Coronavirus checklist: 20 essentials for every business

Social distancing, keeping a one-and-a-half metre distance, washing your hands regularly… These are all things that have become part of the ‘new normal’ due to the corona virus – even in the workplace. The checklist below gives you an overview of all kinds of practical products you can use to equip your warehouse, workplace or shop. The list includes items that are indispensable for your personal protection, social distancing and (hand) hygiene.

1. Personal protective equipment

Proper protection starts with yourself. To help you do this, you have a whole range of personal protective equipment (also known as PPE) to choose from. Create a barrier around your mouth, nose and hands to ensure you don’t accidentally contaminate other people or vice versa.

1. Mouth mask: completely enclose your mouth and nose. People who are not used to wearing a mouth mask should opt for a ‘surgical mouth mask’. These are the easiest to use.

2. Face shield: you can wear a reusable face shield to complement a mouth mask (but never to replace it!). They are recommended when you are constantly in very close contact with your customers – as is the case, for example, with hairdressers or shop assistants.

3. Disposable gloves: it is best to choose latex or nitrile gloves. Good to know: powdered latex gloves are the easiest to put on and take off. The disadvantage is that they are often not recommended in the food sector due to the powder coating.

4. Overall: total protection from head to toe for those working in high-risk environments.

5. Safety glasses: just like your mouth and nose, the mucous membrane of your eyes can also be a gateway for the coronavirus. The solution? Safety glasses that fit closely to your face.

6. Prevention screen: an acrylic screen (such as Plexiglas®) is recommended when you work in a fixed location and cannot keep a distance of 1.5 metres from your colleague or client. You can place such a prevention screen between two desks, at a cash desk, reception desk, etc.

7. Plexicleaner: protect your valuable prevention screen against dulling or yellowing with an appropriate product. Don’t forget a microfibre cloth too!

Read more: this is how to choose the right personal protective equipment ]

2. Products for social distancing

Keeping at least 1.5 metres between each other: this is the key concept behind the term ‘social distancing’. To facilitate compliance with this rule, there are a few simple tools. Check it out!

8. Barrier posts: use them to create a barrier or route you can’t just go around. This way, your customers will quickly know which areas they are not allowed to enter or which walking route to follow.

9. Floor markings: tape is extremely versatile and can be stuck to many surfaces. Stick tape on the floor, for example, to indicate where someone should wait, how much distance to keep apart or which route to follow.

10. Signal tape: a red/white tape immediately attracts attention. Make it quickly clear what are really dangerous or forbidden zones in your company.

11. Warning and prohibition signs: a picture says more than a thousand words… So put clearly recognisable pictograms at the most crucial places in your company or shop: the entrance and exit, busy aisles, the toilet, etc. Special floor stickers are available for this purpose. There are specially adapted floor and window stickers for this purpose.

12. Floor stand for A4 documents: let your hygiene instructions or safety instructions stand out clearly. Ideal for receptions, corridors, restaurants, etc.

13. Safety vest (with logo): a fluorescent vest gets your attention faster. If it is also printed with the necessary logos, you can permanently remind everyone of the 1.5m rule.

Read more: this is how to choose the right floor tape ]

3. Products for your (hand) hygiene

One last measure to throw into the fight against viruses is good hand hygiene. Study after study proves it: nothing is more effective at eliminating viruses than washing hands with soap and water; or by extension alcohol gel. So here’s one last set of products to complete our checklist against coronavirus.

14. Soap: how and when best to wash your hands in case of corona virus, read this article on proper hand hygiene.

15. Alcohol gel: no water and soap at hand? Then alcohol gel is the solution. Remember that the gel should contain at least 70% ethanol to be really effective.

16. Dispensers: a good soap or gel cannot do without a practical dispenser. It provides you with the ideal amount per push. Perfect for avoiding waste.

17. Handkerchiefs: place handkerchiefs on every desk for the occasional cough or sneeze.

18. Disposable hand towels: drying your hands properly is just as important as washing them with soap. Even if you wash your hands, viruses can still remain harmful in a humid environment.

19. Cleaning paper: it is best to clean your desk, counter or chair with strong cleaning paper. Just like a disposable towel, you simply throw it away after use and it is ready for recycling.

20. Rubbish bags: also remember to place a rubbish bag exclusively for high-risk material. Into this you throw used mouth masks, aprons, gloves, etc.

Read more: this is how to fight coronavirus with good hand hygiene