You’ve probably seen them at restaurant buffets and grocery store salad bars, in school cafeterias, and most recently at every grocery and retail store checkout. They are sneeze guards, and their job is to reduce the spread of airborne respiratory droplets. So what are sneeze guards, how do sneeze guards work, exactly how effective are they at stopping the spread of germs and where can
you get the most reliable sneeze guards in Canada? All of your questions related to sneeze guards will be answered thoroughly in this article.

 

What is a Sneeze Guard?

They are also widely known as sneeze barrier shields, sneeze guards shields are plastic shields used to create a barrier between human and food or other humans. Prior to the COVID’19 pandemic, you may not have given enough attention to sneeze guards at your local grocery store or buffet restaurant, but in today’s post-COVD’19 world, you can & miss them.

From the receptionist at the doctor’s office, to shopping malls, and practically everywhere else in between, seizure guards have become essential tools for business as usual post COVID’19. Sneeze guard sizes range in height and width based on different sneeze guard requirements. Though they are not lawfully required other than in the food industry they have made an impact in the following place;
 Medical facilities
 Pharmacies
 Gas stations
 Gyms and therapeutic settings
 Public transportation
 Receptionist desk
 Cash registers
 Bars and restaurants
 Schools
 Retail stores.

 

How Do the Best Sneeze Guards In Canada Work?

Sneeze guards act as a shield between two people or objects, protecting either one from airborne respiratory droplets expelled by sneeze, coughs, and breathing. Since germs from sneezing and coughs can travel at upwards of 50mphh and multiply by more than 8 million every day, these barriers are a crucial piece of protective equipment for businesses of all kinds to install in order to keep their doors open and stop the spread of germs.

 

Do the best Sneeze Guards in Canada Help?

You might be wondering “how do sneeze guards help?” Well, they help in a few different ways. Sneeze guards Carter as a visual social distancing reminder to respect other people’s physical space. They also create barriers where proper social distancing may not be possible. Since sneeze guards are space-specific, they don’t affect communication between individuals, making them a great protective gear in the workplace, in schools, businesses, and public places.

Much like face masks, sneeze guards also help protect individuals from exposure to other people’s germs. For example, if a person were to sneeze in the direction of a person who happened to be on the other side of the sneeze guard, chances are the sneeze guard will catch most of those airborne particles, exponentially abbreviating the chances of transmission. If, on the contrary, no sneeze guard is
present while the person sneezes, there is a 100% chance that the particle from the sneeze or cough will affect the person or object in their path.

 

Types of Sneeze Guards.

There are multiple sneeze guard styles to choose from and opt for the one that best fits the need of every space. School or workplace desks can benefit from our Sneeze Guard Shield for Student Desk. Receptionists or retail checkout desks can benefit from tabletop sneeze guards made with the pass-through opening to easily pass dockets, IDs, or payments through without overexposure
to customers and patients.

CANADA PLASTICS, located mainly in Toronto, has been in this industry for quite some time now and since the very beginning of this firm, our only and long-term policy has been centered around the quality and reliability of the product, and efficient service, and the gratification of our esteemed customers. At CANADA PLASTICS, we are one of the top sneeze guards manufacturers in
Canada. We offer several standard partitions and barriers and customization capabilities for customers with highly specific requirements. Our experts are ready and willing to cater to our clients to create a custom design if needed. Both standard and custom product solutions are available with a lightning-fast
turnaround in Canada. The future prosperity of our firm is well-assured by optimum quality product range at highly affordable rates for the many distinct industrial applications.

For further information about our sneeze guard product, contact us today at https://canada-plastics.com/.

 

 

Sneeze guards aren’t a new concept or product by any means. The use of sneeze guards has long since predated the COVID-19 pandemic in many restaurants, buffets, bakeries, sandwich shops, and pretty much any customer-facing business that serves food. Much like hair nets and aprons, sneeze guards have always been an important component of maintaining strong health and safety protocols in the food industry. You may not have paid much attention to them before the pandemic, but they were always available in public spaces in some shape or form.

During the midst of the pandemic, the demand and applications for high-quality sneeze guards became drastically more widespread. And sneeze guard suppliers in Toronto have continued to be busier than ever as the demand for their product has consistently remained high since the pandemic started.

