What Is a Sneeze Guard?
As businesses begin to transition back to in-person interactions, managers are concerned about how to continue to safeguard against the spread of COVID-19 and other pathogens. Face masks and sanitizer go a long way toward effectively protecting employees, but when staff members are required to be in close, extended contact with the public, more robust measures could be necessary.
What’s a Sneeze Guard?
One option for protecting employees from droplets is a sneeze guard. Sneeze guards are protective barriers, usually made from plexiglass or acrylic, that are placed between staff members and customers. They are excellent for stopping the spread of germs from people who sneeze, cough or talk without a mask.
Sneeze guards were once rare outside of buffets, but in the age of COVID-19, many businesses have adopted this type of protection. Sneeze guards can be used to promote the health and safety of both employees and customers in a variety of businesses, including:
- Restaurants
- Banks
- Pharmacies
- Doctor’s offices
- Grocery stores
- Gyms
- Schools
If your business has a reception desk, cash register or checkout counter, it would benefit from the addition of a sneeze guard.
Do Sneeze Guards Work?
Sneeze guards are as effective as face masks at reducing the spread of germs or droplets from close human contact. Many viruses can live on surfaces for up to 72 hours, so any tool that reduces the opportunity for them to land and multiply is helpful.
Sneeze guards are durable, portable and easy to see and hear through. They’re a highly visible way to reinforce your business or school’s health and safety protocols. Protecting your staff from outbreaks is not just good for their health and well-being, it will also help to save you the expense and stress of a forced closure due to a viral outbreak.
Many customers prefer to frequent businesses with robust health and safety requirements. The presence of sneeze guards can help instill peace of mind for them.
There are several types of sneeze guards on the market that can address your company’s needs. These include large front desk kits and small front desk kits that can be placed at any cash register or reception desk as well as school desk shields made to fit on each student’s desk. The size of the sneeze guard is important; if it’s too small, it won’t effectively protect your staff from stray droplets.
Sneeze guards can be easily added to your business without the need for extensive changes to your processes or working environments. They provide as much protection as masks, especially in workplaces where the option to maintain six feet of distance between staff and customers is not possible.
