand sanitizing stations in your organization. It will be less costly than buying branded hand sanitizers because it won’t include the marketing expenses spent by big brands.

Additionally, you can even opt for 55-gallon drum hand sanitizers and dispense the liquid into refillable bottles for key locations in the workplace. It will be cost-saving, and environmentally-friendly especially when your business sees a lot of footfalls daily.

Stop the Spread!

The power to stop the transmission of the virus is literally in our hands! And, with private label hand sanitizers, you can encourage good hand hygiene as well build a brand for your business. It's a win-win situation in these stressful times.