Six ways you can promote health and safety right now

It’s not enough to say we’re committed to health, safety and the well-being of our people. We have to show it. Feeling safe and healthy is more personal—and more public—than ever before. The pandemic has changed the way people look at their own well-being, and it’s given organizations everywhere an opportunity to make good on their promises to promote health in every decision they make.

That’s the power of the WELL Health-Safety Rating. It’s a collection of strategies and solutions you can trust to help you transform any environment to feel safer for you and your people. Explore six ways the WELL Health-Safety Rating can help people feel safer when they enter your space.

1. Promote better hand hygiene

Handwashing is one of the best ways to contain the spread of germs and transmissible diseases like COVID-19. But without the right sink setup or the correct hygiene resources, your efforts might not be as effective as you think.

Did you know: Hand soap has been found to be more effective than hand sanitizer in community settings, though hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol by volume can also be used. Unpack the evidence to get clear, useful guidance to make your handwashing stations a powerful tool against the spread of disease.

2. Reduce surface spread

It seems obvious, but cleaning high-touch surfaces is a critical way to prevent germs from spreading. But remember: Not all cleaners are created equal. Understanding the evidence behind the most effective, safe and useful cleaning techniques and products can go a long way toward keeping people safer.

3. Maintain water quality

Buildings—and their countless internal systems—aren’t meant to be left dormant. Beyond COVID-19, other water-based hazards can become a problem if left stagnant over time. Maintaining high water quality is key to preventing infectious disease from spreading and keeping everyone hydrated. If a building has been vacant for some time (ahem, work from home anyone?), then it’s critical it follows the proper procedures when returning to the office.

4. Increase air flow

Perhaps the most important element in our environment today is the air we breathe. Improperly ventilated spaces can serve as a breeding ground for disease transmission and airborne pathogens like COVID-19. But there are simple steps that can help increase air quality without replacing a building’s entire HVAC system.

Between increasing outdoor and indoor air flow, opening windows and routinely changing air filters, you can help bolster air quality and reduce potential disease transmission.

5. Prepare for emergencies

Benjamin Franklin famously said, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” His sentiment is just as relevant today as it was in 1736. Organizations and businesses that already had an emergency plan in place prior to the pandemic were able to quickly pivot when COVID-19 disrupted everyday life. Thankfully, it’s never too late to start planning for emergencies.

Organizations can devise the best strategy for their people and their business, so they’ll be better prepared to face an extended shutdown again. We’ll give you helpful solutions, and you’ll implement the ones that will make the biggest difference to your people. It’s that easy.

6. Communicate your safety efforts

This might seem like a simple safety measure, but people don’t know what they don’t know. Educate anyone who walks through your door with clear, visible communication about best practices for health and safety. Leave nothing to the imagination, so people that enter your buildings can feel confident that you’ve taken the necessary steps to put their health and safety first.

Discover clear solutions to improve health promotion and cultivate a culture of well-being within your space. When people are armed with the knowledge they need, your organization can be certain that everyone is doing their part to enhance safety.