We at BOS, Haworth Best in Class, believe that when returning to the office, workers are still at risk of contracting coronavirus. Though businesses do their best to keep returning employees safe, not everyone in the workplace will follow the new guidelines. Some people will naturally stand closer than six feet apart. While others won’t properly wear their masks or consistently comply with sanitation routines.
As time passes and COVID-19 continues, some people are beginning to bend the rules. But it is important for everyone to remember that the nation is still in the middle of a pandemic. Many businesses are still strongly encouraging their employees to continue working from home, unless it is absolutely necessary for them to return to the office.
There are a few ways returning workers can stay safe. One of these ways is by using technology. Contact tracing wearables, air quality monitors, and two-wheel electric vehicles will play a huge part in workplace health and safety. These technologies, alongside other COVID-19 tools and guidelines, can help people stop the spread of disease and create a safer, healthier future.
Contact Tracing Wearables
Contact tracing technology can help keep those who are returning to the office safe. This technology provides the person-to person information needed to assess the risk of coronavirus spreading throughout the office. Contact tracing devices, usually in the form of wristbands and pocket-sized gadgets, collect data on a worker’s location and proximity to other workers through GPS tracking and Bluetooth signals. They are intended for internal use within an organization and are used to alert workers if they have come into contact with someone infected with coronavirus. They can be updated to reflect each workers’ health status, whether they are healthy, symptomatic, or verified infected.
Air Quality Monitors
Proper ventilation is important in preventing the spread of coronavirus. Offices can ventilate their space more efficiently by using IoT enabled HVAC systems. IoT enabled HVAC systems do not rely on human interaction. IoT air quality sensors can be bought off the shelf and are relatively inexpensive. But there are also more advanced options like cloud-based, artificial intelligence systems that can automatically adjust HVAC systems depending on the measured air quality.
Two-Wheel Electric Vehicles
Workers need to stay safe when commuting to work during COVID-19. Public transport, such as subways and busses, can be crowded and contaminated. So, by taking public transport, commuters risk bringing germs into the office. Carpooling may also be unsafe during COVID-19. Because when riding in the same car, co-workers can not abide by social distancing guidelines.
Two-wheel electric vehicles, such as scooters or bikes, can help workers commute safely and efficiently. Riders can keep their distance while remaining outside. The risk of coronavirus transmission is lower outside because fresh air can quickly dilute virus particles. There are also less surfaces outside that viral particles can survive on. Because of this, particles fall directly to the ground, and people can no longer inhale them. Some researchers, not yet with scientific proof, even believe the sun’s ultraviolet rays can completely destroy coronavirus.
