While the World Health Organization has yet to declare COVID-19 a pandemic, it says the workplace needs to get prepare for coronavirus even if the virus has not arrived in the communities where they operate.
The agency warned that the long-term success cannot be taken for granted, and warned that all sections of the society – including businesses and employers – must play a role if they hope to stop the spread of this disease.
“Contamination on surfaces touched by employees and customers is one of the main ways that COVID-19 spreads and low-cost measures will help prevent the spread of infections in your workplace, such as colds, flu, and stomach bugs, and protect your customers, contractors, and employee,” the agency report.
The virus that first started in Wuhan, China, has infected more than 80,000 people and killed at least 2,700 globally. WHO has yet to declare COVID-19 a pandemic.
Here are the steps that WHO say would be helpful now before COVID-19 spreads in the workplace:
In order to prevent the spread, the workplace should promote regular and thorough hand-washing by employees, contractors and customers, put sanitizing hand rub dispensers in prominent places around the workplace and making sure these dispensers are regularly refilled, Display posters promoting hand-washing – ask your local public health authority for these or look on www.WHO.int.
Combine this with other communication measures such as offering guidance from occupational health and safety officers, briefings at meetings and information on the intranet to promote hand-washing.
Make sure that staff, contractors and customers have access to places where they can wash their hands with soap and water
Display posters promoting respiratory hygiene. Combine this with other communication measures such as offering guidance from occupational health and safety officers, briefing at meetings and information on the intranet, etc.
Ensure that face masks and / or paper tissues are available at your workplaces, for those who develop a runny nose or cough at work, along with closed bins for hygienically disposing of them.
Ensure that your employees comply with instructions from local authorities where they are traveling. If, for example, they are told by local authorities not to go somewhere they should comply with this. Your employees should comply with any local restrictions on travel, movement or large gatherings.
Develop a plan of what to do if someone becomes ill with suspected COVID-19 at one of your workplaces.
The plan should address how to keep your business running even if a significant number of employees, contractors and suppliers cannot come to your place of business – either due to local restrictions on travel or because they are ill.
Communicate to your employees and contractors about the plan and make sure they are aware of what they need to do – or not do – under the plan. Emphasize key points such as the importance of staying away from work even if they have only mild symptoms or have had to take simple medications (for example paracetamol, ibuprofen) which may mask the symptoms.
Be sure your plan addresses the mental health and social consequences of a case of COVID-19 in the workplace or in the community and offers information and support.
For small and medium-sized businesses without in-house staff health and welfare support, develop partnerships and plans with your local health and social service providers in advance of any emergency.
Your local or national public health authority may be able to offer support and guidance in developing your plan.
