To ask about Covid measures in offices

[LakieLady]

DP had to go to the office today for the first time since lockdown.

Apart from a couple of anti-bac sprays and a "do not use" sign on alternate desks, there are no measures for preventing transmission of infection. There's no hand sanitiser, no anti-bac wipes for keyboards, phones, photocopiers etc, no one way systems in place or anything.

Because some departments can't work from home, and there is insufficient space for them to maintain social distance in their usual offices, they use the desks in DP's team, so their desks have effectively become "hot desks". Any filthy, snotty bugger could have been using his computer!

This is public sector, one of the emergency services, and they have (understandably) proritised frontline staff because they are at greater risk. But both of us are horrified at the lack of PPE provision.

Before he kicks up a stink, I'd like to know what measures other offices that are still in use are doing.

My workplace (I pop in once a week to check the post etc, because I live nearest) has sanitiser at every doorway, wipes at every printer, copier etc, "keep left" signs in the corridors and 2-metre markers, a big "one person at a time" sign on the doors of the post room and the 2 smaller kitchens - they are really on it. But then they are shit hot on H&S even in normal times.

What measures are in place in your offices, if you can't WFH all the time?

Sorry, forgot to disable voting.

We’re not in yet but I’m told that there are:

• one way signs
• new door handles you open with your elbow
• separate entrance and exit to building
• desks extra spaces and no hot desking
• hand sanitiser available

They’ve also has a health and safety review performed and it’s voluntary (we are officially key workers but can work from home but it’s putting huge strain on networks and some people’s mental health).

If he is public sector he should probably speak to his union rep.

I had 2 days in my workplace this week. It's a building with a warehouse and production areas and several offices. Almost everyone is working from home or furloughed. About 8 people in the whole building. The main entrance is not in use. Everyone must use a different door to the usual entrance which is propped open and there is hand sanitizer to use before you go in. There is then a barrier to force you to stay to one side. There is a one way system around the building and one staircase is up another is down. Near the toilets if they are in use you have to wait on a line marked out 2m away. All internal doors other than toilets are propped open.
In the kitchen there is antibac spray for the kettle and hand sanitizer. All cupboards are sealed off and you have to bring your own cup and spoon and take it home to wash. There is also antibacterial spray for printers.
There were a couple of us in temporarily while we waited for laptops after returning from furlough and we each sat on a different bank of desks. We were told if other people came back we could only have 5 people in a room that usually seats about 35.

We are just too busy and with a lot of staff in a relatively small working area, we just get on with it as we always did. We have some ppe but honestly our working environment is too chaotic to make proper use of it. We're all ok with that.

Dh has been told the loos have been Closed - I think that had to be illegal, right?

I'm local government and I'm in the office every day. We have hand sunrisers, wipes and a 1 way system that everyone ignores. DH is admin in NHS. He has nothing.

Massive open plan office. Corridors & walk ways one way with barriers, meeting rooms closed, group meeting tables in open areas removed, cleaning supplies available in multiple locations, desks removed to allow 2 metres, hand sanitiser on entrances & dotted around, disposable masks available at entrances. Coffee outlets closed, the only food available is pre packaged.

This is head office of a pharmacy chain though so I'd expect them to be shit hot

The risk assessments are available on the intranet as well

If they don't provide hand sanitisers might has well take your own in and wipes etc - I do just 'cos it's easier. I think we really have to use some common sense.

Small contact centre
We didn't hot desk before but we have hand gel, wipes, sprays. All desks now spaced out and screens if needed between some of them due to lay out
Shielding are WFH, regular updates on policies emailed to us