Leave viruses at the door (not on the doorknob) with this checklist
Cold and flu season isn’t in full swing quite yet, making this the perfect time to be proactive and plan to prevent the spread of viruses in your workplace.
Make sure employees are aware of steps they should take to stay healthy, and update your workspaces and use company policies to keep cold, flu, and COVID-19 viruses from intruding on your workplace and draining productivity.
Use this simple checklist to help keep your team on track:
____ Encourage handwashing. Regular handwashing keeps germs from spreading. Put up posters and signs that encourage employees to regularly wash their hands vigorously for 20 seconds. Provide handwashing facilities with ample clean water and soap. If employees work in an environment where soap and water aren’t available, provide hand sanitizer made with at least 60 percent alcohol.
____ Disinfect commonly touched surfaces. Germs can linger on surfaces for days or weeks. Disinfect surfaces that are touched frequently, like doorknobs, microwave handles, keyboards, light switches, dials, and control buttons.
____ Publicize your sick leave policy. To keep viruses from spreading, employees who are ill should stay home. Make sure employees understand your sick leave policy and know who to contact if they are not feeling well.
____ Provide etiquette reminders. Workers who come down with a virus but who are not ill enough to stay home should cover coughs and sneezes with an arm (not hands) or a tissue and properly dispose of used tissues.
____ Give workers space. If an outbreak of illness occurs, consider recommending social distancing in the office. Viruses spread through the air, so maintaining a distance of at least 6 feet from others might help slow the spread. The option to work from home and holding virtual meetings can also help.
____ Provide face masks. Encourage employees to wear masks when they’re feeling sick to help keep microscopic droplets and particles containing viruses out of the air.
____ Urge workers to get vaccinated. Vaccinations for the flu and COVID-19 prevent severe illnesses and hospitalizations. Provide workers with information about the advantages of these vaccinations and where they can get them. Allow workers to take time off to get vaccinated and recover from any side effects. If possible, hold an on-site clinic to make it convenient for workers to get vaccinated.
____ Be prepared for absences. Supervisors should have a plan in place to cover unplanned employee absences so workers don’t feel pressured to come in to work when they are ill. If remote work is an option for those who don’t feel well enough to come into the office, make sure workers are aware of how to inform teammates of their plans.
____ Check building ventilation. Proper indoor ventilation can lower the concentration of viruses and allow people to breathe in air that’s less contaminated. In addition, good ventilation reduces surface contamination, as there are fewer virus particles to fall from the air onto surfaces. Make sure your heating and cooling system meets or exceeds requirements.
Key to remember: Planning now can help keep employees healthy when cold and flu season kicks in.