How To Protect Yourself Against COVID-19 at Work
Most of the world was put into an immediate shut-down in early 2020 when news of the coronavirus hit. Unsurprisingly, many businesses had to send their employees home to work remotely, and some even closed their doors completely. Life has mostly gone back to normal for a lot of people, yet the fear of contracting COVID-19 still looms for those who have to return to their workplaces.
You can take all the necessary precautions at home to ensure you are sanitizing your hands and staying away from anyone who is ill, but how do you follow this through at the office? Many people do not realize that simply washing your hands and wearing a mask will not prevent the spread of the virus entirely. Here are some important things to watch out for as you return to work.
Don’t Rely on Others
You can be as clean and careful as the most hygienic person on earth, but if you work with people who don’t use the same methods or are reluctant to take the virus seriously, all your efforts go to waste. For some, family and friends may even try to hug you despite social distancing prohibiting it. You need to be stern about wanting to maintain space between yourself and others.
It is not just about protecting yourself, but keeping those around you safe if you contract COVID-19 and realize it too late.
Move Your Workspace
If you are used to sitting in a crowded office with many people at one desk, consider moving your workspace to a more isolated area. For some offices, space is limited, and even with social distancing or remote employees, you may still be confined. If this is the case, you should request protection barriers between yourself and your colleagues.
It is important to remember that you and all the employees need to be protected during this time. You are within your rights to request remote work or protection barriers if the office environment is not suitable for social distancing, such as those from barrierlab.com.
Touching Your Mask
COVID-19 can be spread through coughing, touching, and sneezing. The virus can stay infectious on plastic and steel surfaces for almost three days. In an office, you have no way of telling if someone touched something with the same hands that wiped their nose. If they did not wash their hands afterward and you touch the same surface and then your mask, you have already put yourself in danger.
Businesses need to include routine sanitizing schedules that are not just once or twice a day. As an employee yourself, consider sanitizing everything before and after you touch it. Using disposable gloves is also a great idea for any time you are not in your isolated workspace.
Keep some spare disposable masks in your car or desk that can be swapped out every few hours. If you can keep your mask clean during the day, at least change it daily. If you wear cloth masks, wash them regularly and don’t wear them for more than one day at a time.