WHAT CAN BE DONE IN THE WORKPLACE

Make sure your workplaces are clean and hygienic. Surfaces (e.g. desks and tables) and objects (e.g. telephones, keyboards) need to be wiped with disinfectant regularly because contamination on surfaces touched by employees and customers is one of the main ways that Covid-19 spreads.

Promote regular and thorough hand-washing by employees, contractors and customers. Put sanitising hand rub dispensers in prominent places around the workplace.

Make sure these dispensers are regularly refilled. Display posters promoting hand-washing — ask your local public health authority for these or look on www. WHO.int. Combine this with other communication measures such as offering guidance from occupational health and safety officers, briefings at meetings and information on the intranet to promote hand-washing.

Promote good respiratory hygiene in the workplace. Display posters promoting respiratory hygiene. Ensure that face masks and / or paper tissues are available at your workplace, for those who develop a runny nose or cough at work, along with closed bins for hygienically disposing them.

Advise employees and contractors to consult national travel advice before going on business trips. Brief employees, contractors and customers that if Covid-19 starts spreading in the community, anyone with even a mild cough or low-grade fever (37.3C or more) needs to stay at home.

They should also stay home (or work from home) if they have had to take simple medications, such as paracetamol/acetaminophen, ibuprofen or aspirin, which may mask symptoms of infection. Make clear to employees that they will be able to count this time off as sick leave.