When Are Sneeze Guards Required in Public Spaces and Businesses?

At this point in the game, we all know everything there is to know about the COVID-19 virus. Even though mask mandates have been lifted in Ontario, the risk of spreading and contracting the latest variant of COVID-19 is still prevalent. Businesses that want to prioritize protecting their customers and staff members should implement health and safety measures frequently. That includes encouraging physical distancing and strategically installing heavy-duty sneeze guards throughout their stores and places of business.

Sneeze guards are clear, plastic protective barriers that prevent direct contact with respiratory droplets that can spread COVID-19 and other viruses. They’re especially useful for customer-facing businesses and are effective even outside of the pandemic such as during cold and flu season. It’s been proven that even the slightest cough or exhale can excrete thousands of tiny contaminated and infectious droplets into the air. Combined with other health and safety measures, sneeze guards reduce the amount of human-to-human contact these droplets make and can prevent people from getting sick.

What Are the Different Types of Sneeze Guards?

Sneeze guards are typically made out of acrylic or plexiglass plastic. Other materials include PVC, vinyl, and glass. But these are far less common for a variety of reasons. Glass is heavy, difficult to work with, fragile, and expensive.

The design, shapes, and dimensions of sneeze guards can be customized to perfectly fit the structure and space in which they’re going to be installed. There are two main types of sneeze guards:

Freestanding Sneeze Guards

As the name suggests, freestanding sneeze guards are protective barriers that stand upright on their own without needing to be bolted down or screwed into a surface. They can be used as temporary or permanent fixtures that are removable and can be relocated as needed.

Available in a variety of sizes and configurations, freestanding sneeze guards can be placed on countertops, on the floor, or even on the backs of seats to separate tables in restaurants, concert venues, and other public spaces.

Hanging Sneeze Guards

Hanging sneeze guards are permanent barriers that are screwed directly into the ceiling. They’ve become common fixtures in nail salons because they don’t take up any counter space and allow the aestheticians to give manicures without any obstructions. They hang down low enough to prevent respiratory droplet contact or contamination.

What Are the Different Uses for Sneeze Guards?

Sneeze guards can be used for a wide range of commercial and industrial applications. The main purpose is to prevent food contamination and maintain the health and safety of people in public spaces by stopping the spread of airborne viruses and bacteria that are spread through moisture droplets.

Since the start of the pandemic, an increasing number of businesses have installed sneeze guards in a united effort to help stop the spread of the novel COVID-19 virus. The following is a list of some of the most common uses of sneeze guards in compliance with various health and safety measures.

Covering Cash Registers

Considering the fact that they’re typically made of metal, are used to store money, and are used by different people throughout the day, cash registers are a hotbed of germs and contaminants. Installing sneeze guards in front of cash registers at grocery stores, restaurants, convenience stores, retail stores, and other places of business where transactions take place protects both employees and customers alike from contracting a virus.

Shielding Buffets, Display Cases, and Counters

Sneeze guards have been a common fixture in buffets, cafes, restaurants, and bakeries for many years now. The foodservice industry has long been using sneeze guards to prevent cross-contamination between different ingredients as well as the spread of bacteria from the many customers they serve on a daily basis.

Separating Tables in Restaurants

Although sneeze guards have always been used to shield buffets and food displays, installing them in restaurant seating areas between tables is a far newer concept that mainly started due to the pandemic. Sneeze guards are an effective defense mechanism against the spread of germs that also enforce physical distancing standards between diners.

Protecting Reception and Host Desks

Receptionists and hosts in hotels, restaurants, and office spaces deserve the same level of protection as your other employees, especially since they usually engage in frequent face-to-face interactions with your customers.

Preventing the Spread of Germs in Pharmacies and Doctor’s Offices

Pharmacies and doctors’ offices are typically where a lot of sick people tend to congregate, so it’s important to protect your staff and patients. Along with consistent disinfection and cleaning habits, sneeze guards can effectively prevent the spread of airborne contaminants and germs.

Encouraging Physical Distancing in Public Transit

Riding public transit means that you’ll most likely be surrounded by strangers and there’s no telling what type of bacteria or infections they may be carrying. Installing sneeze guards in between the seats enables adequate physical distancing standards and stops airborne bacteria from spreading.

