Now more than ever, it's important to take extra precautions to help keep your business safe and healthy for your customers and staff. While you're probably familiar with some of these safety measures like face shields and other PPE, you might not know much about sneeze guards. Sneeze guards are a product that businesses of all industries are using to help combat the spread of COVID-19. Let me walk you through what a sneeze guard is, why companies use them, how businesses use them, and why your company should consider using them as well.

What is a Sneeze Guard?

A sneeze guard is a plexiglass or acrylic barrier used by businesses to help fight the spread of pathogens. You have probably seen sneeze guards in restaurants or buffets before; sneeze guards were invented to help prevent pathogens from spreading to food through sneezing. In fact, there are now government regulations requiring self-service restaurants to have one. 

Due to the ongoing pandemic, businesses of all kinds are turning to sneeze guards for help. Sneeze guards don't just help prevent food from getting contaminated; they can also help protect employees. Place them at your checkout counter, check-in desk, or reservation stand to help limit exposure while allowing your company to continue safely doing business.

Sneeze Guard OPTIONS

There are several different sizes and styles of sneeze guards, but one of the most significant differences between them is that some have an opening, and some do not. The benefit of having an opening is that you can take payments. However, the opening also exposes your employee more. Which style of sneeze guard you need largely depends on your company's specific needs. Currently, the sneeze guards that we have available are: 

• 24 "x 24" with Opening
• 30 "x 40" with Opening
• 24 "x 24" without Opening
• 30 "x 40" without Opening

Benefits of Sneeze Guards

Sneeze guards are durable, portable, and offer full visibility. Also, as everyone knows the importance of sanitization right now, sneeze guards are easy to clean, so you can repeatedly use it at your business as long as you properly sanitize it. For more information on sanitization, please follow the CDCs guidelines.

Why Are Businesses Using Sneeze Guards?

While the CDC recommends practicing social distancing to prevent COVID-19, that may not always be possible in a business setting. Employees need to interact with customers, and in some cases, employees need more protection than gloves and a mask. Sneeze guards are one tool that helps allow customers and employees to interact safely thanks to the barrier of protection it provides. 

Without a sneeze guard, your employees can be susceptible to the contagious pathogens that can be spread in droplets from coughs and sneezes when dealing with customers. Did you know that a cough can travel 50 miles per hour and expel almost 3,000 droplets? Or, sneezes can go up to 100 mph and can create upwards of 100,000 droplets. With the barrier of protection that sneeze guards provide, employees have additional protection from those droplets. 

How Are Businesses Using Sneeze Guards?

Depending on the type of business, sneeze guards are used in different ways. One of the most common ways sneeze guards are being used is at the checkout counter. Placing a sneeze guard at checkout helps customers to pay for their goods and employees to interact with customers safely. Sneeze guards near registers can have an opening so that the cashier can accept the customer's payment or scan their items.

Another place to find sneeze guards is in customer service areas. We all know how important communication is, and sneeze guards help employees to communicate and assist customers with limited exposure.

While those are only two uses for sneeze guards, they can be used in other ways to suit the needs of your business. Just try and make sure that the sneeze guard is covering as much of your employee as possible, so they have limited exposure to droplets that come from coughs and sneezes.

Why Should My Business Use Sneeze Guards?

Now that you've learned all about sneeze guards, you might still be wondering why your business should use them. First and foremost, you should use sneeze guards to help promote health and safety at your workplace. During this challenging time, safety is priority number one, and sneeze guards are one precaution that can help make your business a safer place for everyone.

Additionally, promoting safety in your company will help your business. If you feel uncomfortable or unsafe at a store, would you continue to spend money there? Most likely not. According to a study conducted in May, only 23% of consumers feel safe going out to eat and going to a shopping mall. Taking extra safety precautions at your business, like using sneeze guards or other personal protective equipment (PPE) can help put the customer's mind at ease and make them feel comfortable in your business. 

Now you have all of the information you need to know about sneeze guards. Do you still have questions? Give us a call; our experts would be happy to help you. Stay safe.