What do we, as Health and Safety Professionals, do now that most of the COVID restrictions are over? How do we advise, teach, train and guide the Safety and Health of employees, operations and organizations? We have always looked at and used various OSHA standards, company guidelines and other aspects of Safety and Health in order to do our jobs of ensuring that Safety and Health are part of an organization’s core values and part of employee’s culture and habits. Unlike most risky activities such as skydiving or scuba diving where those that participate have many hours of training or life-saving equipment with them, COVID-19 came without notice…no one was properly prepared. I read recently where COVID-19 was compared to the running with the bulls at Pamplona Spain. There is no training, no preparation…a group of people not knowing what is going to happen waiting for an angry bull to chase them through the streets. Everyone involved is just trying to make the right decisions along the way.
Over the past year and a half, we have had an issue that we probably never thought would impact our world in such a monumental way. This was an “invisible” hazard that couldn’t be seen, smelled or touched. But it could be felt…in how it affected each and every one of us. It is probably a fact that COVID affected someone that each of us knows or knew. It may have just caused them to be sick or it may have actually taken their life. It may have caused them to lose their job and their livelihood. Even though we couldn’t actually see the virus we saw how it affected people, how it affected businesses, how it affected families and how it affected the world as a whole.
So, what do we do now? Do we ignore this? Do we let it take its course and not address it? Do we focus all of our energy on this type of hazard? Or do we make this and other types of transmissible diseases part of how we address safety in the workplace and at home. I have always tried to integrate occupational safety with life safety…trying to show how people can use what they learn at work, through safety programs and training, at their homes also. We can also use what we have learned at our homes, through all the CDC guidelines, safety protocols, scientific studies and other recommendations, at our workplaces moving forward. Why not make some of the precautions that we have been using over the past year and half part of our work precautions as we try to continue to find ways to make our workplaces safer and healthier. Office buildings and production facilities are prime places for diseases like this to spread, since there are many different people coming and going throughout the day, and most have to pass through common entry points like lobbies, security checkpoints, and elevators. As we go back to work after COVID, there are additional safety protocol measures your business can take to provide a safer work environment for your employees from the moment they enter the premises.
Is safety a choice? I guess it is but we as Safety Professionals try to make safety a habit. We try to make safety a culture. We try to make safety a part of how a person does their job every day. We try to make safety a value that a company feels is as important as other values of business. Whether we wanted it or not safety from COVID has become part of our lives. Let’s not forget what we have done and how we have done it in order to try to prevent transmission of this disease. Let’s take these precautions with us for life so that we make them parts of how we live. It will enable us to fare better when the next “COVID” comes along. It will help us fare better during the routine flu seasons we get. It will help us fare better with common colds. It will help us make the world a healthier place overall. Has COVID changed the world…I think so. Can COVID change the world for the better…I think so.
Health & Safety Precautions to Take Post-Coronavirus
- Educate your staff on the signs and symptoms of COVID-19-Dedicate additional HR resources to answering their questions about what to do if they become ill or are exposed to someone who is sick.
- Wash your hands often – Use soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after being in a public place or after sneezing, blowing your nose, or coughing. (Hand washing is more effective than hand sanitizer. Hand washing removes organic material, including germs. It is the best way to remove germs from your hands. Hand sanitizers are made less effective by organic materials on your hands).
- Support employee hygiene – Keep tissues, hand sanitizer, soap and disinfectant wipes readily available to all employee.
- Avoid contact with those who are sick – Stay away from people who are sick, so that you do not risk contracting sickness.
- Stay home if you are sick – If you are sick, it’s important to stay home, except to get medical care.
- Clean & disinfect – Clean frequently touched surfaces daily; this includes tables, doorknobs, light switches, handles, desks, computers, phones, keyboards, sinks, toilets, faucets, and countertops.
- Educate your staff on the signs and symptoms of COVID-19 or other transmissible diseases-Dedicate additional HR resources to answering their questions about what to do if they become ill or are exposed to someone who is sick.
- If possible, reconfigure worksites to add more distance between employees – Space desks at least 6 feet apart if possible and discourage shared equipment or workstations. Physical barriers such as plexiglass can be used as dividers and floor decals can be used to maintain distances.
- Set lower capacity thresholds for certain areas- Certain space management tools can be used. Occupancy management systems that count the number of entries and exits in real timeand subsequently disable access can be used.
- Modify air filtration – Consider installing high-efficiency air filters and better HVAC or ventilation systems to reduce the viral load in workplace interiors.
- Daily cleaning and disinfection – Schedule for all high-touch surfaces in the office or plant such as door handles, desks, phones, light switches and faucets to be cleaned daily. Coordinate with your cleaning services to ensure that this is being done. Use checklists or other ways to consistently clean as needed.
- Security – Increase security measures. Traditional security systems may not be suited for a Post-COVID environment. You should be more aware of who is coming or going from your facility, be able to track that in real-time and react quickly in case of emergency.
- PPE – If possible, ensure that you have a proper allotment of PPE such as masks, gloves and others on-site as needed. This was one of the biggest shortcomings we experienced as we were not properly prepared for the COVID pandemic.
The most important part of your business should be the health and safety of your employees. These suggestions may seem excessive as we try to adjust our workplaces with caution. What we want to ensure is that our facilities are set up in order to protect our most valuable assets…our employees. Everyone should establish a Post-COVID safety plan and use it to reduce the possibility of the spread of germs between employees. Sanitation, personal hygiene and disinfection have proven to be some of the most important aspects of reducing the spread of COVID-19 and they will also be some of the most important aspects of reducing the transmission of existing germs and viruses and any new ones that appear in the future.
STAY SAFE AFTER COVID-19
Resource Guide:
Guidance for Businesses and Employers Responding to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