High-Quality Sneeze Guard Suppliers in Toronto

Canada Plastics & Belting Inc. is one of the leading acrylic and plexiglass sneeze guard suppliers in Toronto and the GTA. Over the past few years, we’ve supplied high-quality scratch-resistant transparent and customized sneeze guards to numerous businesses in an effort to effectively reduce the spread of airborne viruses and bacteria. Contact us today to learn more or to get an estimate.

Buffet-style restaurants and sandwich shops have been using sneeze guards and protective barriers for decades. But over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, however, sneeze guards have grown in popularity and have become an ever-increasing fixture in a variety of public spaces. Grocery stores, supermarkets, convenience stores, and doctors’ offices have all adopted the use of sneeze guards to protect employees and customers and encourage physical distancing. This sneeze guard guide includes important factors to consider when purchasing protective barriers for your business.

Work within Your Budget

We all have to do our part to stop the spread of COVID-19, but that doesn’t mean that your business has to lose money or go bankrupt in the process. Consider your budget first and foremost when it comes to choosing effective sneeze guards for your business. Don’t skimp out on quality though, because cheaply made sneeze guards get damaged easily and they’ll have to be replaced more often. You’ll end up spending more money that way. Instead, buy good quality sneeze guards in Toronto that require minimal maintenance to maximize their value and longevity.

Best Sneeze Guard Materials

Restaurant sneeze guards are usually made of polycarbonate, but an acrylic is also a good option. It all depends on the type of business you have and how they sneeze guards will be used. Thickness is also an important consideration because it can prevent the sneeze guards from breaking or becoming brittle or melting when exposed to cold or hot temperatures.

Permanent, Removable, Freestanding, or Affixed Sneeze Guards

Sneeze guards are extremely versatile and come in a variety of installation options. Freestanding removable sneeze guards are a great option for businesses that have limited space and may need to relocate the barriers or adjust their positioning from time to time. Permanently affixed sneeze guards are ideal for businesses that have a large square footage or don’t anticipate having to move the sneeze guards around. These are perfect for cashier stations, hot tables, and food display cases.

How Much Space Do You Need to Cover?

Consider the size and type of space you need to cover. Installing plexiglass barriers between cubicles in an office space is a lot different than sneeze guards that are used to cover food in public places. Measure the square footage of your business and the areas that require coverage so that you can ensure you’re getting appropriately sized sneeze guards for your space.

Do Your Research and Shop Around for the Best Value

The only way you’re going to know if you’re getting a good deal is if you do your research. Get a few quotes from different sneeze guard suppliers in Toronto so you can compare and contrast costs, materials, sizing, and other configuration options.

High-Quality Sneeze Guards in Toronto

Your search for “sneeze guards near me” ends here. Canada Plastics & Belting Inc. is one of the leading affixed and freestanding sneeze guard barrier suppliers in Toronto and the GTA. We have a wide selection of acrylic, polycarbonate, and plexiglass sneeze guards that are perfect for industrial and commercial applications. Contact us today to learn more.

As the COVID-19 pandemic rages on with new variants of the virus emerging, restaurants need to remain hyper-vigilant when it comes to imposing health and safety precautions. Providing hand sanitizing stations and asking customers to maintain physical distance and wear masks in common areas has become standard operating procedures for all dine-in restaurants and businesses in general. But with the Omicron variant spreading rapidly, it’s time for restaurants to take it a step further. Grocery stores have long since adopted the use of sneeze guards to protect employees and customers alike. Now it’s time for restaurant sneeze guards to become equally widespread.

What Are Restaurant Sneeze Guards Made of?

If you’ve ever been inside a bakery, coffee shop, or a restaurant with a hot table, then you’ve seen a sneeze guard before. Sneeze guards are protective barriers made of Plexiglas or acrylic plastic. They act as barriers to prevent the spread of bacteria and viruses from one person to another.

In the past, they were primarily used to prevent food contamination in public places. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, however, various health agencies have mandated that all banks, grocery stores, and other direct customer-facing businesses must install sneeze guards to prevent the spread of the virus. Sneeze guards block airborne droplets that come out of people’s mouths and noses from making contact with another person or contaminating a food item.

