— By John Goetz — Removing the fear from food: foodborne illness and prevention best practices. Foodborne illnesses can wreak havoc on the foodservice industry and its patrons. One in 10 people fall ill every year from eating contaminated food, and 420,000 people die worldwide annually as a result. Outside of the human impact, the financial cost of these incidents is also immense. According to a study by researchers at John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, an outbreak at a fast food restaurant could cost between $3,968 and …
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— By Jon Dommisse — Six ways the pandemic is transforming restroom design. The global pandemic of COVID-19 is fast-tracking infection control technologies and products in public restrooms. While cleanliness has always been a goal in designing restrooms, coronavirus has underscored the need for hygienic, sterile and safe environments. Companies, educational institutions and municipalities are all now evaluating new procedures and products for their restroom facilities. “Businesses are looking at short term and long term fixes for operating safely,” says Michelle Kempen WRID, WELL AP, ASID, with Kahler Slater, …
— By Marc Ferguson — A closer look at electrostatic sprayers. Of all industries, COVID-19 has impacted the hospitality industry just about the hardest. Now, as restaurants around the country begin to reopen, most are taking several steps to ensure patrons feel safe and are safe in their properties. One restaurant in Texas went so far as to hire a “bathroom monitor.” The duties of this bathroom monitor is to clean restrooms after every use. While most restaurants and hospitality properties are increasing cleaning frequencies considerably, for most, cleaning restrooms …
— By Danny Miller, Transformative Wave — The airborne transmission of COVID-19 has impacted many retail and restaurant facilities in their ability to safely operate indoors. As facility operators look to comply with COVID-19 safety guidance, there are three battlefronts that have arisen: disinfection, filtration and ventilation. Numerous products are being marketed and confusion can arise about what should be the priority. Disinfection Disinfection attempts to kill the virus include using products like UV-C lights or bipolar ionization. UV-C has been shown to be effective but largely on stationary …
— By Fabio Vitali — Protecting your brand in a precarious time. As businesses open their doors following COVID-19-related closures, they face a range of new challenges. From sourcing essential supplies and meeting the increased demand for cleaning to adjusting building capacities and employee schedules, businesses will need to adapt to new standards while protecting their brand image. Three elements — hand hygiene, clean surfaces and environmental responsibility — can all support brand protection during a delicate reopening process, because they all reduce risk in some way. In Good …
San Francisco — Gap Inc. has launched a B2B product program focused on offering large organizations high-quality reusable, non-medical grade cloth face masks to supply to their employees as they welcome them back to work. With the tremendous impact COVID-19 has on the world, Gap Inc. has leaned in and worked quickly to serve customers in compelling and differentiated ways. As employers look to provide their teams and customers with a safe and healthy work environment, Gap Inc. has leveraged its deep supply chain relationships and agile operations to provide …
— By Deb Millette — Advice for facilities management teams in the midst of COVID-19. [EDITOR’S NOTE: This article originally appeared in the May 2020 issue of Retail & Restaurant Facility Business magazine.] In the face of the worldwide pandemic that is COVID-19, people and businesses alike are facing challenges that are testing both mindsets and financial stability. With very little historical data to reference and guide business owners, everyone is taking a different approach. Some businesses have been forced to shut down, others have drastically shifted operational hours, …
— By Jude Charles — Retailers and restaurants all around the country are slowly considering the prospect of reopening their doors as federal, state and local restrictions begin to relax. While welcoming customers and employees back to your business should be met with excitement, it’s important to consider the risks associated with gradually increasing in-person operations. If your retail store or restaurant is like many others who temporarily paused operations or reduced staff, consider the following ideas for a safer, more successful return to work. Manage Onsite Visitors Due …
Woonsocket, R.I. — CVS Health joined other pharmacy chains and retailers at the White House on April 27, 2020 to announce the next phase in COVID-19 testing. In addition to the large-scale test sites the company has been operating since March, CVS Health will utilize its expansive community presence to bring testing closer to home while maintaining strict safety standards. “Our industry has been united by the unique role we can play in addressing the pandemic and protecting people’s health,” says Larry J. Merlo, president and CEO, CVS Health. “We all …
Deerfield, Ill. — To provide greater access to COVID-19 testing and community resources, Deerfield, Ill.-based Walgreens is working to expand drive-thru testing to 15 new sites in seven states. The locations include Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Tennessee and Texas. The testing sites will utilize Abbott’s new test, which delivers positive results in as little as 5 minutes and negative results within 13 minutes. The 15 locations are being finalized in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and are planned for select hot spot markets with …