4 Safety Tips from Health Experts When Returning to Work

Many companies temporarily shut down their operations or required employees to work from home due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Now, businesses are embrace the “new normal,” and employees are returning to workplaces that are anything but normal.

It can be scary and intimidating to return to work in the middle of the pandemic. Although workers may be fearful and worried about how they can protect themselves and others against the coronavirus’s spread, there are many things that employees can do to remain safe, productive, and efficient.

Health safety experts are working with state and local governments and businesses to develop and implement safety measures that employees can follow when they return to work. They also offer various safety tips for employees when returning to work, such as:

Prioritize Social Distancing

Workspaces should be configured at least 6 ft. apart, Dr. Susan Bailey, an allergist and immunologist, and president of the American Medical Association tells CNN. Health agencies urge people to practice social distancing to avoid close contact that otherwise promotes the coronavirus’s spread. To practice social distancing, workstations should be spread out across a work environment. If necessary, employers should stagger work shifts and break times to avoid crowding as well.

Wear a Face Mask

Along with social distancing, employees should wear a face mask to work. Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious disease expert at the University of Southern California, San Francisco, says he is a strong advocate for masking at work because it can sometimes be difficult to practice social distancing in work settings. By wearing a face mask, workers can avoid inadvertently breathing in droplets from coughs or sneezes that spread the coronavirus. That way, they can further reduce the risk of unknowingly getting infected by COVID-19 or infecting one of their coworkers with it.

Follow the ‘C.P.D. Protocol’

Dr. Regina Benjamin, founder, and CEO of the Gulf States Health Policy Center and a former U.S. surgeon general recommends a “C.P.D. protocol” for all workplaces. This protocol calls for workers to “clean, protect, and distance” as much as possible throughout the workday. To follow the protocol, workers should regularly wash their hands with soap and water and regularly disinfect their work surfaces. They should also wear face masks and personal protective equipment (PPE) as required. Workers must stay 6 ft. apart from coworkers as well.

Limit In-Person Meetings

Dr. Jay C. Butler, deputy director for infectious diseases at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, recommends fewer in-person meetings and more virtual meetings. Remember, close contact with others can cause the coronavirus to spread. Thanks to video conferencing technology, employees can engage with one another, get their jobs done, and limit the risk of contracting or spreading COVID-19.

Find Your Dream Job with Help from a Staffing Agency

The tips mentioned above can help you stay safe once you return to work during the pandemic. But, if you were furloughed or laid off during the crisis or want to pursue new career opportunities in Texas, Select Staff can help. Please contact us today to talk to our staffing professionals.

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