The
best strategy to reduce the risk of becoming ill with pandemic influenza is to
avoid crowded settings and other situations that increase the risk of exposure
to someone who may be infected. If you must be in a crowded setting, minimize
your time there. Some basic hygiene and social distancing precautions that can
be used in every workplace include the following:
- Stay home if you
are sick.
- Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for 20 seconds
or with a hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
- Avoid
touching your nose, mouth and eyes.
- Cover your coughs and sneezes
with a tissue, or cough and sneeze into your upper sleeve. Dispose of tissues
in no-touch trash receptacles.
- Wash your hands or use a hand sanitizer
after coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose.
- Avoid close contact
(within 6 feet) with coworkers and customers.
- Avoid shaking hands
and always wash your hands after physical contact with others.
- If
wearing gloves, always wash your hands after removing them.
- Keep
frequently touched common surfaces (for example, telephones, computer equipment,
etc.) clean.
- Try not to use other workers' phones, desks, offices,
or other work tools and equipment.
- Minimize group meetings; use e-mails,
phones and text messaging. If meetings are unavoidable, avoid close contact (within
6 feet) with others and ensure that the meeting room is properly ventilated.
- Limit
unnecessary visitors to the workplace.
- Maintain a healthy lifestyle;
attention to rest, diet, exercise and relaxation helps maintain physical and emotional
health
For more information, see Guidance on Preparing
Workplaces for an Influenza Pandemic, OSHA Publication No. 3327, which can be
accessed at www.osha.gov.
Credit:
http://www.osha.gov/Publications/protect-yourself-pandemic.html For
more complete information:
Occupational
Safety and Health
Administration
U.S. Department of Labor
www.osha.gov
(800) 321-OSHA OSHA 3365-05N-09
Related
Information: NBA
Strategic Partner - U.S. Small Business
Administration NBA
Resource Article - H1N1 Preparedness Guide
for Small Businesses NBA
Resource Article - Fact Sheet:
Advancing the Nation's Preparedness for Pandemic Influenza Reprint
of this article does not constitute an endorsement by the National Business Association;
the article is for informational purposes for our members and viewers of our Web
site. |
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