The Covid-19 virus has a fragile outer membrane: it is less stable in the environment and can be killed by simple disinfectants. Survival time in the environment depends on
- pH
- Inoculum size (required concentration of expected microorganism for a standard test)
- Dryness
- Temperature
- Exposure to disinfectants (common disinfectants such as 70% ethanol and bleach can kill the virus)
- Type of surface
Workplace Preparedness
- Anticipated number of staff
- Opening up of services (employee-public shared spaces)
- Risk assessment (potential risk of transmission)
These include operations, activities and shared spaces (among employees and employees / public). Workplace changes include considerations such as
- Engineering controls (strategies designed to protect workers from hazardous conditions by placing a barrier between the worker and the hazard)
- Admin controls (training, procedure, policy, or shift designs that lessen the threat of a hazard to an individual)
- Substitution (removing the hazard from the workplace)
- PPE (personal protective equipment)
Administration
- Observe social distancing
- More office space ̶ working offsite
- Workplace facilities
- Access control-staff, visitors, dedicated streamlined / controlled access
Non-Medical Management Preparations
- Debriefing staff about new changes
- Psychosocial support
- New work organisation
- Access control
- Spatial arrangements
- Review cleaning and disinfection procedures
Training and Awareness
- Sensitise skeleton staff
- Communicate with staff at home
- Key operational people (HR / access control personnel)
- Procedures to be followed
- Procedure review
- Confidentiality vs public health outbreak
Primary Prevention
- Minimise risks of transmission in the workplace. HRA (health reimbursement arrangement) including controls (Engineering, Administrative and PPE)
- Business continuity and pandemic preparedness policies
- Education and training / risk communication
- Minimise risks of transmission in the workplace
- Screening and identification of potentially affected employees, limit contact and movement
- Social distancing
- Promote regular and thorough handwashing by employees, contractors and customers
- Respiratory hygiene
- Avoid touching your face, especially while working
- Encourage / insist that symptomatic persons stay away / self-isolate
Workplace Practices to Review
- Mass gathering (water/coffee stations, common areas)
- Waiting areas ̶ clinic, medicals, etc.
- Meetings (forums)
- Specific procedures: spirometry (measuring lung function) ̶ consider method and assess risk, breathalysers (safety risk), etc.
- Access control methods (biometrics, signing-in with common material such as pens)
- Public spaces and workers
Medical Management
- Workplace cleaning and disinfection protocols
- Medical fitness issues and returning to work
- Mental health issues
- Impairment assessment / compensation
- Work restrictions