Workplace Safety Since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, large and small businesses alike have had to reassess what it takes to offer a safe environment. Both the CDC and OSHA suggest the following measures (with stricter measures recommended in high-risk environments such as healthcare facilities): Frequent disinfection of common surfaces Maintaining at least 6 feet of distance from others whenever possible Face coverings—especially where social distancing isn’t possibl

Recommended precautions against COVID-19 Whatever social distancing guidelines are in place, some level of interaction is unavoidable. So it’s important to take the precautions we can to keep those interactions as safe as possible. By now the safety protocols recommended by the CDC have become familiar: Frequent disinfection of common surfaces Maintaining at least 6 feet of distance from others whenever possible Face coverings—especially where social distancing isn’t possible

Superspreading: What we expected Early on in the COVID-19 pandemic, boarding a plane sounded to many like one of the riskiest endeavors. With their confined spaces and recirculated air, planes appeared to be prime candidates for superspreading events. In preparation, many airlines implemented multifaceted prevention strategies. So how risky are flights now? Surprisingly, a number of airlines have had fairly low transmission rates between passengers. Current research connects

Why use physical barriers? We’ve all seen the controversy surrounding people’s response to the novel coronavirus. Online forums explode daily with discussions of mask mandates and school protocols. When it comes to physical barriers, such as sneeze guards, some people see no need for any prevention method at all, while others see masks as sufficient and physical barriers as an extra, unnecessary measure. To see these viewpoints in action, you need look only so far as the near

We’ve looked before at design principles to keep in mind when adapting spaces to the novel coronavirus pandemic. Since one of those principles is that “temporary shelters are never temporary,” it’s worth considering whether the current COVID response will bring permanent changes to office setups and what those changes might be. Closing In on the Open Office According to architecture and design magazine Dezeen, Paul Ferro of Form4 Architecture predicts a new look at cubicles i

COVID-19 Prevention Strategies for the Workplace Although we’ve also branched into partitions designed for schools, our COVID-19 prevention strategies here at KTM began with the desire to increase safety in the workplace. All along the way we’ve been looking for ways to help businesses and schools follow federal and local guidelines—and reopen as safely as possible. Since both OSHA and the CDC recommend installing physical barriers when distances of at least 6 feet between pe

Classroom Safety One of the joys of engineering, manufacturing, and design is seeing your products in the real world. During that process, we’ve been thrilled seeing partitions from KTM Solutions in actual classrooms. Recently we partnered with one of our plastics suppliers to manufacture partitions for local schools, helping them meet CDC guidelines. The first set of elementary partitions was installed this week. Here’s a look at the factors in play: Cohorting: Students in t

Curbing the spread of COVID-19 is a group effort, and further research on how this virus spreads suggests that applying the right engineering controls will be a group effort too. How does it spread? Medical researchers are currently investigating the role that aerosols have in spreading the new coronavirus. If the virus spreads through aerosols, then there are two important sources of spread: microscopic aerosol droplets and the larger droplets spread via talking, coughing, o

At KTM Solutions, we’re committed to doing our part to help our community stay safe through problem solving and engineered solutions. As we all work together to slow the spread of COVID-19, KTM is currently offering custom partitions for both schools and workplaces. States Reopening As numerous states pause reopening and all grapple with the decision of whether to reopen schools, many schools and businesses are considering physical barriers in addition to masks and other form

What counts as PPE? Measures to slow the spread of COVID-19 are expected to be a part of our lives for the foreseeable future. The coronavirus outbreak has caused a surge of interest in PPE this year, evident in the search term’s spike on Google at the end of March. The term PPE is widely used to refer to any steps taken to reduce the risk of coronavirus infection, but what officially counts as PPE, and what terminology describes the other safety measures? Personal Protective

How can schools reopen safely? With the 2020-2021 school year just around the corner, school districts and families need to consider when schools can reopen and what we can all do to make schools safe for students, staff, and their families. Some groups are even offering funding to schools for the supplies and personal protective equipment they’ll need in order to reopen safely in the fall, such as masks, gloves, and cleaning supplies. In addition to extra stocks of those ite

As we all fight this pandemic together, we at KTM Solutions have added safety partitions to our offerings to do what we can to help business, schools, and worship venues prepare to reopen safely. Recently, Mass Design Group published a document on Designing Spaces for Infection Control in which they give five principles to guide design. Although much of their focus is on medical facilities, the principles they outline apply just as well to other environments. Three are especi

What happens when the economy reopens? Many of us are asking the same questions right now: When will businesses reopen after COVID-19? How can we reopen safely? What should employees know about personal protective equipment? We’ve been asking these questions for a while. Last month, KTM president Paul Kumler published an article in South Carolina Manufacturing addressing these and other concerns, which are just as relevant today. The following list is an excerpt giving a brie

One of the central concerns as establishments reopen is the health of employees and visitors, accomplished primarily through social distancing, rigorous hygiene, and the use of personal protective equipment (PPE). As of this week, all 50 states are reopening to some degree, and venues are looking for custom office partitions and room dividers. Much of the focus regarding PPE has understandably been on the healthcare industry, as well as on office environments. Many of the ite

A previous article looked at OSHA’s classification of exposure-risk levels for employees. The discussion taken from their guidelines continues below with their recommendations for protecting employees who have a low or medium exposure risk. If you are looking for PPE options for your workplace, contact us to discuss customizable solutions. Jobs Classified at Lower Exposure Risk (Caution): What to Do to Protect Workers Engineering Controls Additional engineering controls are n

As leaders around the country consider options for bringing employees back into the workplace, OSHA has recommended certain measures for employers based on different levels of employee risk. In addition to the use of PPE, one of the recommendations for any workplace above the lowest exposure risk level is to “install physical barriers, such as clear plastic sneeze guards, where feasible.” Based on the OSHA guidelines, KTM Solutions is now offering plastic partitions intended

In response to the coronavirus outbreak, states have faced the difficulty of balancing public health and economic stability. Governors from all fifty states are currently weighing their options to try to determine when their states can reopen and what precautions will be necessary. For the past weeks, many people—including us at KTM—have been working from home and emphasizing social distancing in order to slow the spread for the good of our communities. At the same time, comm