Work from home

Work from home or WFH is the new normal these days and while we all are happily

working in the privacy of our homes in our pajamas, we would eventually have to get

back to our workplaces. Since there is so much uncertainty and anxiousness regarding

stepping out during this Covid 19 pandemic here are a few FAQ’s on how to stay safe at

your workplace.

Contents How do we need to prepare ourselves while returning to work? How do we maintain social distancing in the office? How is social distancing to be maintained in elevators? Is it necessary to wear masks inside the office building?

How do we need to prepare ourselves while returning to work?

The entire premise both internal and external would have to be sanitized before the

office reopens. Certain checks should be installed at the entrances which is as follows

1. Check body temperature of everyone who enters.
2. Checking travel history, history of contact with any Covid 19 positive cases etc .
3. Checking the Arogya Setu App status to know if the person has travelled or come in contact with any Covid 19 cases.
4. Everyone should sanitize their hands thoroughly with the sanitizers placed at the entrance which should be the foot pedal types to avoid contamination before entering the office premises. 
5. While issuing ID cards to non-employees, the security should give them a paper, one time use cards which can be discarded later on.
6. Outside gloves and masks should be removed and placed in a plastic bag to be worn while stepping out again . A different set should be used in office.

How do we maintain social distancing in the office?

The following steps should be taken :

1. While standing in any queue people should maintain a minimum two meter distance from each other .
2. Everyone should wear masks inside the office at all times .
3. There should be a no handshake policy .
4. People should get their own coffee mugs or plates and then wash it themselves.
5. While walking in corridors or passages touching hand railings should be avoided
6. Special precautions should be maintained in canteens where employees should not sit directly opposite each other to avoid transmitting infections while eating
7. Sitting diagonally from each other would be preferred.
8. If any employee is even remotely sick, has weakness, fever, cough, he or she should get himself or herself checked immediately with the in house doctor or should notify the HR .
9. Conference rooms should have alternate seating policy to maintain appropriate distance.
10. Since offices would be having only 30% to 50 % work force, people should be made to sit in alternate cubicles to maintain distance.
11. There should be an hourly alarm so that all the employees would be reminded to sanitize their hands at their own desks.

Since only 30% to 50% staff will be attending work people would have to maintain a

one meter or more distance between one another in a queue while waiting for the

elevator. Temporary markings in the shape of a circle or a box can be drawn at each

corner so that people stand in them to maintain distance while inside the elevators.

While pressing the buttons of the elevator it would be better if they used a pen or a q

tip so as to not actually touch the surface. 

According to the recent researches, everyone should be wearing a mask. A N95 would

be best, but if there is unavailability then a normal surgical mask would also suffice.

Yes, all these precautions can be a tad bit annoying at first but staying safe ourselves

and not infecting others should be our top most priority while resuming our normal life at

our workplaces.

She is currently working as a Diabetologist and a Nutritional Consultant and has been previously positioned as an Assistant Medical officer in Immunization and Disease Surveillance department in the public health domain of MCGM in the past

The Arogyada
www.arogyada.in