Question: What steps need to be taken to maintain social distancing when using office common areas?

Answer passage (source: UK):
page_title: Offices and contact centres
section_headers: 3. Social distancing at work
3.2 Moving around buildings and worksites
section_content: Objective: To maintain social distancing wherever possible while people travel
through the workplace.
Steps that will usually be needed:


Reducing movement by discouraging non-essential trips within buildings and sites, for example, restricting access to some areas, encouraging use of radios or telephones, where permitted, and cleaning them between use.


Restricting access between different areas of a building or site.


Reducing job and location rotation.


Introducing more one-way flow through buildings.


Reducing maximum occupancy for lifts, providing hand sanitiser for the operation of lifts and encouraging use of stairs wherever possible.


Making sure that people with disabilities are able to access lifts.


Regulating use of high traffic areas including corridors, lifts turnstiles and walkways to maintain social distancing.



Example lift practices.

Reviewer feedback on this answer:
Answers the question. Multiple recommendations. Very descriptive.
The response is good because it lists several useful and specific tips on how to maintain social distancing within the workplace that will work for different kinds of establishments.

Reviewer ratings:
Excellent
Excellent

Answer passage (source: UK):
page_title: Offices and contact centres
section_headers: 3. Social distancing at work
3.5 Common areas
section_content: Objective: To maintain social distancing while using common areas.
Steps that will usually be needed:


Working collaboratively with landlords and other tenants in multi-tenant sites/buildings to ensure consistency across common areas, for example, receptions, staircases.


Staggering break times to reduce pressure on break rooms or canteens.


Using safe outside areas for breaks.


Creating additional space by using other parts of the workplace or building that have been freed up by remote working.


Installing screens to protect staff in receptions or similar areas.


Providing packaged meals or similar to avoid fully opening staff canteens.


Encouraging workers to bring their own food.


Reconfiguring seating and tables to maintain spacing and reduce face-to-face interactions.


Encouraging staff to remain on-site and, when not possible, maintaining social distancing while off-site.


Regulating use of locker rooms, changing areas and other facility areas to reduce concurrent usage.


Encouraging storage of personal items and clothing in personal storage spaces, for example, lockers and during shifts.



Reviewer feedback on this answer:
Answers the question with multiple descriptive recommendations.
While the response isn't workplace specific it does include several tips that work in the workplace and others that while not geared toward the workplace they could still be useful within that kind of setting.

Reviewer ratings:
Excellent
Acceptable

Answer passage (source: UK):
page_title: Labs and research facilities
section_headers: 3. Social distancing at work
3.5 Common areas
section_content: Objective: To maintain social-distancing while using common areas. Modern lab
and research buildings are often designed with many common areas to encourage
collaboration and networking.
Steps that will usually be needed:


Staggering break times to reduce pressure on break rooms or places to eat.


Using safe outside areas for breaks.


Creating additional space by using other parts of the worksite or building that have been freed up by remote working.


Installing screens to protect staff in receptions or similar areas.


Providing packaged meals or similar to avoid opening staff canteens.


Encouraging workers to bring their own food.


Reconfiguring seating and tables to maintain spacing and reduce face-to-face interactions.


Encouraging staff to remain on-site and, when not possible, maintaining social distancing while off-site.


Regulating use of locker rooms, changing areas and other facility areas to reduce concurrent usage.


Encouraging storage of personal items and clothing in personal storage spaces, for example lockers, during working hours.



Reviewer feedback on this answer:
Answers the question with multiple recommendations.
There are 10 tips given in this response and every one of them is useful in a workplace setting.

Reviewer ratings:
Excellent
Excellent