COVID-19 has a higher chance of spreading in situations, such as workplaces, where people are clustered together. While health workers and authorities worldwide are taking action trying to contain the virus, there’s a roll that employers, employees, and staff of organizations can play to stop the spread of the disease.
The risk of containing COVID-19 is higher amongst people older than 40. Hence, the need to put every plan in place to reduce the risk of spread, especially as regular office life is returning.
Here's how to manage COVID-19 amongst staff, with some simple emergency procedures that can be done within the workplace.
Preventing the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace
There are many standards that employers can put in place for employees to be able to follow through. They include;
Workplace hygiene
Making sure the workspace is clean and hygienic at all times is essential. You can ensure this through regular cleaning and disinfecting of surfaces and objects like desks, tables, and keyboards. Professional disinfecting and sanitizing companies like SafeFromSpread can help you make the disinfection process comfortable and more effective.
Hand washing and sanitizing
Hand washing stations or sanitizing dispensers should be put in strategic places in the office. Signs and posters should also be placed in inaccessible locations, reminding customers and staff to regularly wash their hands. Safe From Spread can also help educate and train your team on the best practices and standard operating procedures for fighting the spread of illness.
Use of face masks
To reduce the chances of spreading the virus from customer to employee, or among employees, a rigid face mask use policy must be put in place.
Managing COVID-19 risks during staff interactions
In situations where staff members may have to gather (like for meetings), it's essential to put the risk of infection high up in the list when making decisions. Do the following;
Develop a preparedness plan with your staff to prevent infection at different interaction levels. The plan may include cutting down the number of meeting attendees or switching to virtual meeting mode.
Develop a different plan for the possibility of infection amongst staff. The plan should include;
Designate a room for where suspected infected staff be placed for isolation,
Make plans for how any infected person will be transferred to a nearby health facility without putting other persons at risk.
Have contact details or a hotline that staff can call in case of any emergency or inquiries.
Retain comprehensive details of all staff, and the days and hours they come into work. It will help in tracing possibly infected persons in the case that a staff member gets infected.
Monitor staff members who have returned from visiting a different community for at least 14 days before they are allowed to make contact with other staff members.
Develop a contingency plan in the case that key members or a large number of your organization get infected by the virus.
Remember that irrespective of the number of your employees or your organization’s location, it's essential to make plans beforehand to properly contain the disease if a staff member ever gets it.