The coronavirus pandemic continues. It is more than advisable for companies to follow a sensible and well thought-out hygiene concept in order to prevent the spread of viruses in the best possible way. However, some companies are finding this difficult - partly because it is still a new challenge, but also because there are no fixed guidelines and distancing and hygiene regulations vary from industry to industry.

Hygiene and infection risks in production facilities

There are also some specifics to consider in the manufacturing industry. For example, it is sometimes unavoidable that people have to work together in a confined space. This is particularly the case in industrial production with a high degree of manual production, as there are shared production areas. Tools and machines are also generally used by all employees.

But colleagues also come into close contact with each other in storage areas or transport systems, communal and sanitary facilities, open-plan offices or meeting rooms. In these areas, the risks of contamination of surfaces, transmission of viruses through skin contact or aerosols or - in the worst case - possible infection increase. Sensible distancing and hygiene regulations need to be put in place. But that's not all: most production companies work with a large number of partners and suppliers.

These are, for example, industrial laundries that process and supply workwear and other textiles. Or the supply chain in the food industry: it begins with production by the manufacturer of agricultural products, continues through wholesale markets and suppliers and finally ends in the kitchens of hotels or restaurants. How can a company at the end of the supply chain be sure that all other businesses have viable hygiene concepts and comply with them?

Possible consequences in an emergency

Compliance with hygiene concepts is currently the order of the day for all companies - and not just to fulfill their duty of care as an employer. If an infection does occur and several employees fall ill as a result, this can also have tangible economic consequences: Staff absence jeopardizes the maintenance of regular production. If qualified, trained staff are absent from key positions, products and services can no longer be offered or can only be offered inadequately. There is a risk of the supply chain being impaired or even interrupted. In the worst case scenario, this can result in painful contractual penalties.

If the company can also be proven to have acted with gross negligence by failing to meet its duty of care in the context of employee and consumer protection, claims for damages can be asserted - by employees, suppliers, customers, guests or end consumers. In addition, there is a negative public perception of the company and possibly negative press coverage, which can lead to a loss of image.

Proven measures for effective risk prevention

What measures have already proven effective in the first few months of the pandemic? Of course, wherever possible, care should be taken to ensure that the minimum distance of 1.5 to 2 meters can be maintained, that all work and recreation rooms are ventilated as well as possible and that high humidity is avoided. To this end, it is advisable to analyze the room air and check it regularly. Work clothing and equipment should also be cleaned more frequently than before.

In public areas of a company with a high volume of staff - so-called "high touch areas" - preventive hygiene and infection control measures such as regular surface cleaning must be introduced. These include reception areas, canteens or cafeterias, open-plan offices and conference or event rooms. Here it may sometimes be necessary to provide guidance by means of markings on the floor or using demarcation stands. If possible, it also makes sense to separate entrances and exits in order to maintain a uniform direction.

It is also crucial to train employees in workplace-related and personal hygiene and protection measures. Companies can do this through e-learning and online employee certification programs from independent providers such as Intertek. Company and division-specific solutions range from Covid-19 related programs to modules on the proper use of face masks, gloves and personal protective equipment (PPE) to courses focusing on food safety, hygiene, disinfection/cleaning and preventing the spread of infection.

Effective approaches to risk minimization in production plants

Creating and implementing a hygiene concept is one thing - monitoring it is another. However, this is extremely important and must not be neglected. After all, the pandemic, which has now been going on for several months, has already shown this: After a while, sloppiness sets in - whether consciously or unconsciously - and the applicable regulations are no longer taken quite so seriously.

To counteract this, a neutral monitoring system must be developed that reliably displays and evaluates the current risk in the company or in a process. This enables the person responsible to adapt the hygiene concept quickly and effectively if the situation changes. This may be the case, for example, if there is a renewed increase in the number of cases, new legal requirements or the latest findings in infectiology.