The Spread of COVID-19 and Use of Sneeze Guards

Sneeze guards on their own aren’t enough to stop the spread of COVID-19 altogether. In order to be effective, they need to be adopted in conjunction with other strict health and safety measures and mandates such as physical distancing, hand washing, and sanitizing affected surfaces.
Restaurant dividers for COVID-19 are designed to protect diners from different parties by acting as a barrier between tables and booths. Given the fact that water droplets can become airborne, however, and not to mention how many people will inevitably come into contact with the sneeze guards, it’s important to make sure that they’re thoroughly cleaned and sanitized between each use.

Types of Sneeze Guards for Self-Serve Restaurants

There are two main types of restaurant sneeze guards available on the market: short and full welded steel supports. Both are equally effective at supporting the sneeze guards and securing them firmly in place. It’s just a matter of aesthetics and the style preferences of the restaurant owner.

Restaurant sneeze guards are incredibly adaptable and can be cut to any shape or size required for your space. They’re also available in a variety of colors and shades to match the aesthetic of your restaurant.

Where to Get Restaurant Sneeze Guards and Dividers for COVID-19

Restaurant sneeze guards have always been a prevalent fixture in bakeries, fast food restaurants, and even in medical facilities. But the ongoing pandemic has put them in much higher demand than ever before. Canada Plastics & Belting Inc. is one of the leading sneeze guard suppliers in Toronto and the GTA. We have many years of experience designing and manufacturing high-quality acrylic and Plexiglas sneeze guards for a wide range of clients. Contact us today to learn more about our products.

Self-service dining establishments like buffets along with a handful of fast food restaurant chains (a certain well-known sandwich shop comes to mind) have been using sneeze guards for decades to prevent bacterial and viral contamination in their food. Sneeze guards have been a staple in a number of restaurants across North America since 1958 when they were initially introduced by restauranteur Johnny Garneau, who was a self-proclaimed germaphobe in his own right.

Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, an increasing number of restaurant owners have adopted the use of sneeze guards not just to protect food behind the counter from contaminants but to also encourage physical distancing between customers dining indoors. Restaurant sneeze guards are FDA-approved, which means they’ve been thoroughly tested and proven to help prevent the spread of germs in enclosed spaces. Read on to learn more about the efficacy and usefulness of sneeze guards for restaurants and factors business owners should consider when installing them.

Why Sneeze Guards Are Recommended in Restaurants

By design, sneeze guards protect food preparation areas from being contaminated with airborne bacteria, viruses, and droplets that can spread disease. The concept of installing sneeze guards for restaurants is nothing new, but it’s become increasingly popular thanks in large part to the COVID-19 pandemic. In an effort to make customers feel more comfortable dining at their favourite local eateries again, restaurant owners have to take special precautions to prevent the spread of disease.

Federal regulations have mandated for years that specific eating establishments like buffets and any restaurant where food preparation takes place front of house are required to install restaurant sneeze guards to protect the general public. Restaurant dividers for COVID-19 must follow a unique set of regulations in order to be deemed effective and in compliance with the rules.

Factors such as sneeze guard thickness, material used (typically a restaurant-grade type of plastic), height, and durability are all taken into consideration. Although they’re built to withstand all kinds of usage and various public environments, sneeze guards can still be susceptible to some damages and should be replaced or repaired at the first sight of cracking.

Are Sneeze Guards Required in Self-Service Fast Food Establishments?

Yes, sneeze guards are required in self-service fast food establishments to maintain high food sanitation standards. This has always been the case, long before the pandemic.

Sneeze guards for restaurants are becoming increasingly ubiquitous in the food and hospitality industry. Even full service restaurants are seeing the value of installing them throughout their establishments to encourage physical distancing between customers and encourage more people to take advantage of dine-in options.

Restauranteurs are devoted to maintaining the high quality of their food and customer safety and satisfaction has been top of mind long before the beginning of the pandemic.

Visibility is of absolute importance when it comes to choosing sneeze guards for your restaurant. Customers need to be able to clearly see the ingredients being used behind the counter, especially if you own the type of establishment that requires them to choose various toppings and dishes from a hot table, food prep area, or buffet.

