Why Are Sneeze Guards Important?

Business owners across the globe are adapting to the unchartered territory of the global pandemic that is COVID-19. While many employers have issued work from home policies organizations and industries have had to take necessary steps in preparation to protect their employees’ health and safety in the workplace. One of the most common safety steps that businesses take is the installation of sneeze guards where social distancing can be limited within the workplace.

How do sneeze shields protect your customer and staff?

While the viral infection COVID-19 can be passed from person to person in a variety of ways, the main way is through respiratory droplets from sneezing, coughing, talking, or breathing. Although the new normal of maintaining six feet in social distancing may help prevent some germs from being transmitted, many instances require both customers and workers to be in closer contact. Those who cough or sneeze may transmit the virus further than the social distance protects. For example, according to the American Lung Association, a cough can travel up to 50 mph and expel up to 3,000 droplets that can include the virus. A sneeze is even more potent with travel speeds up to 100 mph and the capabilities to disburse upwards of 100,000 respiratory droplets. This is where sneeze shields protect both your customers and employees.

Created from a transparent acrylic sheet or glass screen and framed with aluminum sneeze guard posts, the completed sneeze guard frame creates a germ barrier from person to person which assists in preventing the transmission of the coronavirus. The visual representation of the additional safety precaution may also serve as a reminder to use proper hygiene practices like hand washing or wearing protective gloves and face masks.

Design Options for Aluminum Sneeze Guards Posts

Although there are currently no enforceable government codes that require the use of germ barriers, the CDC and FDA both encourage the use of sanitary partitions in all places of business. The most effective types of sneeze shields are those that are both tall and wide enough to protect the staff or customers when both sitting or standing. This ensures that the person is guarded in most types of interactions.

Elevating the design of your cough or sneeze shields is easy with the right materials. Using aluminum extrusions for plexiglass to frame your sanitary partition allows for a professional and intentional appearance to the addition of a sneezeguard. Many businesses use tubing connectors and aluminum framing systems to create an easy assembly of their sneeze guard posts and sneeze guard frames which typically accepts ¼” acrylic, plexiglass, polycarbonate, or glass. Other options include aluminum F channels, U channels, hat channels, dividers, or out corners to create a sneeze guard frame to accept a variety of sized acrylics for a seamless and cohesive appearance of the sanitary guard.

By choosing to anodize or powder coat the aluminum sneeze guard posts you’ve chosen, you can create an appearance that blends well with the overall design and aesthetics while ensuring the safety barrier doesn’t look like an afterthought.

Where Should Sneeze Guard Frames be Installed?

The acrylic and extruded aluminum sanitary stations or sneeze bars are often installed in commercial locations to protect both staff and customers. Specifically, the sanitary features are installed in places like reception desks, above and around cubicles, between warehouse workstations, on bank teller booths, in doctor and dentist offices, at register desks or checkout counters in retail and grocery stores, in classrooms, between stations at casinos, and even in airports or public transportation locations.

Would something more temporary or portable suit your needs in a better way? Extruded aluminum is a lightweight metal and makes the perfect solution for a portable tabletop sneeze guard or free standing sneeze guard. This would allow you to take your countertop sneeze guard wherever you need to shield both your staff and customers from airborne contagions.

Eagle Mouldings is Here to Help

Eagle Mouldings is your source for aluminum extrusions for plexiglass, polycarbonate sheets, or glass needed to create your sneeze guards. With a huge inventory of stocked material ready to ship and the capabilities to create a custom aluminum extrusion to your specifications, Eagle Mouldings is prepared to help you create a safer work environment. Contact our customer service staff today for more information!