Here is a guide for your employer from the WHO that outlines how your employer can help keep your workplace safe. Please read the complete document. Below is a brief summary.

These measures can reduce working days lost due to illness and help avoid the need for additional business closures and lockdown.

• If an employee has any symptoms or signs of COVID-19, even if they are only mild, they should not go into work.
  • Employees should be allowed to politely ask customers who are coughing to return another day, when they are feeling well.

• Allow regular teleworking whenever possible.
  • This includes allowing work from home and replacing business/staff meetings with teleconferencing or video conferencing.

  • If teleconferencing is not possible, meetings may be held outside instead of in crowded meeting rooms.

• Alter the workplace to allow social distancing (1m to 1.5m) between all employees and between employees and customers.

• Avoid shaking hands, hugging or kissing anyone on greeting.

• Allow open windows and doors, if possible, to make sure the workplace is well ventilated.

• Put sanitizing hand rub dispensers in prominent places around the workplace.

• Display posters promoting hand-washing and hand gel use around the workplace.
  • This is the best handwashing poster that I can find. It clearly shows how to turn off the tap using a paper towel to protect your hands from re-infection!

Note:The current poster from NSW Health does not explicitly show how to use a paper towel to turn off the tap. It needs to be corrected.

• Here is a poster from the WHO on how to use hand gel.

• Some more posters from the WHO on hand washing:

• Your employer should ensure that face masks and / or paper tissues are available at your workplaces for those who develop a runny nose or start coughing at work, along with closed bins for hygienically disposing of them. WHO recommends surgical face masks rather than 'N95' face masks.
  • Ideally, any employees who are coughing should take sick leave.

  • Customers who are coughing should be asked to return another day when they are feeling well.

• Display posters promoting respiratory hygiene.
  • Some posters from the WHO on respiratory hygiene:

• Advise employees and contractors to consult national travel advice before going on business trips.

• Your workplace should develop a plan of what to do if someone becomes ill with suspected COVID-19 at one of your workplaces.

• Here is a resource kit for businesses from Safe Work Australia.
  
  
  [ Back to EBDM Main page ] Any questions or comments please contact Gordon.Doig@EvidenceBased.net
  Privacy Policy
  Page last modified on 27 July 2021.