Important Factors to Consider when Choosing Sneeze Guards for Your Restaurants

Sneeze guards come in a variety of standard shapes and sizes, but they can also be customized according to the parameters of your restaurant. Every restaurant is different and therefore has unique physical restrictions. Eateries vary in size, layout, and customer capacity. These are all important factors that should be taken into consideration when selecting specific types of sneeze guards for your restaurant.

Additionally, sneeze guards should be clear to make total visibility and transparency possible. Whether you’re planning on installing table-mounted or freestanding sneeze guard barriers in your restaurant, the following considerations are paramount when deciding on a specific design.

Easy Installation

Depending on your preferences, you can choose to either permanently drill sneeze guards into various surfaces such as countertops and tables throughout your restaurant or you can choose a more temporary and portable options. Free standing sneeze guard barrier suppliers work with manufacturers to design and produce restaurant dividers that come with a stable and heavy base to keep them in place without requiring any permanent drilling or downtime. These sneeze guards can easily be moved around your restaurant as needed and can even be disassembled for easy and space-efficient storage.

Adaptability

“Adaptability” has become a major buzzword over the course of the pandemic. Businesses across all sectors have been forced to adapt in various capacities to the constantly changing mandates all in the name of protecting and preserving public health standards. Sneeze guard selection and customization is included in the need for perpetual adaptability. Mounting poles, barriers, and other hardware need to be adaptable and adjustable enough to fit perfectly with various surfaces and structures. As the rules and regulations are updated, restaurant workers should be able to move and adjust freestanding or mounted barriers with ease to better accommodate new health and safety standards that may emerge over time while maintaining the comfort and safety requirements of customers and employees.

Durability

In addition to excellent adaptability, the sneeze guards you select for your restaurant should be extremely durable. After all, just think of all of the people and things they’ll most likely be exposed to. Between people bumping up against them, being moved from one location to another, and all of the cleaning and sanitation agents they’ll be exposed to, sneeze guards endure a lot of usage and should be fully capable of handling anything that’s thrown at them.

Affordability

Sneeze guards are always on the job and that means that they may need to be repaired or replaced from time to time due to minor or major damages. Wear and tear such as scratches or cracking over time are inevitable. And, depending on the size, quantity, and customization required, some sneeze guard suppliers in Toronto might charge more than others.

Compatibility with Your Current Setup

Lastly, you need to consider whether sneeze guards are fully compatible with your current restaurant layout. Sneeze guards can be fully customized to fit the exact dimensions of your space and the specific surfaces being covered, so be sure to take exact measurements before placing your order.

Freestanding Sneeze Guard Suppliers in Toronto

Whether you’re looking for mounted or freestanding sneeze guard suppliers in Toronto, Canada Plastics & Belting Inc. has just what you need for your restaurant. We have an extensive inventory of industrial, commercial, and restaurant-grade plastic sneeze guards with a variety of hardware options that are fully customizable according to your specifications. Contact us today to learn more or visit our showroom in Scarborough!

Even before COVID-19, plastic sneeze guards were an essential protective fixture in a large variety of business settings from restaurants and delis to butcher shops and many more. In an effort to comply with COVID-19 restrictions and guidelines, many businesses that didn’t traditionally use sneeze guards have installed them to protect their customers and employees. Sneeze guards are now being widely used at checkout counters in grocery stores, salons and spas, convenience stores, and many more places. But without following proper cleaning and sanitation techniques, sneeze guards are essentially useless. To maximize their effectiveness, it’s important to work with a reputable sneeze guard supplier and plexiglass distributor in Toronto and ensure that they’re being sanitized regularly.

How to Properly Maintain and Sanitize Your Sneeze Guards

By now, pretty much anyone who works in a customer-facing job should be accustomed to working with and around sneeze guards as a protective barrier. An important part of sneeze guard maintenance is knowing how to properly sanitize them. Sanitation techniques should be employed on a scheduled timeline to ensure any viruses living on their surfaces are fully eliminated.

Here’s how you can maintain and sanitize your sneeze guards without inadvertently damaging them.

