Safety First—How Sneeze Guards Can Help Protect Your Employees and Customers
In the era of COVID-19, safety is at the forefront of business leaders’ decision-making. As many states begin to lift restrictions, business owners are faced with the questions of how to safely open, keep employees and customers safe, and continue to help slow the spread of the coronavirus. Throughout the pandemic, businesses have helped maintain social distancing in grocery stores and other essential businesses with the use of clear plastic barriers, also known as sneeze guards.
In this article, we’ll explore the benefits and types of plastic barriers. Then, you can determine which clear dividers are right for your business.
What Are Sneeze Guards?
Sneeze guards—also known as cough guards—are clear polycarbonate, acrylic, or plexiglass dividers designed to separate people that come in close contact with one another, whether for social interaction or business transactions. These social-distancing barriers can help reduce the transmission of the coronavirus by blocking airborne droplets produced by coughing, sneezing, or speaking.
The Benefits of Plexiglass, Acrylic, or Polycarbonate Sheeting
Plexiglass, acrylic, or polycarbonate sheeting are ideal materials to use for sneeze guards. These materials are considerably lighter than glass, more impact resistant, and are shatter resistant. They offer exceptional visual clarity to help interactions feel more natural and are easy to clean and disinfect with non-abrasive cleaning agents. Plus, plastic sheeting is easier to drill into and manipulate than glass.
The Options Are Endless
Whether you’d like to construct your own plastic barriers with raw materials and hardware, or you’d prefer to purchase your sneeze guards premade and ready to assemble, there are so many options available.
Build Your Own
If you’d like to take matters into your own hands, there is a vast array of acrylic, plexiglass, and polycarbonate sheeting products available. Plastic sheeting is offered in a variety of dimensions and thicknesses to suit the needs of your workspace. Design the ideal configuration to help your employees and customers feel safe and comfortable.
Get Yours Premade
The use of sneeze guards is critical across multiple industries. Whether you’re in an office setting or customer service industry such as restaurant, retail, or banking, there are so many premade plastic divider styles to choose from.
Some of our favorite designs come with premade stands so you can easily set them up without the need for drilling. Self-supported plastic dividers are also portable for optimal versatility. The divider (pictured below) is ideal for an office setting where meetings take place.
Grocery stores, retailers, bankers, and others can benefit from a plastic divider with an opening. A convenient cutout allows items to be passed back and forth while maintaining social distance. There are also shields available to accommodate credit card readers.
On a larger scale, sneeze guards are also offered in a cubicle-style arrangement to accommodate tables. Ideal for an office setting, this plastic divider with compartments (pictured below) is suitable for workspaces, breakrooms, lunchrooms, and more.
Peace of Mind
Not only do sneeze guards help mitigate the transmission of the coronavirus, but they can also help promote a greater sense of wellbeing for your employees and customers. If you’re ready, Zoro has sneeze guard solutions—from plastic sheeting to premade designs—to help you get started today.
Product Compliance and Suitability
The product statements contained in this guide are intended for general informational purposes only. Such product statements do not constitute a product recommendation or representation as to the appropriateness, accuracy, completeness, correctness or currentness of the information provided. Information provided in this guide does not replace the use by you of any manufacturer instructions, technical product manual, or other professional resource or adviser available to you. Always read, understand and follow all manufacturer instructions.
