Imagine what happens when the industrial doors of the elevator open and someone is already inside? What does the average person do then? Wait further for the next elevator? Or get in? In general it depends on the person’s mood.
But what about imagining the above scenario during the COVID-19 pandemic? How would that feel during the pandemic? In the wake of it, practicing precautions and investing in elevator technologies is thus important to avert the spread of the virus in elevators.
As the world is transitioning back to the normal routine, elevators provide the easiest way of reaching floors above the ground level in most office buildings, apartments, condos and malls. Experts working at a facilities management company in Saudi Arabia based in Dammam agree with it, and further credit elevators with easing movement of people.
Also, buildings having elevators need to practice hygiene and security guidelines for elevators as it goes a long way for ensuring overall public safety in these tough times. It is also a must that people become aware of all these measures.
Elevators are close quarters. To further compound the issue, it is used by millions of people each day. This means they can be one of the best places to spread any kind of virus.
What is the role of facility management in this regard?
Hence, not only should the facility management team of any building or organization or residential cooperative society install the needed measures and guidelines to ensure safe use of elevators but also should make sure elevator users are aware of these measures and follow them in letter and spirit.
For anyone using an elevator, they need to know how to maintain their personal hygiene and safety inside one. Hence here are some guidelines for facility management teams to implement and for tenants to follow:
Limits on Passengers
Facility and building management teams following the guidelines of social distancing by public health institutions have instituted a limit on the number of people using an elevator, ranging from 2 people to 4 people.
While it can be difficult to manage such things on a small scale and enforce these measures, through addition of visible warnings for people to use the stairs or limiting the number of people using each elevator. This may however let people adhere to such a regulation for the most part.
Caution in using toothpicks at the elevator lobby and inside of them
Another simple step worth following is sticking a piece of thermocol material outside the elevator and inside of it as well. These thermocol pieces will have toothpicks stuck on them. Their purpose is to prevent the passengers from touching the elevator buttons themselves. Instead, the toothpicks have thermocol buttons shaped as circles at their end working as push switches.
Other than that, a cut out bottle can be hung outside for people and building management to throw the used toothpicks in them for safe disposal.
Wearing masks within both the elevator and facing the wall as well
Experts suggest that no one should remove their face mask when travelling in the elevator. AS the COVID-19 novel coronavirus is airborne, it travels in saliva particles and vapors. Moreover, it would be best for people to face the walls when there are a lot more people getting in the elevator.
Installing dispensers having hand sanitizers in elevator lobbies
Facility management teams of most buildings with elevators should install hand sanitizer dispensers in lobbies and elevator entrances. This ensures residents, workers and employees alike make good use of them for sanitization. Elevator buttons are frequently touched so hence.
Facility management teams must also ensure that frequent disinfection of elevators should help maintain safety and hygiene for users. On the other hand, anyone using an elevator should follow the guidelines pertaining to safe use of elevators. They also must sanitize themselves before getting on board and after leaving it.
Time restrictions are always present
Apart from restrictions on elevator capacity (here facility management teams limit the number of passengers per elevator), building and facility management teams can also employ the use of time restrictions. This helps avoid traffic ams by creating tenant and employee start times for elevator usage.
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