Clean Sneeze Guards before Disinfecting Them

Sanitation and cleaning aren’t the same thing. Cleaning entails removing all visible dirt, crumbs, and markings from a surface. Sanitation involves actually applying a strong chemical agent that will kill any invisible viruses or bacteria living on the surface. In order for the sanitation process to be completely effective, the chemical agent must be applied to a clean surface.

Polish the Clear Plastic

No sneeze guard cleaning and sanitization process is complete without polishing the clear plastic. Sometimes, using microfiber cloths and bleach water or isopropyl alcohol to sanitize the plastic can leave behind an unpleasant cloudy film. To get rid of this cloudy film, you can use a specially formulated plastic cleaner or polish and achieve a smooth, fresh, and clean look.

Wipe with a Microfiber Cloth

Clear acrylic is highly sensitive and prone to scratching, which is why it’s important to use a soft microfiber cloth when wiping down a plastic sneeze guard surface. Microfiber is known to be anti-bacterial and incredibly soft so you can easily disinfect the surface without scratching it. Microfiber cloths are also eco-friendly and cost-proficient as they’re machine washable and reusable, which means you won’t have to replace them often.

Clean and Disinfect the Surrounding Surfaces As Well

Unfortunately, it’s not always enough to simply wipe down and disinfect the plastic surfaces on plexiglass or acrylic sneeze guards. The surrounding areas need to also be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized to fully eradicate any potential viruses or bacteria that are living on those surfaces as well. This is the most effective way to stop the spread of COVID-19 and ensure everyone’s health and safety in public places.

When Is It Time to Replace Your Sneeze Guards?

Sneeze guards are designed to last a long time. Unfortunately, nothing lasts forever and eventually, you will have to replace your existing sneeze guards. When you start seeing visible signs of wear and tear or that the sneeze guard is falling apart, that’s usually when you know it’s time to replace it with a new one.

Plexiglass and Sneeze Guard Suppliers in the GTA

When the time comes to replace your sneeze guards, Canada Plastics & Belting Inc. will be there for you. For over 20 years, we’ve been one of the leading plexiglass distributors and freestanding sneeze guard barrier suppliers in Canada. Contact us today for more tips on sanitizing and maintaining your sneeze guards!

This month marks the one year anniversary of the commencement of the COVID-19 lockdowns and restrictions in Canada. A lot has certainly changed over the course of the past year, especially the ways in which we do business. As we look back on the past year, it’s easy to see that a lot of businesses have taken the virus seriously and done everything in their power to mitigate the spread while ensuring the health and safety of customers and employees alike.

An important part of that initiative includes installing freestanding and attached sneeze guards throughout the workplace. If your business has been temporarily closed for a long time and you’re just now reopening, it’s important to make sure that you’re doing everything you can to follow government health and safety guidelines. Working with professional sneeze guard suppliers in Toronto guarantees that you’re getting a high-quality and effective product for a reasonable price.

What Is a Protective Shield Sneeze Guard?

Typically made out of plexiglass or acrylic plastic, a protective shield sneeze guard is a hard-surface barrier that separates workstations and the individuals who use them. Whether it’s separating customers from employees or coworkers working in the same space, freestanding or attached protective shield sneeze guards help prevent the spread of harmful disease-spreading germs.

Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, these protective barriers have become more important than ever. They’re instrumental in keeping people apart and ensuring that customer interactions are kept to the absolute bare minimum. Moreover, protective shield sneeze guards act as an additional barrier between individuals in public spaces and prevent droplets from making contact with other people and objects in the store.

Why Does Your Business Need Sneeze Guards?

Sneeze guards serve the dual purpose of protecting both your employees and customers from potential contamination. They’ve always been a staple in the food service industry, particularly buffets, fish and meat counters in grocery stores, sandwich shops, and any other restaurants where food is prepared in front of the customer.

COVID-19 has merely amplified the need and demand for freestanding and attached sneeze guards in more public places including nail salons, banks, and retail environments. Here are a few reasons why you should consider installing high-quality sneeze guards throughout your workplace from a trusted plexiglass supplier in the GTA.

