How can I protect myself from infectious diseases in the workplace?
January 4, 2023 | 40,00 EUR | answered by Selma Stamm
Dear Occupational Health Physician,
My name is Sophia Böhm and I work in an office with several colleagues. Lately, I have been increasingly concerned about protecting myself from infectious diseases in the workplace. Due to the close collaboration and regular contact with my colleagues, I believe there is an increased risk of getting infected.
I have already taken some measures to protect myself, such as regular handwashing, wearing a mask, and disinfecting my workspace. However, I am worried that these measures may not be sufficient to fully protect me from infections.
I would like to know what additional precautions I can take to protect myself and my colleagues from infectious diseases. Are there specific hygiene measures that I can implement in the workplace? Should I wear certain protective clothing or are there other recommendations you can provide me with?
It is very important to me to stay healthy and minimize the risk of infection as much as possible. Therefore, I would be very grateful if you could give me specific tips and recommendations to best protect myself from infectious diseases in the workplace.
Thank you in advance for your assistance.
Sincerely,
Sophia Böhm
Dear Ms. Böhm,
Thank you for your question regarding protection against infectious diseases in the workplace. It is understandable that you are concerned about your health, especially in times when infectious diseases are prevalent.
It is commendable that you have already taken some measures to protect yourself from infections, such as regular handwashing, wearing a mask, and disinfecting your workplace. These measures are very important and should definitely be continued.
In addition to these measures, there are other protective measures that you can implement in the workplace to minimize the risk of infection. These include, for example, regularly airing out office spaces to improve air quality and reduce the spread of viruses. Setting up disinfection stations at strategic points in the office can also help employees regularly disinfect their hands.
It is also advisable to arrange the workspaces of employees in a way that allows for a minimum distance of 1.5 meters to reduce the risk of contagion. If this is not possible, plexiglass barriers or similar barriers should be put in place to minimize direct contact between employees.
Depending on the type of activity and the employer, it may also be useful to wear special protective clothing such as masks, gloves, or goggles. This should be done in consultation with your employer, who is responsible for providing such protective equipment.
It is important that all employees in the office adhere to the applicable hygiene and protection measures to minimize the risk of infection for everyone involved. Stay informed about current recommendations and guidelines from health authorities to stay up to date.
I hope that these tips and recommendations will help you protect yourself as best as possible against infectious diseases in the workplace. If you have any further questions, I am happy to assist.
Best regards,
Selma Stamm, Occupational Health Physician
