No time for workplace complacency?
South Korean traveller who tested positive for Covid-19 ate at Christchurch McDonald’s.
In regard to Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 (WHS) legislation in New Zealand, a Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking (PCBU)/employer must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of its workers and others affected by its operations.
All WHS/in effect in New Zealand, requires employers to understand the WHS hazards in their workplaces, assess the risk of these hazards and implement controls to eliminate or reduce the risk of these hazards. With the Global COVID-19 pandemic upon us, the risk of workers or others being exposed to the virus is still genuine, and all employers must be able to implement strategies to eliminate this risk where possible or reduce it to as low as is reasonably practicable.
Most employers already have undertaken necessary infection control precautions to avert the spread of communicable diseases and limit exposure to bodily fluids. However, the highly contagious nature of COVID-19 means essential infection control procedures will not be enough if this infection ever takes hold in our New Zealand Communities
Infection prevention and control (IPC) is a scientific approach and practical solution designed to prevent harm caused by infection to patients and health workers. Infection control is not just a discipline for health care providers and hospitals. It should form a part of our everyday lives.
All workplaces should now have an infection control policy and processes in place to define how the workplace is to identify and manage the risk of infection. Infection control policies should be reviewed and updated to ensure they meet the ongoing risks faced by any infection. In particular, workplaces must not become complacent and be in a state of readiness if for example COVID-19 infection would likely to reappear in our New Zealand communities
What is an infection?
An infection is caused by pathogens (e.g. viruses, bacteria, fungi) entering the body.
How is an infection caused?
Infections spread in several ways:
• Aerosols – there are two main distinctions: airborne or droplets; the difference lays in the size of the particle (ranging from 2 micro-metres to 100 micro-metres. To put it in perspective, a grain of sand is between 63 micro-metres to 2 millimetres) – A person inhales aerosol pathogens. Usually, these pathogens originate from an infected person coughing, sneezing, and even talking.
• Touching – a person touches contaminated surfaces or objects then touches their face, which can include a person ingesting contaminated food.
• Skin to skin – a person may touch an infected person, for example, shaking hands or kissing
• Bodily fluids – a person may come into contact with pathogens from an infected person’s saliva, urine, blood, or faeces. These pathogens can enter the person through cuts/abrasions or the mucus membranes of the mouth, nose, and eyes.
What do you do when an employee presents with flu-like symptoms?
Request employees to stay home if they are experiencing any signs or symptoms of illness. At the first onset of a sore throat, workers should go home to prevent any infection of other persons.
What can employers and the workforce do to reduce the chance of infections?
If you or your business requires further advice on developing and producing health and safety, please contact us at info@npower.co.nz.
This article is co-authored by Dave Houlihan - Managing Director NPower Business Solutions and Fathia Clay University of Colorado, Colorado Springs - Department of Nursing.