Best PPE Practices for Retailers

Now that businesses are starting to reopen after months in quarantine, it’s important you’re doing all that you can to keep both your employees and your customers safe when it comes to COVID-19. While cases may be falling, the potential to spread is still incredibly high and as a result, there are several PPE measures you need to ensure are in place before you can open your retail establishment properly. 

To help you understand the best practice PPE for retail, we have put together this handy guide to COVID safety: 

Face Shields

Although your employees may be wearing masks, face shields are a great way to give them that extra bit of protection as they can protect the entire face from water droplets. By wearing a face shield alone, if someone was to cough on you from 18 inches away, the chance of immediate viral exposure is reduced by 96%. When combined with a face mask, the protection for your workers is of course increased. 

Sneeze Guards

An essential for all retail establishments as they re-open are sneeze guards. For those that don’t know, these are screens that are placed at the cash register, preventing the transmission of liquids during a translation. Highly recommended by both the CDC and OSHA, they’re a great way to minimize the risk to your workers. 

Floor Barriers and Room Dividers

Depending on the layout of your store, you may need to consider investing in floor barriers and room dividers. As the CDC recommends you increase space and give people the opportunity to maintain a safe distance from one another, having guidelines that show people the way in which they’re supposed to walk around your store will be incredibly beneficial. If you have a small store, it may help to use barriers and dividers to show people where they need to wait in line. 

Social Distancing Signage

Although customers will be aware of social distancing guidelines, each establishment is completely different and adhering to different rules. Whether this is due to the store layout or the overall size of the place, it’s important you have social distancing signage displayed in order to let people know exactly what they should be doing when they’re shopping you. From signs that remind people to keep their distance, to signs that indicate the route in which customers must take around the store, the more guidance you’re giving to them when they arrive, the better. If you’re unsure what signs you may need, it may be worth looking at the other retail establishments in your area. 

If you need more tips when it comes to COVID tips for retailers, including the best PPE practices for retail, please do not hesitate to get in touch with a member of our team. We’ll be able to give you the best possible advice, ensuring you’re doing your best to keep everyone safe.