Cough and Sneeze Shields

The COVID-19 pandemic is causing businesses to take extra precautions for the well-being of employees and customers. Rockford Systems, a leader in industrial safety solutions, is helping organizations protect employee health and safety by launching its GermBlock line of cough and sneeze shields for industrial, commercial, clean room and retail settings.

GermBlock shields limit the spread of airborne droplets resulting from coughing, sneezing or speaking from reaching a nearby person, therefore helping to mitigate possible COVID-19 infection. Constructed of heavy-duty clear 3/16-in. polycarbonate and 16-gauge 304 stainless steel ¾-in. framing with full penetration welds, the shields are offered in tabletop, floor-standing, and extended-leg versions in popular sizes. To ensure shield stability, all shields include footplates with gussets, designed to affix to countertops or floors with front and side mounting options. In addition, GermBlock shields are offered in standard and clean-room models in the same types and sizes. Further, custom shields are also available, which include a broad array of sizes, mounting, and material options, as well as casters.

Of the many shields on the market, few offer the durability of polycarbonate framed in corrosion-resistant stainless steel. Lesser quality shields feature flimsy plexiglass, acrylic or standard glass panels. Although polycarbonate is half the weight of standard glass, it provides 250 times the impact resistance, whereas acrylic provides only 17 times the impact resistance. Polycarbonate is non-flammable, highly resistant to chemicals, can be drilled without cracking, and can withstand high temperatures. Additionally, polycarbonate allows access to natural light and shields out harmful ultraviolet rays. The stainless-steel frame allows the shields to be washed down and sterilized per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendation for frequent cleaning. The full penetration welds eliminate gaps or cracks that prevent bacterial build-up.

For industrial settings such as factories, warehouses, and assembly lines, GermBlock shields can be placed in between employees standing or sitting in close proximity at work stations.

GermBlock shields can be installed between office cubicles to extend the wall height between workers. In addition to extending physical distancing, GermBlock shields also provide other office space benefits, such as insulating against noise to create a quieter workspace and blocking against damaging ultraviolet rays to prevent interior decor from fading.

For clean settings such as microprocessors, medical, food and beverage, pharma, and personal care product manufacturers, GermBlock shields are designed with a 1/4-in. poly-to-frame gap construction for superior cleaning access with materials intended to be clean-room compatible per USDA and FDA standards. GermBlock's corrosion-resistant stainless-steel frame with full penetration welds allows the shields to be washed down frequently with hot water, cleaning solutions, and high-pressure sprays. Not only can GermBlock's shields help protect against the spread of COVID-19, but they can also shield against Peroxyacetic Acid (PAA) and other airborne particulates. 

Grocery stores remain one of the few establishments open for in-person sales during the COVID-19 pandemic. GermBlock shields install easily and securely at cashier stations, deli counters, pharmacies, customer service, and fuel centers to protect employees and customers while completing face-to-face transactions. As the economy re-opens, GermBlock shields are ideal for any other high-traffic areas such as bank teller stations, coffee shops, hotel reception desks, and take-out/pick-up locations.

GermBlock shields can be cleaned with surface and sterile wipes, ethanol, hydrogen peroxide, isopropyl alcohol, and dish-washing soap solutions, all of which are cleaning agents specifically recommended by the CDC in the fight against the human coronavirus.