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.