The Spread of Disease in Your Workplace
The Ebola virus is capable of posing severe, life-threatening risk, but it is not spread through casual contact; therefore, the likelihood of an outbreak in the U.S. is very low at this point in time. A person must first have been in close physical contact with an infected patient, their blood or bodily fluids and secondly have active symptoms themselves in order to spread Ebola onto others. Even though Ebola might not pose an immediate threat in your workplace at the moment there are sure fire ways to cut down on the potential for the spread of germs and harmful bacterias throughout your workplace.
Preventative actions:
- Get vaccinated for flu season.
- Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for 20 seconds; use an alcohol-based hand rub
- Avoid touching your nose, mouth, and eyes.
- Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue, or cough and sneeze into your upper sleeve.
- Keep frequently touched common surfaces clean
- Avoid sharing phones, desks, office supplies, computers, or other work tools and equipment. If you must use a coworker’s equipment, consider cleaning it first with a disinfectant.
- Avoid shaking hands or coming in close contact with coworkers and others who may be ill.
- Stay in shape. Eat a healthy diet. Get plenty of rest, exercise, and relaxation.
- Participate in any training offered by your employer.
- Stay at home if you begin to develop symptoms.
Last year it was SARS and Swine Flu, this year Ebola and Enterovirus are on our radar; however germs and bacteria are always around and can just as easily cause illness and spread. This year’s current events should act as a reminder of how important it is to foster a clean and healthy workplace at all times throughout your facility not just when it is making headlines.
For more information on Ebola, and other infectious disease protocol visit:
https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/ebola/index.html
https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/healthcarefacilities/infectious_diseases.html