There are many ways that people are helping to prevent the spread of Covid-19. With cities and businesses beginning to re-open, below are some ways, in order based on the Occupational Health and Safety administration’s (OSHA) Hierarchy of Controls, to help prevent the spread within your office or workplace.
Engineering Controls
- Installing sanitizing stations throughout the workplace.
- Replacing the current air filters with high efficiency or HEPA filters.
- Putting up physical barriers where possible to prevent the spread of fluids and limit personnel contact.
- Installing clean room sticky mats at the entrances into areas to disinfect the bottom of people’s shoes to prevent the tracking of bacteria into the area.
Administrative Controls
- Create policies in your workplace that are flexible for your employees and will promote a healthy work environment. If possible, allow your employees to work remotely as much as possible to limit potential exposure.
- When employees are back in the office or at the facility, practice social distancing. Posting signage can help employees remember to limit contact with each other.
- If possible, stagger the shifts or work schedules to decrease the number of employees on site at any given time.
- Clean and disinfect surfaces regularly, especially ones that are frequently used (e.g. door handles, water fountains, lockers, etc.).
- Encourage your employees to practice good hygiene by frequently washing their hands for at least 20 seconds, sanitizing their hands and surfaces, and by keeping their work areas safe.
Personal Protective Equipment
- Provide employees with gloves to wear when working with potentially contaminated surfaces. Ensure employees are trained on how to properly wear and remove gloves to avoid potential contamination.
- Eye and face protection, including face masks and face shields, can help prevent fluids from coming into contact with other people. Face coverings (including cloth) are primarily used to prevent someone who is sick, but may be asymptomatic, from transmitting the virus to others, and may not prevent someone from catching the virus.
Some helpful links on this subject include:
OSHA: https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/covid-19/controlprevention.html
CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/prevention.html