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Reducing The Risk Of Flu and Other Communicable Illnesses In The Workplace
By following guidelines based upon traditional infection control and industrial
hygiene practices, employers can play a key role in protecting their employees
from influenza and other communicable illnesses. Employers and employees should
use these guidelines to help identify risk levels in workplace settings and to
take appropriate measures that include good hygiene, cough etiquette, social
distancing, and staying home from work when ill.
Seasonal influenza
Influenza outbreaks are typically limited and most people have some immunity
to the circulating strain of the virus. A vaccine is prepared in advance of
the flu season and is designed to match the influenza viruses most likely
to be circulating
in the community. Employees living abroad and international business travelers
should note that other geographic areas (for example, the Southern Hemisphere)
have different influenza seasons which may require different vaccines.
Avian Flu
In 2007, there were 72 new human cases of avian flu. Of those cases, 48 people
died, which translates to a devastating mortality rate of 67 percent. There
are 25 countries, including Canada and a number of European nations that have
reported
animals with avian flu this year. Right now, humans cannot pass avian flu to
each other. It is still considered communicable, however, because it is passed
from animal to human.
The avian flu virus has raised concerns about a potential human pandemic
because of the high mortality rate and the fact that humans have little natural
immunity
to it. Because of these factors, if avian flu becomes transmissible from person
to person, it may very well spread rapidly and with little restraint, causing
a global outbreak or pandemic.
Staph
Staph (staphylococcus aureus) is a type of bacteria commonly carried on the
skin or in the nose of healthy people. Sometimes staph can cause a skin infection
and can cause serious infections such as wound infections, bloodstream infections,
and pneumonia.
Antibiotic Staph
Methicillian-resistant staph or MRSA refers to types of staph that are resistant
to the antibiotic Methicillian as well as some other antibiotics and drugs.
Staph and MRSA infections acquired by persons who have not been hospitalized
within
the past year are known as community-associated MRSA. Hospital-related staph
and MRSA on the rise has been attributed to the pervasive use and misuse of
antibiotics by the medical community as well as the increasing amount of antibiotics
in animal-derived
food sources.
How Germs Spread
Illnesses like the flu (influenza) and colds are caused by viruses that infect
the nose, throat, and lungs. Flu and colds usually spread from person to person
when an infected person coughs or sneezes sending relatively large infectious
droplets and very small sprays into the nearby air and into contact with other
people.
To a lesser degree, human flu is spread by touching objects contaminated
with influenza viruses and then transferring the infected material from the
hands
to the nose, mouth or eyes. Influenza may also be spread by very small infectious
particles traveling in the air.
Staph bacteria, including MRSA, can cause skin infections that may look like
a pimple or boil and can be red, swollen, painful, or have pus or other drainage.
MRSA is spread through the 5 Cs - Crowding and subsequently frequent skin-to-skin
Contact, lack of Cleanliness, Compromised skin (cuts) and Contaminated surfaces
and items.
Steps Every Employer Can Take
• Develop a sick leave policy that does not penalize sick employees, thereby
encouraging employees who have influenza-related symptoms (e.g., fever, headache,
cough,
sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle aches, or upset stomach) to stay
home so that they do not infect other employees. Recognize that employees with
ill
family members may need to stay home to care for them.
• Provide resources and a work environment that promotes personal hygiene.
For example, provide tissues, no-touch trash cans, hand soap, hand sanitizer,
disinfectants
and disposable towels for employees to clean their work surfaces.
• Encourage employees to wash their hands frequently and avoid touching
their nose, mouth and eyes.
• Encourage employees to cover their coughs and sneezes.
• Encourage employees to obtain a seasonal influenza vaccine.
• Provide employees with up-to-date education and training on influenza
risk factors, protective behaviors, and instruction on proper behaviors (for
example, cough
etiquette and care of personal protective equipment).
• Keep work surfaces, telephones, computer equipment and other frequently
touched surfaces and office equipment clean.
•
Discourage your employees from using other employees’ phones, desks,
offices or other work tools and equipment
• If flu symptoms appear to be spreading among employees, minimize situations
where groups of people are crowded together, such as in a meeting. Use
e-mail, phones
and text messages to communicate with each other.
When meetings are necessary,
avoid close contact by keeping a separation of at least 6 feet, where
possible, and assure that there is proper ventilation in the meeting room.
Reduce or
eliminate unnecessary social interactions.
•
Promote healthy lifestyles that include plenty of sleep, physical activity, good
nutrition, stress management, drinking plenty of fluids, and smoking cessation.
A person’s overall health impacts their body’s immune system
and can affect their ability to fight off, or recover from, an infectious
disease.
How To Help Stop The Spread Of Germs
• The best prevention for seasonal flu is to get vaccinated. These vaccinations
may also be of some benefit in treating avian flu in humans should a pandemic
occur.
• Cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze or cough either with a tissue,
your hand or upper sleeves if tissues are not available. Then clean your hands,
and
do so every time you cough or sneeze.
• Clean your hands often. When available, wash your hands with soap and
warm water then rub your hands vigorously together and scrub all surfaces. Wash
for 15 to
20 seconds. It is the soap combined with the scrubbing action that helps dislodge
and remove germs.
• When soap and water are not available, alcohol-based disposable hand
wipes or gel sanitizers may be used. If using a gel, rub the gel in your hands
until they
are dry. Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated
with germs and then touches their eyes, nose, or mouth.
• When you are sick or have flu symptoms, stay home, get plenty of rest,
and check with a health care provider as needed. Remember: keeping your distance
from others
may protect them from getting sick.
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