Reopening is happening — is your organization prepared?

Is your business prepared to lead the transition towards the new normal in the workplace? 

The next challenge for businesses starts now, as governments around the world announce their reopening plans. Easing of the current restrictions will begin in progressive stages, and preparation is essential for reopening success.

As we emerge from restrictions, the only certainty is that it won’t be business as usual. At least, not right away, as leaders consider how best to reopen safely. For many organizations, their operations will need to evolve to align with new social distancing and hygiene practices. Increased compliance obligations and corporate responsibility will feature heavily throughout this process.

The unique challenges presented by reopening will also create new opportunities for growth. Businesses that invest in preparation, and quickly adapt to these challenges will emerge stronger.

Here at iAuditor, we’re ready to help your business throughout every stage of this process.  We’ve created some free, industry-specific resources to assist your company in preparing for a successful return to work.

Hospitality

The hospitality industry has experienced the full force of restrictions. Crowded restaurants, bustling cafes, and vibrant nightlife seem like a distant memory. While many businesses have remained operational, buoyed by increased takeout demand, others have closed up shop temporarily.

As restrictions start to ease, hospitality employees will be at the forefront of reopening safely. Creating new processes for food handling, cash management, and customer interactions are top priorities for hospitality leaders during reopening.

Reopening trends in hospitality

Design changes including partitioning large, open indoor spaces into smaller areas, allowing small and restricted groups to enjoy the same space safely.

Outdoor space is king as businesses invest in outdoor seating, recover previously overlooked open areas, and reduce indoor locations.

Reopening resources for hospitality leaders

COVID-19 Hospitality Industry Task Sheet
Use this checklist to benchmark your processes against guidance developed by the UK Hospitality Trade Association.

COVID-19 – Hotel Operational Guidelines Checklist
Hotels can optimize operations for enhanced safety based on WHO guidelines using this handy checklist.

Hospitality – Hotel Safety & Security Inspection
Quickly examine the security measures and safety precautions within your hotel as you commence reopening.

Retail

The way we experience retail has changed, and things may never be the same again.

Clear dividers at checkouts, online car sales, and the disappearance of cash are just some of the clues. The crisis has forced retail businesses to adapt to restrictions at a frantic pace.

Existing trends towards online sales have accelerated, even in categories that were previously immune to disruption. As retail businesses start to reopen, existing processes will evolve to accommodate in-store social distancing measures.

Reopening trends in retail 

Contactless payments have been around for a while, but the technology will become a prerequisite for all retail businesses. Ensure that you have plenty of receipt rolls on hand for those extra payments.

Clear procedures are essential so that staff can easily follow sanitation checklists or social distancing guidelines to maximize safety for employees and customers.

Reopening resources for retail leaders

Retail – Store Re-Opening Checklist
Streamline your retail reopening with this checklist that includes hygiene, social distancing and cleanliness procedures.

Retail & Hospitality – Return to Work: Managing your workplace
Use retail industry best practices to manage your return to work with this handy checklist.

Facilities  

Maintaining a physical distance between people at the office, school, and even the gym has proven harder than we initially expected. Facilities throughout the world have changed their business model to align with restrictions or temporarily closed their doors entirely.

The impact on facilities has been tangible, from empty fitness centers to long lists of postponed weddings affecting venues. For facilities businesses, establishing new processes to manage separation, sanitation, and capacity levels are top of mind during reopening.

Reopening trends in facilities

Clear signage to ensure that customers understand how to operate within new social distancing requirements as businesses open their doors again.

Multiple suppliers for continuity of business-critical items, as global supply chains have been disrupted and shortages continue.

Capacity management procedures to comply with limits on operational capacity within confined spaces.

Reopening resources for facilities leaders

Social Distancing in Communal Areas Checklist
Are your communal areas safe and ready for the return to work? Use this checklist to find out.

Post COVID-19 Cleaning Site Visit Checklist
Ensure that you’re using the correct disinfectants to sanitise your workplace with this comprehensive checklist.

COVID-19 Return to Work Record
Cover all bases of your return to work plan with this checklist.

Employee Temperature Log Sheet
Use this employee temperature log sheet to keep a record of employees’ or visitors’ temperature whenever they report into a facility. 

Manufacturing

Manufacturing operations across the globe have been disrupted by the epidemic. Remote working solutions that have allowed other industries to continue operations, simply aren’t possible within manufacturing. When was the last time that you built a car while working from home?

Large, open workspaces with high employee numbers and rotating shifts present additional challenges for social distancing. While shared machines, tools, and facilities will require extra attention to protect employees. As manufacturing businesses reopen, processes will need to evolve to prioritize employee safety, while maintaining production capacity.

Reopening trends in manufacturing

Staggered shifts of fixed teams, spread across operating hours, are being leveraged to minimize contacts.

Enhanced sanitation programs for shared resources and communal facilities are being implemented to reduce contamination opportunities.

Additional PPE protection, in the form of masks and gloves for manufacturing operations where close, prolonged contact is unavoidable.

Reopening resources for manufacturing leaders

COVID-19: Screening Checklist for Visitors and Employees
Quickly and easily implement a screening procedure for staff in your workplace with these simple questions.

COVID-19 Inspection
Lead the way in stopping the spread in your workplace with this thorough guide that covers everything from remote working to symptom checking.

Social Distancing Plan Template for Workplaces
Implement social distancing effectively in your workplace with this template that covers everything from signage to improving sanitation.

Return to Work Interview Template
Seamlessly manage the return to work process with this template that ensures you don’t miss anything.

Risk Assessment Template
Business owners and Managers can make risk assessments of their workplace quickly and easily with this handy checklist.

BCP Audit Checklist
Be prepared for anything. Give your Business Continuity Plan a health check with this thorough checklist.

Logistics

Logistics organizations have experienced unprecedented conditions throughout the epidemic, as global supply chains are disrupted. Now, as reopening begins, the surging freight volumes continue, and new social distancing challenges emerge for businesses.

The safety of frontline logistics and transportation workers remains a key priority during reopening. Frontline workers are more exposed, due to the high frequency of contacts on any given shift. Shared vehicles, machinery and digital scanning devices present further challenges to social distancing requirements. The increased visibility of employee interactions is forcing businesses to quickly redesign established processes.

Reopening trends in logistics

Electronic records are being substituted for traditional paper-based freight manifests to reduce contact points.

Contactless delivery is the new standard for many logistics providers globally, to minimize daily interactions between employees and customers.

Daily cleansing of delivery trucks, digital scanning devices and tools is helping to contain the spread.

Reopening resources for logistics leaders

COVID-19: Screening Checklist for Visitors and Employees
Use this quick health screening template for both staff and visitors when entering your facility.

Social Distancing Plan Template for Warehouse/depot
We’ve thought of everything with these 18 questions about social distancing in your workplace

COVID-19 Warehouse/Depot Check
Ensure your workplace is sanitised properly with this comprehensive checklist

Let us know your reopening tips for success, and which templates you’ve found the most helpful.

Important Notice
The information contained in this article is general in nature and you should consider whether the information is appropriate to your specific needs. Legal and other matters referred to in this article are based on our interpretation of laws existing at the time and should not be relied on in place of professional advice. We are not responsible for the content of any site owned by a third party that may be linked to this article. SafetyCulture disclaims all liability (except for any liability which by law cannot be excluded) for any error, inaccuracy, or omission from the information contained in this article, any site linked to this article, and any loss or damage suffered by any person directly or indirectly through relying on this information.