Are businesses exercising reasonable risk management in controlling the spread of Coronavirus?

I travelled to Sydney yesterday and was surprised that there appeared to have be no change to procedures.

It is known that the virus is spread by droplets and can sit on hard surfaces such as hand rails, and that washing hands is so important to minimise the spread. The system as we see in cruise ships with hand sanitisation where as you enter the ship, leave the ship and even placed around various public areas on board is a measure that I expected airlines would be taking at this time around the lounges and boarding gates etc.

I appreciate there are bathrooms at the airport but can you imagine all inbound and outbound passengers lining up to use them? Only few did go in to wash their hands.

We all know that the airport corporations are highly profitable and so I would have thought that they:
a) would be acting with social responsibility;
b) be safeguarding the businesses large and small that rent space and or are dependent on the airports.

Similarly, I would have thought that the airlines themselves would have this in place in high traffic areas such as their lounges, they do behind the counter for their staff and also at restaurants and bars there was nothing either.

At both Sydney and Melbourne airports there are pharmacies which sell the alcohol wash so to me there is no excuse not to have this available for customers.

Before the meeting I met a couple of my senior team at a cafe as a pre-meeting. Again, the cafe had no hand wash for anyone including their staff. The restaurant had no bathroom dedicated to their customers use.

While I do not think there is a need for mass panic, I do think that all businesses particularly those where customers come and go in large numbers to exercise reasonable care. All employers have a requirement to provide a safe place. It is going to be too late if your business is closed down due to staff or customers contracting the virus as we saw with the restaurant in Glen Waverley, Melbourne.

Individuals also need take prudent action and carry their own hand wash or other to stop the spread.

At times like this, having a business continuity management plan is a great help if done correctly will have addressed a number of risks and how to mitigate these risks. If you wish to learn more on continuity planning please visit continuitycoach.com.

7 February 2020 update. Please see this link for an important update.