INDUSTRY FEATURE – COVID-19 Safety: Keep Your Foot on the Gas

As Holidays near, it is important to keep your guard up to prevent further COVID-19 spread.

After nearly eight months of COVID-19 policies and procedures, it is understandable that folks are looking forward to the comforts of holiday traditions. However, it is important, now more than ever, that we need to keep our guards up when thinking about COVID-19 spread prevention.

According to Dr. Peter Hotez from Baylor College of Medicine, the United States hit its lowest point in new cases early September, with around 30,000. New cases are now reported over 100,000 daily and projected to continue to increase at a rapid rate.

With Flu Season and the Holiday Season right around the corner, companies need to encourage their employees to “hunker down” and practice safety now more than ever. The CDC still maintains that the best way to prevent COVID-19 transmission is through proper PPE, personal hygiene and social distancing.

Try some of these tips around the workplace to help prevent the spread:
• Create policy requiring face covering on the premises and out in the field
• Space out work areas so that employees are minimum 6 feet apart
• Offer telecommuting options whenever practical
• Supply common areas with hand sanitizer and cleaning products
• Hang signs reminding employees to wash hands frequently and properly

With the holidays coming up, preventing the spread does not stop at the workplace. Encourage employees to practice COVID-19 safety in their personal lives as well. With Thanksgiving coming up, it is important to consider how you will celebrate. According to the CDC, the safest way to celebrate is with those already in your household or virtually.

If that does not work for your family dynamic, try following these recommendations from the CDC:
• Wear a mask anytime you are not eating or drinking
• Host/attend an outdoor Thanksgiving celebration
• Wash your hands thoroughly before handling food or eating
• Do not share drinks, cutlery or dishes
• Showing any symptoms? Stay home

TMI will always be Serious About Safety and dedicated to creating safe work zones that include COVID-19 Safety measures. For more information, visit www.cdc.gov.