Helps Stop the Spread of Infectious Diseases

Sneeze guards provide a thick protective layer between customers and employees in the workplace. Unfortunately, not everyone is able to wear a mask for long periods of time. Some people have pre-existing or extenuating medical conditions that prevent them from being able to wear a mask and installing sneeze guards can help prevent their water droplets from making contact with other people and products in your store.

Even before COVID-19, sneeze guards were proven to be effective in stopping or slowing down the spread of other viruses including the common cold and the flu. As long as they’re sanitized regularly, sneeze guards are highly effective at protecting customers, employees, and products from contamination.

They’re Easy to Install and Clean

Plexiglass or acrylic protective shield sneeze guards are extremely easy to install. Depending on the size and layout of your business, you can have your entire workplace covered in a matter of a few hours. Hiring a local attached or freestanding sneeze guard barrier supplier can help move the project along faster and minimize your business’s downtime in the process.

Once the sneeze guards are installed, they’re extremely easy to maintain and sanitize. Simply train your employees to clean them after each use or customer interaction. Sneeze guards are also designed for workplaces that don’t directly deal with customers in person, such as offices. Encourage your employees to keep their personal workspaces clean and sanitary by providing them with sanitary wipes to disinfect their desks, cubicles, and sneeze guards on a regular basis.

They Give Customers and Employees Peace of Mind

During these particularly trying and stressful times, many customers might be nervous about returning to in-store shopping. Your employees, who are expected to deliver exceptional customer service at all times, might also be a little wary about working a customer-facing job right now. The barrier created by plexiglass sneeze guards can help give both customers and employees peace of mind in knowing that you’re doing everything you can to ensure their well-being and improve the shopping and working experience.

They Provide Additional Protection Against Diseases

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, government guidelines and mandates in public places have included:

• Wearing some type of face covering (e.g., masks, face shields, etc.)
• Wearing gloves
• Frequent hand washing
• Sanitizing hands and frequently touched surfaces
• Physical distancing

Installing sneeze guards throughout your commercial property in addition to all of these stipulations provides an added layer of protection for customers and employees. Individually, these measures are insufficient to fully slow down or prevent the spread of COVID-19. When implemented in conjunction with one another, however, they’re extremely effective and have been proven to significantly slow down the spread in public places.

Which Businesses Should Use Sneeze Guards?

All customer-facing businesses and work environments that require employees to work in close quarters with one another should install sneeze guards throughout their premises. If some employees are capable of working from home, then employers should allow them to do so for the foreseeable future.

With that in mind, here is a list of businesses that should consider installing protective sneeze guards, so that they can continue to safely serve customers in person:

• Retail stores
• Nail salons
• Restaurants and cafes
• Banks
• Supermarkets

Plexiglass Sneeze Guard Suppliers in Toronto and the GTA

Canada Plastics & Belting Inc. is a leading plexiglass supplier in North America. We design and manufacture custom sneeze guards for a variety of businesses and purposes. In addition to plexiglass, we can also supply acrylic and polycarbonate sneeze guards. Our products are solid, easy to install, and affordable. Contact us today to learn more about our products and sneeze guard installation services or to place an order.

Sneeze guards have been a staple fixture in a number of industries, especially restaurants, for a number of decades. It all started with the pioneering restauranteur, Johnny Garneau (a known germophobe), who designed the first prototype for sneeze guards that were used in buffets. In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, however, the need for sneeze guards has expanded to a variety of other customer-facing and non-customer-facing businesses alike. Employers are emphasising the need to not only protect their customers but also their employees. Providing them with the proper PPE such as gloves, masks, and face shields and encouraging them to wash or sanitize their hands frequently is a good start. But installing sneeze guards adds a whole new level of protection against the virus.

Keep reading to learn more about why sneeze guards are so effective and how they can help you do your part in preventing the spread of COVID-19.

Why Are Sneeze Guards Necessary?

Sneeze guards provide an added layer of protection against liquid droplets that are released from people’s mouths when they speak. Face coverings such as masks and shields are designed to prevent water droplets from being dispersed through the air, but they’re not completely infallible. Some droplets may still be released. Sneeze guards prevent these rogue droplets from making contact with certain surfaces and products that will be touched by other people.

