8B — June 26 - July 16, 2020 — Ask The Experts — Owners, Developers & Managers — M id A tlantic Real Estate Journal
www.marej.com
Ask The Experts By Sam Shapiro, Able Services The Great Return to Work
G
etting back to the of- fice after a three-day weekend was never
reading, stickers demanding distance, and germ-killing sanitizer will constantly be in
begins with a plan and the plan needs to accommodate guidelines from national regu-
uncertainty are some of the is- sues covered in return to work plans. The common goal is for tenants and employees to re- turn to a safe and productive environment while the COVID virus risk is minimized. Able Services’ contribution to the ‘Great Return to Work’ includes highly visible clean- ing processes, disinfection and comprehensive behind- the scenes work involving a building’s HVAC, mechanical, and control systems. Increas- ing outside air ventilation, upgrading filtration, and monitoring building systems for damage or issues caused
by reduced activity are some of the practical steps taken to mitigate risk. Building systems require a water treat- ment plan in order to reopen buildings after a prolonged shutdown or reduced op- eration. On-site staff has been busy completing vari- ous projects while keeping buildings functional for their anticipated return of occu- pants. Building management is doing everything they can to make tenants safe and provide confidence that their workspaces are being oper- ated with the industry’s best practices. In March, Able Services and other national contractors formed the Cleaning Coalition of America with the purpose of bringing attention to our essential industry. In the busi- ness of servicing commercial buildings, it has become ap- parent to us that our focused efforts will help America re- turn to work. The Cleaning Co- alition sent a letter to congress to ensure that we get access to Personal Protective Equip- ment (PPE), cleaning supplies and extended healthcare cov- erage to protect our workers at no cost to them. Our ability to do our job actively fights the virus and keeps spaces visu- ally clean, but even more im- portantly, our work provides confidence to those returning to work in an office. There’s no sugar coating it, when we make the ‘Great Return to Work,’ things will be different and feel awkward. Staggered work schedules, two to an elevator, no lip reading, and no lunch buffets will be adjustments we all need to make. As best as we can, we’re working to make sure building inhabitants know they are get- ting the best possible cleaning and engineering services to fight the COVID virus and prevent its spread. The com- bined efforts of the Cleaning Coalition, site specific return to work planning, and highly visible maintenance activities are all intended to ensure that when people are in their offices, they will feel safe and comfortable. Our essential employees are here to make clean and healthy workspaces so tenants can be productive in their work and live healthy lives. Sam Shapiro, MBA, is the director of communications & sustainability initiatives for Able Services. MAREJ
e a s y . R e - turning on a Monday af- ter a long-en- dured shel- ter in place will be even more di f f i - cul t . Aside from an early
The combined efforts of the Cleaning Coalition, site specific return to work planning, and highly visible maintenance activities are all intended to ensure that when people are in their offices, they will feel safe and comfortable.
line of sight. And for the com- panies that are doing essen- tial work to ensure buildings are safe and operating with best practices, their positive outcomes are more valuable than ever. The ‘Great Return to Work’
latory agencies, local industry associations and common sense. Facility professionals have been hard at work adapt- ing their sites to new process- es and procedures. Commu- nication, health screenings, social distancing and general
Sam Shapiro
morning wakeup and post weekend lag, workers will be knowingly subjected to a lita- ny of COVID related measures during their ‘Great Return to Work.’ Signs that demand
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