By Brian Leafblad, R&D Senior Manager, Global Business Solutions at Reckitt’s Lysol Pro Solutions

Cast your mind back to 2021. As COVID-19 lockdowns and sanctions lifted, the world breathed a sigh of relief. We were happy to put an episode that was painful on a personal, socioeconomic, and global level in the rear view. Businesses and communities alike could not have prepared for the pandemic, but having been through it, we can take away some critical learnings.

As the U.S. faces the current cold and flu season, recent outbreaks such as measles and other common diseases such as norovirus, businesses can apply valuable lessons from the pandemic. Focusing on preparation, enhancing base-level standards of hygiene, and caring for patrons and staff can all help workplaces prepare for what’s to come.

Knowledge is power

The pandemic proved that knowledge is power when it comes to protection. At the onset of COVID-19, businesses were not fully up to date on the knowledge of SARS-CoV2 and how it spreads. This initially impacted our prevention efforts.

With germs such as influenza or norovirus, we know more about these pathogens and their transmission routes. Where possible, business could cultivate an understanding of common workplace viruses, how those germs move differently from one person to another, and how the right cleaning and disinfection procedures could help stop the spread.

Resources such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), state and local health departments, or company health and medical resources are great sources to help better understand outbreaks, their underlying causes, and associated preventive steps.

Preparation is good business

Knowledge is only helpful if it can be translated to actionable workplace protocols that can help address outbreaks.

For example, norovirus is highly contagious and can cause projectile vomiting that disperses droplets widely. When this happens, it is recommended to thoroughly disinfect surfaces within a 86-foot radius using the products approved by EPA to help kill the virus and stop the contagion. If a business is unaware of this, they may think a wipe-down of the isolated area where the vomit occurred is enough.

A clear disinfection protocol to handle common workplace illnesses such as the flu can help reduce worker sick days and maintain productivity levels.

While the chain of transmission for germs is different — sometimes subtly, sometimes significantly —protocols that encompass good hygiene and common illness prevention strategies are the first line of defense. Businesses can proactively work with health and hygiene experts to incorporate the right holistic measures for their business.

Focus on the fundamentals?

The world was acutely focused on cleaning and disinfection during the pandemic. Cleaning and disinfection practices, previously table stakes in business, became a focal part of the response. Yet, as the fear of COVID-19 receded, some of the elevated protection measures were disbanded.

These pragmatic protocols provided an important degree of protection and confidence to people using the facility. There is reason to continue emphasizing hygiene as germs beyond COVID-19 persist and spread through hands and contaminated surfaces. Cleaning and disinfection plays a critical role in helping promote health and hygiene.

Facilities could incorporate targeted hygiene interventions into cleaning and disinfection that focus on the most germ-harboring areas at the right time and frequency. Sharing education about germ transmission with cleaning staff and building patrons can help drive awareness of potential risks and appropriate mitigating actions.

A culture of care

Disease outbreaks are as much psychological as they are physiological. Trust in the workplace environment is paramount. A hygienic work environment built on robust cleaning measures and trusted products can help create a culture of care. Nurturing this kind of culture is good for people and businesses.

Looking back to look ahead

As we prepare for the colder months, when many common viruses typically spike, individuals and businesses will inevitably be impacted. However, reflecting on what we learned during the pandemic can help businesses improve their preparedness for germs that may impact the workplace.

The crucial parts of this preparedness plan include:

  1. Developing an understanding of common viruses and the way they are transmitted
  2. Turning this knowledge into science-backed cleaning and disinfecting protocols
  3. Empowering employees to be part of this hygiene journey by encouraging holistic hygiene
  4. Leveraging hygiene to unlock a culture of care in the workplace