Hypothetical question: In an office building type environment

[thatsbaseball]

if everybody came to work equipped with N95 masks, plenty of hand sanitizer and well schooled in proper sanitary/hygiene procedures. Could a safe work environment be created even when something like this is going on ? I mean I know it wouldn't be as effective as a "shut down" but maybe looking towards "the next time".

 

[BlueRidgeMtns]

It'll never be 100% effective because of human error and the small percent that is intentionally jackasses.

Having said that, I wouldn't be surprised if OSHA started requiring some type of emergency supplies that includes N95 masks and the like regardless of occupation.

 

[DesotoCountyDawg]

It would drastically reduce the chances of transmission but it would not be 100% full proof

 

[DeputyBulldog]

I don’t trust others to wear them correctly. I’ve seen folks with it only coveringtheir mouth. Nose completely uncovered.

 

[thatsbaseball]

I guess I'm just thinking along the lines of "the cure being worse than the disease". This scenario is going to happen again but we can't do what we've done this time on every occasion going forward.

 

[PBRME]

If there was enough supply for that it would be a step in the right direction of getting everyone back. You would need to add Lysol spray and sanitizing wipes also. Most common used/touched areas would need wiped down often. There would still be spreading of the virus but nothing like we’re seeing now.

 

[codeDawg]

if everybody came to work equipped with N95 masks, plenty of hand sanitizer and well schooled in proper sanitary/hygiene procedures. Could a safe work environment be created even when something like this is going on ? I mean I know it wouldn't be as effective as a "shut down" but maybe looking towards "the next time".

I think office work is the easiest to do from home. Nobody that has that kind of job should be having major issues doing their job unless there is special equipment needed. For sure, that is a real thing in many professions such as engineering, but so much of that is digital these days.

 

[DawgEStyle]

As this was ramping up a few weeks ago and we were still in the office, I was paying attention to these things as everyone was. We are in a 3-4 year old building that is very "Google-ish". Because the company kept all the doors propped open between different sections of the building, the only thing I had to touch was the door going in and out of the building and the elevator buttons. The bathrooms had no door (turn corners to enter), motion activated flush, soap, water and towels. I never noticed these things before but with those little things I felt more comfortable for sure. With that said, unless you're working in a CDC type lab, I don't think you could be 100% protective no matter what.

 

[Jeffreauxdawg]

if everybody came to work equipped with N95 masks... I mean I know it wouldn't be as effective as a "shut down" but maybe looking towards "the next time".

Maybe it would work, but every phone call would be a conversation with Charlie Brown's parents or teachers.

I think we have learned pretty much the single most important thing is testing and isolating at the very beginning.

If I had a time machine I would go back to January 1 and tell Trump if he goes all in with everything he's got in getting the tests manufactured, by February 1, he would have millions ready and could test everyone coming into the country, sell all of the extras to all of the other countries to get a little trade surplus going, he would have boosted the economy, won a landslide election in November, and got himself a Nobel Peace Prize.

China would have looked like the ******** they are to the rest of the world and cowered to his trade deal. The biggest political fight for the next few years would be whether to make him the fifth head on Rushmore or go stag like the Crazy Horse monument.

 

[My Bru]

Offices aren't the problem, it's the schools. They'll never be fully sanitized. And nothing else has contributed to the shut down more than the lack of school/child care.

My high school didn't even have soap in the restrooms. Just effing water.

 

[Jeffreauxdawg]

Offices aren't the problem, it's the schools. They'll never be fully sanitized. And nothing else has contributed to the shut down more than the lack of school/child care.

My high school didn't even have soap in the restrooms. Just effing water.

Your highschool had restrooms?