Question: Should I practice social distancing in the common areas at work?

Answer passage (source: UK):
page_title: Labs and research facilities
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, and encouraging use of radios or telephones, where permitted, and cleaning them between use.


Removing access controls on low category labs so that people do not have to use access cards.


Restricting access between different areas of a building or site, if possible.


Using fixed teams or adjusting booking processes to reduce the number of people in a lab at the same time to avoid overcrowding.


Introducing more one-way flow through buildings, paying particular attention to long corridors which can be more common in laboratory 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:
It answers the question implicitly by providing a detailed guideline on how people can practice social distancing in the workplace.
This does not answer the question. This is Covid-19 information on how to maintain social-distancing while people travel through the workplace. It does not provide any information on social-distancing in the common areas at work as asked in the question.

Reviewer ratings:
Acceptable
Bad

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:
It answers the question directly and provides a guideline on how people can maintain social distancing in common areas.
This is a direct answer to the question. This answer provides information on how to social-distance when using common areas at work.

Reviewer ratings:
Excellent
Excellent

Answer passage (source: UK):
page_title: Labs and research facilities
section_headers: 3. Social distancing at work
3.6 Accidents, security and other incidents
section_content: Objective: To prioritise safety during incidents.
In an emergency, for example, a chemical spill, fire or break-in, people do
not have to stay 2m apart if it would be unsafe.
People involved in the provision of assistance to others should pay particular
attention to sanitation measures immediately afterwards, including washing
hands.

Reviewer feedback on this answer:
The answer does not have anything to do with maintaining social distancing in common areas but is about safety during emergencies.
This answer is irrelevant to the question. The question is asking for information on social distancing in common areas at work. However, the answer provides information on social distancing during incidents or in an emergency.

Reviewer ratings:
Bad
Bad