TIPS TO KEEP YOUR FIELD TEAM SAFE DURING COVID-19

Ensuring Operational Safety in Field Service During COVID-19

The coronavirus is unlikely to go away soon, necessitating precautionary measures for everyone. Field service providers need to take certain considerations and follow these tips to face the “new normal” set in by the pandemic. 

1.- Minimal contact and Social Distancing.

Field service technicians should cut physical contact at work, to the extent possible. If they need to, then the field service enterprise should make sure that their employees follow these rules:

• Wear disposable face masks and gloves before entering the customer’s premises or work location.
• Maintain two meters (six feet) distance from customers and co-workers, right throughout the work.
• Avoid touching doorknobs or other common surfaces such as window handles.
• Carry a disposable mat and place the tools of the trade in the mat, when at work.
• Avoid paper. Offer an electronic report and invoice. If the customer insists on a written report or a paper invoice, place it on a surface rather than hand it to them.

2- Hygiene Precautions

This is a basic step, but here are some ideas to keep it going:

• Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before and after the work. Use paper towels instead of cloth towels to dry. Put on the disposable gloves for the job immediately after washing hands.
• Avoid touching your face from the time of putting on the gloves, until taking it off and washing the hands.
• Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer (hand rub) before wearing the gloves as well as after removing it. Wash your hands at regular intervals, especially at the end of each job. Sanitize all tools at the end of each job, and also at the end of the day.
• Discard gloves, mats, and facemasks after you exit from the customer’s premises. Bring a disposal bag for each job and dispose of these materials as per the local regulations in place.

3- Enterprise Level Precautions

Field service enterprises need to make the following business and policy changes to deal with the COVID-19 impact. 

• Ensure a reliable supply of alcohol-based sanitizers, soaps, tissues, facemasks, and gloves. Keep respirators available for emergencies.
• Follow updates from The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), federal and state governments. Updates happen frequently. Some updates may appear contradictory to the previous updates. This is because the virus is progressing, and scientists discover new insights by the day. Be proactive to update the standard operating policies and other procedures based on the latest announcements.
• Tweak the HR policy. Make sure employees with underlying medical conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, or lung disease stay home. Likewise, allow sick employees, or those who show symptoms of fever, cough, or cold to stay at home. Allow telework for customer support and back-office staff.
• Consider reducing the number of service calls per day or hire extra staff to ensure adhering to the above procedures. Communicate to customers that any delay is in their best interest of safety.

4- Disinfect common areas

Although the work team takes rigorous care and prevention measures, it will always be necessary to have a system to disinfect common areas, such as: Bathrooms, lunch areas, offices and other areas of common use and with high traffic levels.

In Environmental Construction Group we have Steramist technology that among its advantages is that it can be used in electronics and other surfaces without causing damage or leaving residues, in the following video you can see a little more about how this technology is handled.

If you are considering disinfecting your business, home, or other facility, give us a call! We can advise you and give you a free product demonstration. 

Here’s a video from Robert Espinoza, our Decontamination Operations Manager, where he explains more about the multiple uses of Steramist Technology. 

This is intended as general advice and should not be interpreted as legal advice. Each situation is unique and requires specific analysis of relevant contracts, facts and legal obligations. 

We are ECG, We are safety first.  

This field definitely needs some expert hands and skill. So, have you decided on what type of project you need? Make sure you research on this for a while before coming up with a decision.   

We pride ourselves in providing Infection Prevention and Environmental Services you can depend on.   

Contact us to get started on your next project, Call us 562- 208-3729