Question: How should workstations be arranged to achieve as little contact as possible between employees in the workplace

Answer passage (source: UK):
page_title: Shops and branches
section_headers: 7. Workforce management
7.1 Shift patterns and working groups
section_content: In this section

7.1 Shift patterns and working groups
7.2 Work-related travel
7.3 Communications and training

7.1 Shift patterns and working groups
Objective: To change the way work is organised to create distinct groups and
reduce the number of contacts each worker has.
Steps that will usually be needed:


As far as possible, where workers are split into teams or shift groups, fixing these teams or shift groups so that where contact is unavoidable, this happens between the same people.


Identifying areas where people have to directly pass things to each other and find ways to remove direct contact such as by using drop-off points or transfer zones.



Reviewer feedback on this answer:
It doesn’t go into spatial planning specifics but does suggest how to find areas that are close for employees and may need modifications.
There are a few tips about how to stay distanced, but it does not focus on the set up of work stations.

Reviewer ratings:
Could be Improved
Could be Improved

Answer passage (source: UK):
page_title: Restaurants offering takeaway or delivery
section_headers: 3. Social distancing at work
3.3 Workplaces and workstations
section_content: Objective: To maintain social distancing between individuals when they are at
their workstations.
For people who work in one place, workstations should allow them to maintain
social distancing from one another as well as the public.
Workstations should be assigned to an individual as much as possible. If they
need to be shared, they should be shared by the smallest possible number of
people.
If it is not possible to keep workstations 2m apart then businesses should
consider whether that activity needs to continue for the business to operate,
and if so take all mitigating actions possible to reduce the risk of
transmission.
Steps that will usually be needed:


Reviewing layouts and processes to allow staff to work further apart from each other.


Only where it is not possible to move workstations further apart, arranging people to work side-by-side or facing away from each other rather than face-to-face.


Only where it is not possible to move workstations further apart, using screens to separate people from each other.


Using floor tape or paint to mark areas to help workers keep to a 2m distance.


Using screens to create a physical barrier between people where appropriate, for example, considering areas such as till points.


3.3.1 Food preparation
Objective: To maintain social distancing and reduce contact where possible in
kitchens and other food preparation areas.
COVID-19 is a respiratory illness. It is not known to be transmitted by
exposure to food or food packaging.
Steps that will usually be needed:


Following government guidance on managing food preparation and food service areas.


Allowing kitchen access to as few people as possible.


Minimising interaction between kitchen staff and other workers, including when on breaks.


Putting teams into shifts to restrict the number of workers interacting with each other.


Spacing workstations 2m apart as much as possible, recognising the difficulty of moving equipment such as sinks, hobs and ovens. Consider cleanable panels to separate workstations in larger kitchens.


Providing floor marking to signal distances of 2m apart.


Using ‘one way’ traffic flows to minimise contact.


Minimising access to walk-in pantries, fridges and freezers, for example, with only one person being able to access these areas at one point in time.


Minimising contact at ‘handover’ points with other staff, such as when presenting food to serving staff and delivery drivers.


3.3.2 Food consumption areas
Objective: To maintain social distancing and reduce contact where possible in
public spaces. Current guidance for public spaces is as follows:

bar areas must be closed
seated restaurants and cafe areas must be closed
all food and drink outlets should be takeaway only

Steps that will usually be needed:

Using signage to make clear to customers and the public that these areas are closed.

*[COVID-19]: coronavirus

Reviewer feedback on this answer:
There are many details about setting up workstations and how to keep employees safe.
This gives great detail on how to handle workspace planning.

Reviewer ratings:
Excellent
Excellent

Answer passage (source: UK):
page_title: Offices and contact centres
section_headers: 3. Social distancing at work
3.3 Workplaces and workstations
section_content: Objective: To maintain social distancing between individuals when they are at
their workstations.
For people who work in one place, workstations should allow them to maintain
social distancing wherever possible.
Workstations should be assigned to an individual and not shared. If they need
to be shared they should be shared by the smallest possible number of people.
If it is not possible to keep workstations 2m apart then businesses should
consider whether that activity needs to continue for the business to operate
and if so take all mitigating actions possible to reduce the risk of
transmission.
Steps that will usually be needed:


Review layouts and processes to allow people to work further apart from each other.


Using floor tape or paint to mark areas to help workers keep to a 2m distance.


Only where it is not possible to move workstations further apart, arranging people to work side by side or facing away from each other rather than face-to-face.


Only where it is not possible to move workstations further apart, using screens to separate people from each other.


Managing occupancy levels to enable social distancing.


Avoiding use of hot desks and spaces and, where not possible, for example, call centres or training facilities, cleaning and sanitising workstations between different occupants including shared equipment.



Reviewer feedback on this answer:
There is a concise answer to the user's question and gives lots of tips for setting up workstations.
This fully addresses spatial planning concerns for employee workstations

Reviewer ratings:
Excellent
Acceptable