As you know, harmful occupational factors in the workplace include all those things that cause physical and mental illnesses for employees. Therefore, in addition to chemical, physical, and psychological factors in the workplace, biological factors in the workplace are also classified as occupational injuries. Especially to…
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As you know, occupational hazards in the workplace include all those that cause physical and mental illnesses for employees.
Therefore, in addition to chemical, physical, and psychological factors in the workplace, biological factors in the workplace are also classified as occupational hazards.
Especially before the COVID-19 pandemic, such hazards were rarely classified as occupational illnesses, except for employees of healthcare centers.Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that cause a wide range of diseases, from the common cold to SARS and MERS.
According to research, the virus is transmitted from person to person through respiratory droplets infected with the virus.
-Infected respiratory droplets are transmitted from a sick person following sneezing, coughing, and close contact with an infected person.
-Or it is transmitted to other people following hand contact with surfaces contaminated with respiratory droplets containing the virus and then contact of the contaminated hand with the nose, mouth, and eyes.
Based on the above information and considering the high prevalence and rapid spread of this disease from person to person, health organizations around the world have developed numerous guidelines for workplaces, a summary of which is provided below:
1- Avoid contact and prevent the presence of people with cold symptoms in the workplace.
2-Education and observance of hygiene etiquette related to sneezing and coughing
3-Washing hands frequently with soap and water throughout the day
4-Washing hands after using the restroom.
5-Washing hands before eating.
6- The return of patients after recovery must be based on specific health guidelines approved by the Ministry of Health and following the necessary checks to ensure that the incubation period has passed and the infectious period has ended (which varies from 7 to 20 days in different guidelines).
7- Colleagues who travel to areas with high disease prevalence must self-quarantine upon their return. This means that they must avoid anything that could spread the disease to others, such as;
Social gatherings, restaurants, etc.
In addition, if the person in question works in medical centers, nursing homes, or daycare centers, he or she should avoid going to work for two weeks. In general, one of the most effective methods to prevent the spread of infectious diseases in the workplace is to vaccinate personnel.
-Personal protective equipment, especially masks, gowns, gloves, and shields, are defined for individuals according to the type of activity and workplace. Therefore, for less hazardous work environments, using ordinary surgical masks and maintaining appropriate social distance (1.5 to 2 meters) is sufficient.
And wearing a mask is essential in closed environments, such as shuttle services, locker rooms, public rooms, and production halls.
-Keeping surfaces clean and disinfecting them frequently reduces the risk of contact with contaminated surfaces and disease transmission.
-Proper ventilation in closed environments is essential to break the transmission chain.
In places that lack an efficient ventilation system, help ventilate the air by opening windows.
Finally, it is important to remember that the most important thing to prevent the spread of the disease is to break the chain of transmission. Given that many cases of disease transmission occur through asymptomatic carriers to healthy people, every person should be considered a carrier and every surface should be considered contaminated by default, and frequent hand washing and disinfection, wearing a mask, and maintaining safe social distancing should not be neglected.
