Upgrades And Exercises For All Ages To Stay Safe At Work

Before COVID-19, we all took many things for granted, such as shaking people’s hands, mingling with people openly, enjoying drinks in a club, or even working in an office with our coworkers. Good health matters and we shouldn’t take it for granted each day that we see our loved ones.

However, even in the wake of COVID-19, many things have stayed the same. Bills have to be paid, schools must resume, and we must work as usual only that this time, we have to take extra caution. Even so, it’s essential that we take care of our bodies in any way we can, especially with physical activity.

Let’s discuss some upgrades to your lifestyle and workplace that’ll help you be healthy and stay safe at work. Here are some recommendations to add to your company safety policies.

1. Enforce Personal Hygiene Practices

Personal hygiene is where the journey to safely work starts. Now more than ever, we all know that wearing a face mask, social distancing, and frequent handwashing is highly beneficial for us. Therefore, it's everyone's responsibility to ensure they do their part.

Following these practices are essential for everyone's health, so employers can help to ensure that these practices are followed by:

• Providing face masks and hand sanitizers to its employees

• Setting up sanitizer dispensers, especially at the main door entry.

• Displaying posters within the workplace reminding employees on respiratory etiquette methods, e.g., While coughing and sneezing

• Availing non-touch trash bins

2. Conduct Basic Training on Protective Practices

In these times, basic training is required in helping prevent potential hazards and how to react when certain situations arise. These range from fire safety, how to properly use protective equipment, procedures to follow if one feels exposed, etc. You must put these measures in place to ensure that workers do their jobs safely and know what to do in such times.

3. Offer Transport Incentives

Transport can be a tricky affair, especially when dealing with workers who are located in different states. It gets risky when employees use public transport to get to work, thus posing a threat to the rest of the workers in the company. However, there are solutions to take care of your workers' transport needs:

• Adjust the times that the workers living far away and who rely on public transport at hours with less traffic of people

• Improvise the work from the home idea if it can work and let employees, especially those living far only come to work if need be

• Deal with a specific company to drop off and pick up employees

• Change the reporting to work hours to the hours with less traffic.

4. Work from Home Implementation

While it’s not possible for every job, working from home can certainly help limit the number of employees at work at a time and enforce social distance practices. If the type of job you’re into can accommodate online working, try it out. Reducing our unnecessary interactions with others can save many lives.

Staying indoors for long periods isn’t always easy, so employers should hold well-planned physical meetings in the office when necessary. It is most helpful in situations where you have aged employees or those with underlying medical conditions. In such a case, if their work requires them to be there physically, you can shift their roles in the meantime and give them roles which they can comfortably do from home.

Also, if this option doesn’t work, employees can implement working in shifts, especially if many employees do one role.

5. Holding Meetings and Workshops

Companies need to hold meetings to evaluate company performance, pass important information along, and give employees management’s outlook. However, these days, meetings can no longer be held freely without taking up the required safety measures. Here are things employers can do:

• Conduct Office Meetings Online
• Encourage social discussions in open social seating areas outside and in small groups.

6. Come up with Hired Housekeeping Check-ins

Professional cleaners can perform deep cleaning in the workplace at your discretion. Depending on the company’s capability, you can do this once weekly, twice monthly, or in a timeframe that works best for your business model. That way, it guards employees against any potential spread, if any.

7. Improve Ventilation

For the same reason we advise against having too many people crowding in a room, it’s a wise decision to improve your ventilation system. Free-flowing fresh air is highly recommended as a safety measure. Some of the advantages of good aeration are:

• Prevention of stuffiness, especially with facemasks on

• Prevention of the spread of the virus

If improving your ventilation is close to impossible, another practice you can implement is to encourage employees to take breaks and go outside and breathe in some fresh air for a few minutes.

8. Workstation Enhancements

It’s normal for people to talk or even reach out for things from their colleagues’ desks. However, this should be limited to ensure no one's safety is compromised.

Here are some safety enhancements you can do:

• Set up transparent barricades

• Set workstations further apart

• Change the work schedule to suit a smaller team per working day  

9. Integrate Exercise Breaks

It can be difficult to integrate exercise at your workplace, but it’s not impossible. It not only lifts your mood and keeps you energized, but exercise can enhance your productivity as well. Sitting for too long can cause health issues in the long run, and we don’t want you to end up going to a Chiropractor in Havertown to have your back checked. You don’t need to do strenuous exercises to stay fit and alert, but easy exercises to keep you going. Here are some simple activities you can encourage employees to do:

• Walk - A simple and easy way to get the blood flowing, so a walk around the office once in a while helps.

• Jog - Mostly efficient in the evening. Instead of using a car, they can jog their way home within their jogging gear.

• Wall pushups - 20-45 seconds per day is sufficient. They help build the upper body, muscles and improve blood circulation.

• Use the stairs - Encourage them not to always take the elevator, especially if they’re not in a rush. They’ll get the benefits of engaging in some cardio activity while in the office.

• Stretch out - If the work involves a lot of sitting. Stand up and relieve the tension in the muscles and resume work. Don’t sit for more than 30 minutes at your work desk.

• Leg Lifts while Sitting - It’s an excellent alternative, particularly if you can’t move around a lot.

• Take A Gym Break - One can dedicate a gym workout session during lunch breaks. 30 minutes is sufficient to help you get back to work refreshed

Your weight needs to be in check during this time since your airways are at a greater risk. Chances of surviving with a poor circulatory system are low; therefore, exercise is crucial. If you have any medical concerns, feel free to consult your doctor to advise on the best exercises to keep your body active. Exercise is vital for those working from home since movement is limited. Therefore, if you’re working from home, take time to incorporate some exercise into your schedule.

With all the safety measures in place, everyone can work safely and with peace of mind like before. It can be hard to implement all the safety measures simultaneously, but it will get easier to implement them step by step.

About the Author

Jennifer Bell is a freelance writer, blogger, dog-enthusiast, and avid beachgoer operating out of Southern New Jersey. She frequently works with clients across the lifestyle, beauty, and home services industries.