Preventing COVID-19 at Work, Here's How
Read all articles about coronavirus (COVID-19) here.
The transmission of COVID-19 in the workplace is increasing. Even now the President of the United States Donald Trump and his wife Melania have tested positive for COVID-19. Both are thought to have been infected by presidential adviser Hope Hicks.
What should you pay attention to and how can you prevent it to reduce the risk of transmitting COVID-19 in the workplace? Check out the following explanation:
Prevent transmission of COVID-19 in the workplace
When you have to return to your activities at work, you must prepare yourself to prevent transmission of COVID-19 in the workplace.
As we currently know, COVID-19 is transmitted through droplet (saliva splash) when someone who is infected coughs, sneezes, or talks. Transmission can also occur from contact with surfaces that have been contaminated with the virus.
By knowing these basic things, we must put in place a strategy to avoid the COVID-19 transmission route as much as possible.
Preventing the spread of COVID-19 starts from traveling to work until returning home. When you go to work, make sure you are in good health, wear a mask, and if possible avoid using public transportation.
Workplace habits that must be considered
1. Keep your distance
Initially this appeal was intended to avoid contact with sick people only. But because at this time people who have been infected can appear to be still healthy or so-called people without symptoms (OTG), so as much as possible to avoid direct contact with other people.
To avoid spreading COVID-19 in the workplace, keep your workplace as much as possible from other colleagues.
2. Always wash your hands
Washing hands is one of the most important things in preventing transmission of COVID-19 anywhere, including in the workplace.
On arrival at work, immediately wash your hands with soap and running water. After that you are advised to wash your hands with soap every 4 hours. Use hand sanitizer after touching common equipment in the work area.
3. Keep wearing the mask while working
Wear a mask from starting to go to work until you get home again. Doctors recommend changing the mask every four hours. Don’t forget to bring some spare masks while you are in the office.
4. Don’t touch the face
The face is believed to be the entrance for viruses into our bodies. Faces that are touched by hands contaminated with the corona virus can make germs easily stick to mucous membranes. As a result, the risk of respiratory infections increases.
Touch the face it is indeed a habit that is difficult to break, but this is an important thing to prevent transmission of COVID-19 in the workplace. So from now on we have to get used to it seriously.
5. Just stay home when sick
Don’t go to work and stay home when you feel sick. This is to prevent you from passing the disease on to other people.
Arriving at home, do not make contact with family members and immediately clean up. Preventing the spread of COVID-19 by living a clean and healthy life must become our daily habit during a pandemic.
Besides that, take care of your health, pay attention to balanced nutritional intake, and get enough sleep.
Prevention is also expected to be carried out by the company
When employees are required to return to work, the company is expected to take several actions to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
American Center for Disease Control ( CDC) asked the company to answer the question “is the company ready to protect employees at high risk?” If the answer is no then it is advisable not to open.
Meanwhile, the Indonesian government issued a Minister of Health Decree which was issued on Wednesday (20/5) and signed by the Minister of Health, Terawan Agus Putranto.
That is the Decree of the Minister of Health (KMK) Number HK.01.07 / MENKES / 328/2020 concerning Guidelines for the Prevention and Control of COVID-19 in Office and Industrial Workplaces in Support of Business Continuity in Pandemic Situations.
In the decision, the company expected to limit the number of personnel at work. This is intended to make it easier for every worker to maintain a safe distance or what is known as physical distancing.
Another regulation that can be applied to prevent transmission of COVID-19 in the workplace is to provide distance alerts in several places. One of them is the restrictions at the entrance when checking body temperature and in the elevator.
“If possible, provide special transportation for workers to commute from mes or housing to the workplace so that workers do not use public transportation,” wrote the KMK.
Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