Given the new and emerging government-mandated health and safety guidelines, businesses will be legally required to install sneeze guards wherever people come in face-to-face contact with one another to prevent or minimize the spread of these droplets. It’s up to business owners and management staff to guarantee the safety of employees and customers alike. Businesses that fail to comply with COVID-19 health and safety standards will be accordingly penalized. So, it’s in their best interest to follow the guidelines as closely as possible.

How Can Your Business Benefit from Installing Sneeze Guards?

The current climate and state of the world has caused many people to understandably feel a little on edge about going out and about to run errands, eat in restaurants (when dining rooms are actually open), or even getting their hair cut at the salon. While no method of COVID-19 prevention is completely foolproof, installing sneeze guards in between work stations, at restaurant hot tables, and at grocery checkout lanes can certainly ease some of the tension and anxiety people may be feeling.

It’s simply not enough to tell your customers and employees that you’re regularly sanitizing and cleaning your place of work for their well-being. They need to see tangible proof of the measures you’re taking to give them more peace of mind. Installing sneeze guards is just one prong of a multi-prong COVID-19 prevention process.

Of course, every business needs to adapt sneeze guard installation based on their specific needs. Here are some of the businesses and industries that stand to benefit the most from installing sneeze guards throughout their premises.

Restaurants and the Service Industry

Indoor dining is one of the many things that was taken for granted pre-pandemic but is now greatly missed. Enjoying a nice meal with friends and family every once in a while was one of the simple pleasures of life that’s been taken away from us.

Japanese restaurants that prepare fresh sushi in-house have always had sneeze guards along with buffets. But now, many restaurants are proposing installing sneeze guards at individual dining tables to further mitigate the potential for spreading COVID-19. Although it won’t be the same as before, this could be a step in the right direction for restoring indoor dining setups.

Salons, Barbershops, Nail Bars

Certain sectors of the beauty industry have also suffered greatly as a result of the pandemic. Deemed non-essential, salons, barbershops, and nail bars have been forced to shut down on and off again during the course of the pandemic.

In response to hygiene concerns regarding space restrictions and close proximity to other patrons and employees, salon and barbershop business owners have taken it upon themselves to install sneeze guards separating work stations from one another. In addition to implementing stringent sanitation measures, this also forces customers to social distance from each other and most employees in the place of business.

Gyms and Fitness Centers

For a while, many gyms and fitness centers operated on an appointment-only basis, which limited the amount of people using the facilities at any given time. Unfortunately, gyms are like a breeding ground for bacteria and they’re the ideal environment for viruses like COVID-19 to spread rapidly. The very premise of a gym or fitness center involves people working out and therefore inhaling and exhaling the same air that’s constantly being circulated throughout the property. To better adapt to the current circumstances and prevent the spread of COVID-19, gyms can install sneeze guards to serve as partitions between customers in common areas such as between exercise equipment, at the service desk, at juice bars, and at customer hangout spots.

Grocery Stores

Grocery stores have been deemed an essential service from the very beginning. As such, they’ve been subject to the greatest scrutiny when it comes to mitigating the spread of COVID-19 and protecting customers and their employees alike. Corporations have gone to greats lengths to minimize the spread by installing sneeze guards at all cash registers including self-checkout and asking customers to refrain from touching glass, plastic, or metal surfaces throughout the store as much as possible. Continuing these measures and maintaining cleanliness and sanitation methods is critical.

Offices

Many office management teams are allowing some employees to indefinitely work from home during this time. However, not all office jobs allow for that. Office managers are implementing strong measures such as installing sneeze guards between cubicles, enforcing physical distancing protocols, providing hand sanitizing stations, and asking people to wear masks in common areas. Combined with regularly scheduled office sanitations, all of these measures can effectively limit the spread of COVID-19 in these settings and prevent business disruptions.

What Are Common Sneeze Guard Materials?

• Acrylic
• Glass
• Plexiglas
• Polycarbonate

Are You Looking for a Sneeze Guard Supplier in Toronto?

Canada Plastics & Belting Inc. is one of the premier suppliers of sneeze guards in Toronto. We design and manufacture custom sneeze guards using a variety of materials including acrylic, glass, Plexiglas, and polycarbonate. Our sneeze guards are suitable for any work environment and effectively create safe barriers in public locations to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Contact us today to learn more or to place an order.