There were a few days to go for the end
of the lockdown imposed due to COVID pandemic. Indian economy had gone into
mythical Kumbakarna style sleep with vitals or essential goods being allowed to
be transacted, while it was either suspended animation or enforced hibernation
in other economies.
Churanlal was a wholesale distributor of
pharmaceutical products. He was not a diehard adherent of either Allopathy,
Ayurveda or Homeopathy. He believed only in what he called “profitopathy” ie.,
he would sell any products that would fetch profits for him and therefore he
stocked all types of profitable medicines.
Recently, he had diversified into another
profitable business of developing apps for the help of patients. The architect of
the app was his trusted lieutenant Ajay Dev. He studied computer science during
graduation but yearned to become Sherlock Holmes and therefore dabbled in all
fields of science in his pastime. Whatever he did, it oozed with passion. So
much so he believed that the app was infused with his alter-ego and he felt
that he was speaking to his alter-ego when he used the app.
Churanlal was concerned about resuming
operations at his office. So he decided to call on Ajay Dev and chalk out a
plan for this purpose. Churanlal was specifically concerned about using
printers in his office. He had more than 25 employees at his office and all of
them accessed the same printer, unlike other office equipment. Ajay Dev
enumerated the safeguards to be taken:-
At the time of opening office:-
When office resumes operations after a
long break, it is important to apply disinfectants and clean the entire office.
Besides, it is important to perform a thorough electrical maintenance drill to
avert any electrical mishaps.
Once operations resume:-
Employees have to strictly adhere to
social distancing, wear facemasks and follow frequent hand sanitizing
practices.
The office printer to be relocated to a
place where it is not surrounded by employees. Preferably one person can be
authorised to collect the printouts and hand it over to the employee concerned
who had fired the print and she can be asked to follow frequent hand hygiene.
Access to the tray of the printer and the panel can be limited.
Churanlal was confused and asked to
explain the scientific basis. Ajay explained it. There was a scientific study
conducted and published in a reputed Medical Journal comparing the time during
which Covid virus survived on different surfaces. Covid viruses are transmitted
through droplets released at the time of coughing or sneezing or even while
talking. The size of each droplet can be either less than or more than 5
microns. It is called aerosol when it is less than 5 microns. To appreciate the
size of micron, Ajay contrasted this with a strand of human hair that is
approximately 50 microns.
The Covid virus exists in aerosols for
three hours before decaying while the same virus can last for three days on
plastic and steel but only for four hours on copper. Cardboard carried the
virus for almost a day.
A printer surface is usually made of
plastic while the printout is on a paper. Hence a four-fold strategy can help
thwart spread of the virus:-
- Keep the printer away from a congested
place in office;
- Limit the number of employees physically
accessing the printer
- Ensure that the accessing employee/s
wears face mask and follows strict hand hygiene every two hours;
- The plastic surface of the printer can be
cleaned at frequent intervals with a cleaning liquid meant for such surfaces
taking all precautions necessary for cleaning electrical equipment
Ajay stressed that discipline was the key
in such circumstances and any deviations from the laid down protocol has to be
sternly dealt with. Churanlal was quite relieved and decided to practice the
precepts of Ajay.
Content by:-
Pradeep S
Chief Financial Officer
WeP Dgital Services
Dt. 15-05-2020
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