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From DIY to Off-the-Shelf to Custom-Made: The Rise of the Sneeze Guard

Establishments using plastic sheets in an effort to protect their cashiers

By Rain Noe - March 31, 2020

in Object Culture

I've seen a lot of reporting on establishments adding cashier-protecting sneeze guards to checkout lines--but no scientific evidence that they help. The explanatory language is vague: The guards provide "extra reassurance," one retail executive told Reuters, while another told USA Today that they provide "peace of mind."

But if there's no evidence they help, they certainly can't hurt. And I suppose companies want to be seen as doing everything they can to protect people from COVID-19.

With no standardized form factor, there is a fair bit of design variety in these sneeze guards, which range from off-the-shelf solutions to custom made by companies, to let's-let-the-maintenance-guy-figure-something-out. If you've not ventured outside of your house recently, here's what they look like, and you'll note that the complexity of fabrication/installation varies:

Simple sheet, straight-cut, minimal fasteners

Image source: Marc Jones

Sheet with rounded corners up top, two rows of fasteners

Image source: Mims

Angled cuts and rounded corners, heat-bent, double-layered, pass-through window

Image source: Nisa Okehampton

Simple sheet, 2x4 frame

(Possible flaw: One side will be more difficult to wipe down.)

Image source: Village of Richfield

Simple sheet, suspended from ceiling

Image source: The Global Display Solution

Simple sheet, suspended from ceiling, red border added

Image source: iSupply

The iSupply ones are my favorite, if I may have a favorite thing that may or may not provide effective protection. But like I said they can't hurt, and peace of mind is probably something people are craving these days.

Image source: iSupply

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Kirk Dyer

4 years ago

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My family's workplace has been making these sneeze guards in Australia.
Their model was to create modular parts that can be laser cut. (They only use cast acrylic, as extruded can't be engraved)
Then they use these joiners to hold them together.
Their main business is signs, so they had the machines and it's been a great help to the business in the pandemic as other parts of the business lost traction.

There's a bunch of photos here of some their products.
https://signsplus.com.au/engrave/sneeze-guards/

They even created custom heavy duty brackets, so they can be attached easier to benchtops.

Love reading about all the new innovations and the way businesses have pivoted to adjust in the world with Covid-19.

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Plastic Supplier

4 years ago

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These can be made in unlimited shapes and styles. See: https://www.professionalplastics.com/Sneeze-Guards or
https://www.professionalplastics.com/Coronavirus-Shields-Acrylic-Sheets

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