At the start of the 2020 pandemic, managers of solid waste service organizations took steps to protect employees and minimize the number of people in the office in an effort to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Most service providers arranged for administrative, clerical and customer service professionals to work from home. As the pandemic continues, organizations should plan and prepare for the eventual return of workers to the workplace when it is safe.
By Will Flower

The collection and management of solid waste has proven to be an amazingly strong component of the essential infrastructure in the U.S. With few exceptions, waste collection services were uninterrupted during the pandemic as waste moved from the curb, to transfer stations and to final disposal locations. In most cases, no services were cut and no delays were encountered.
Drivers, helpers, mechanics, heavy equipment operators and dispatchers did awesome work keeping society safe and clean. Day in and day out, these heroes woke up, got dressed, left their families and humbly got the job done. At the same time, the important administrative processes of customer service, sales, billing, and accounting were continuing remotely—away from the office.

Managing the Returning Workforce
As the country stabilizes from the pandemic and stay-at-home restrictions are lifted, companies will slowly begin bringing administrative workers back to the physical workplace. Managing the migration of the work-from-home and furloughed workforce back to the office and transfer stations requires careful planning and preparation. Importantly, employee health and safety are a shared responsibility and both managers and employees need to work together in the ongoing battle against the virus.
The following are some steps to consider when brining people back into the office environment:

1. Use Guidance from the Experts: The CDC, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Labor and local health agencies have resources to assist employers.
2. Prepare the office and establish new procedures for workspace cleaning: Sanitize all workspace areas including offices, conference rooms, training rooms, restrooms, reception areas and break rooms.
3. Review cleaning protocols with night cleaning staff and determine areas that require heavy cleaning due to usage such as dispatch, conference rooms, restrooms, locker rooms, etc.
4. Procure cleaning supplies: Make gloves and cleaning supplies readily available to workers. Ask workers to use disinfecting wipes to regularly clean their keyboards, tablets, telephones and workspace. Assign someone the task of wiping down the copiers, fax machines, printers and other shared office equipment.
5. Change filters in all HVAC units as part of the spring/summer HVAC maintenance program.
6. Communicate with workers to explain the process of returning to the workplace: Make sure to communicate who is expected to return and when. Use the communication to explain new procedures and protocols for the workplace. Allow for, and listen to, employee feedback.
7. Develop a control plan for access to building/facility: Consider the special needs for scale houses, lobby control, mail and package delivery. Develop a visitor policy.
8. Maintain safe distancing: This may require changes in walkways, restrictions on congregating, limiting in-person meetings and reducing surface touch points. Post signage to remind employees to maintain safe distances.
9. Develop plans and policies that address issuance, use and disposal of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Also, ensure the necessary amount of PPE is readily available to employees. Assess supply chain and explore options for purchasing additional supplies required for on-going business operations if needed.
10. Establish procedures and contingency plans to address the impact of potential resurgence of the virus after reopening the workplace.

A Safe Return
As employees return to work, it is important to focus on their physical, emotional and psychological needs. A good plan will include a strong communication component to help reduce anxieties that employees may have about returning to work. Most importantly, the plan should be flexible and adaptable to changing conditions as you prepare for a safe, efficient, and effective return to the office. | WA

Will Flower is the Vice President of Corporate and Public Affairs at Winters Bros. Waste Systems. Will has 36 years of experience in the field of solid waste management and environmental protection. He has held operational and executive leadership positions at the Director’s Office of the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, Waste Management, Inc., Republic Services. Inc. and Green Stream Recycling. Share your safety tip. Submit your suggestions to Will Flower at [email protected].

Sponsor