A Definitive Guide to Using Sneeze Guards at Work Places

As businesses have started to bounce back, protecting employees and customers tops the list of priorities for nearly every company, agency, institution and establishment worldwide. While the government directives to practice social distancing and wear face masks have become the norm, businesses are personally keen on going the extra mile to minimise the risk of contamination and human exposure to infection-causing germs. That’s where PPE (personal Protective Equipment) comes in.

Sneeze guards are one such line of essential products that are remarkably helping out businesses across various industries, ranging from manufacturing, banking and healthcare to hospitality and retail, in their efforts to prevent the spread of potential infections at workplaces.

Sneeze Guards: Introduction & Importance

First installed as “cough and sneeze shields” by restaurants in the 1950s, sneeze guards can easily be seen at various business settings as a barrier against contagious pathogens. Interestingly, sneeze guards are by no means medical devices. That said, they possess some features of personal protective equipment (PPE) that help slow down infection transmission – even if employees and/or customers aren’t wearing face masks.

Owing to the nature of their businesses, many organisations often fail at managing people to maintain safe distance during busy hours. Sneeze barriers or guards are an excellent way to restrict the spread of disease-causing germs in situations, wherein social distancing and other preventive measures can’t be implemented in full affect.

Besides, it gives some extra sense of safety to customers, especially when they cautiously enter places, where the risk of infection is potentially high. At the same time, it helps organisations in expressing their dedication towards the safety of their employees and customers alike.

Keep reading to know why these relatively new range of essentials are an utmost necessity today in offices, shops, restaurants, and so on.

Ensure Safe Preparation and Serving of Food

The bulk of sneeze guards available on the market are made up of acrylic or polyethylene. These materials are tough enough to act as a defensive layer between individuals to reduce exposure to hazardous microbes through mucous, saliva and other such contaminants.

Sneeze guards allow to keep the food preparation as well as serving areas uncontaminated. This means that people vesting or working at the places, where these essentials are in use, are less likely to contract any infection.

Protection to Both Employees & Customers

While retail stores and restaurants can often be seen making use of screen guards nowadays, these are equally beneficial for other types of businesses, including banks, pharmacies, medical offices, health clinics, automobile dealerships and many more. If your business relies heavily on having your customers personally visit your establishment, sneeze guards is a great way to offer necessary protection against unwanted germs and infections, eventually keeping both your employees and customers safe and healthy.

Sneeze guards are just great, but to get the most out of them, they should be used alongside proper cleaning and hygiene practices. Plus, they should be taken care of well, so that they remain effective, years after their installation.

How to Maintain Sneeze Guards?

Due to the nature of the material sneeze guards are made up of, they are quite sturdy and durable. However, they do need regular maintenance for optimum performance. Here are some “dos” and “don’ts” of sneeze guards that can aid you in ensuing great care of these essentials:

Dos of Sneeze Guards

• Daily Inspection: On a daily basis, check for loose brackets or screws. If you find any signs of rust, replace them immediately before they get loose. With continued use over years, sneeze barriers often get cracks and scratches that reduce their functionality. It is suggested to replace them when visible signs of damage occur or every 10 years.
• Careful Cleaning: Always use non-abrasive acrylic sprays or cleaning agents only on a small area of the guard. If you don’t have these, a mild dish soap solution in lukewarm water is your safest alternative. Once the spray is applied, gently wipe the area in a circular motion with a piece of wet, ultra-soft micro-fiber cloth. When you finish cleaning, dry it using a soft sponge to prevent water marks. Repeat the procedure for other areas of the sneeze guard.

Don’ts of Sneeze Guards

• Use of Dry Clothes: Over time, dust particles and debris may build up on the surface of screen guards, especially in corners. Using a dry cloth to remove them is likely to cause scratch marks while pushing the dust particles into the material. This can make it tougher to remove them.
  The best way to get rid of them is to blow across the shield or using a blow dryer with the heating option set to minimum. Hold the dryer at an angle of 45 degrees – a few inches away from the guard’s surface – and use it from one side to another along the surface of the sneeze guard.

• Use of Specific Chemicals: Not every cleaning agent on the market is effective on sneeze guards. In fact, many of them may cause damage to their surface. Cleaners with chemicals like alkaline and ammonia, can lead to abrasion, making the surface to appear hazy. You should also avoid cleaners, containing toluene, carbon tetrachloride, benzene and acetone as these chemicals can decompose the base material of the guard to create stress fractures.
  Several other types of cleaners have aromatic compounds to overpower the pungent smell of chemicals. Know that the hydrocarbons in such cleaning agents may wear down the guard’s surface.

The discussion above will surely help you pick the right sneeze guard for your business establishment and take good care of them. If you are looking for high-quality sneeze guards at competitive prices, visit Morplan, UK’s leading retail industry supplier. You can also shop at Morplan for a wide range of cloth rails, cloth hangers, and other supplies you may need to keep your store running and safe.