Now the time has arrived to prepare for COVID-19. But the risk is still there. So it is time to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in your workplace and be prepared while having business trips, field visits and travelling from your living area to the workplace.
Why do employers and organizers need to think about COVID-19?
Employer of a firm or a workplace or an office needs to think about the potential risk from COVID-19 because, there is a risk that people attending your workplace or employees who go outside for business purposes, etc., might unwittingly bring the COVID-19 virus to the workplace so that others might be unknowingly exposed to COVID-19.
Although COVID-19 is a mild disease for most people, it can make some very ill. Around 1 in every 5 people who catch COVID-19 needs hospital treatment.
So, simple precautions and planning can make a big difference. Action now will help protect your employees and your business.
Let’s see how to get your workplace ready for COVID-19
Prevent the spread of COVID-19 in your workplace
Make sure your workplaces are clean and hygienic
Regularly wipe contaminated surfaces and objects with disinfectant.
- Surfaces (e.g. Desks and chairs)
-Objects (e.g. telephones,keyboards)
Promote regular and thorough hand-washing
Put sanitizing hand rub dispensers in prominent places.
Make sure these dispensers are regularly refilled
Make sure the access to wash hands with soap and water
Display posters to promote hand-washing.
Offer guidance from occupational health and safety officers.
Promoting good respiratory hygiene in the workplace
Display posters about good respiratory hygiene
Keep ordinary medical face masks (rather than N95 masks) or paper tissues your workplace.
Arrange closed bins for hygienically disposing of them.
Consult national travel advice before going on business trips.
If anyone from the workplace has a mild cough or fever (37.3 C or more) ask them to stay at home
Prevent the spread of COVID -19 when you and your employees travel
● Before travelling
Be aware of the latest information on COVID-19 spreading areas.
Avoid sending older employees and those who have a higher risk of serious illness( diabetes, heart and lung disease) to COVID-19 spreading areas.
Make sure all persons travelling to locations reporting COVID-19 are briefed by a qualified professional (e.g. staff health services, health care provider or local public health partner)
Issue small bottles of alcohol-based hand rub for employees about to travel.This can facilitate regular hand washing.
While travelling
Encourage to wash hands regularly.
Make sure to stay at least 1 m away from people.
Know what to do and whom to contact if feel ill while travelling.
Be instructed from local authorities and any local restrictions on travel, movement, or large gatherings where travelling.
When returning from travelling:
After returning from a COVID-19 spreading area, monitor symptoms for 14 days and take temperature twice a day.
Should stay at home and self-isolate even if a mild cough or low-grade fever (i.e. a temperature of 37.3 C or more) develops.
(Self-isolation - avoiding close contact (less than 1 m) with other people, including family members. Make sure them to call their health care provider or the local public health department, and give them details of their recent travel and symptoms.)
Ashinsani Fernando
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