Infection Prevention and Control in the Workplace  

Occupational health and safety is about minimising harm and protecting the health of employees and others from risks that are present in work. It includes the use of appropriate preventative measures and health and safety procedures to minimise risks. It also ensures that everyone is protected from exposure to the risk of work-related illness.

In today’s world, where infectious disease prevention and hygiene management have become essential workplace priorities, all organizations have come up with plans and strategies to manage such situations effectively, so that they do not face any major issues in their workplace operations. The major drawback of an infectious workplace is the potential for the spread of contagious diseases.

Different ways of infection spread:  

Employees can spread an infection in several ways, such as by touch (via shared utensils, food, and drinkware), breathing, sneezing, coughing, or touching the face with a gloved hand. In addition, employees are not always aware of the potential dangers of spreading infectious diseases. In such cases, they are not necessarily careful with their health and may spread disease through lack of awareness.

In general, some measures to ensure safe working conditions are considered necessary to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. To combat this problem, workers are advised to wear appropriate PPE, use adequate hand hygiene practices, and clean frequently touched surfaces regularly. However, there is still no guarantee that everyone will follow these precautions properly. So, the management has to make sure that employees follow precautions in order to:

Manage the organization’s environmental health, sanitation, and hygiene program
Ensure the safety of its workforce and maintain a safe working environment
Ensure that the business continuity plan (BCP) is in place and effective
Minimize absenteeism and absence from work due to illness or quarantine
Protect their own health by staying away from work when unwell to avoid spreading infections to others

As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), organizations are encouraged to implement measures including hygiene practices, workplace modifications, isolation of symptomatic individuals, contact management, surface disinfection, and employee awareness programs to prevent the outbreak or spread of infectious diseases.

An infectious workplace might lead to:

  • Sickness
  • Absenteeism
  • Loss in productivity
  • Overrun in projects
  • Loss of morale and goodwill among employees

Objective of this training:  

 

The primary objective of this training is to help organisations identify and assess workplace infection risks, implement appropriate preventive strategies, and develop systems that protect the health of employees and others through education, training, and the implementation of procedures for identifying potential exposure and preventing disease transmission.

Every workplace has an obligation to protect the health of its employees; for example, by ensuring access to clean drinking water, good ventilation, proper personal protective equipment (PPE), and a safe working environment.

Participants will learn about infectious agents, how infections are transmitted, identify risk factors that increase the chances of infection, and methods to protect themselves and others.

Steps involved:  

The first step is identifying the source of risk, that is, understanding whether the infection originates from inside or outside the workplace.
The major routes for transmission of infections include direct contact with infected persons or body fluids, contaminated instruments or materials, airborne droplets or aerosols, or indirect transmission via food, water, or contaminated surfaces (fomites).
Infections can occur from occupational exposure to microbes, chemical toxins, physical agents, radiation, drugs, chemicals, biological toxins, infectious diseases, or other harmful agents.

Topics covered during training:  

Why infection prevention and control is necessary
Employer and employee responsibilities
How infections occur in the workplace
Significance, uses, types of PPE and its role in infection prevention
Personal hygiene practices
Different strategies for infection prevention and control
Precautions to be taken to avoid communicable diseases

Mode of delivery:  

Online – Live sessions

Benefits of this training:  

As a result of this training, learners would be familiar with:

Symptoms of common infectious diseases and how to prevent them
How to identify potential infection risks in the workplace
Steps required to prevent outbreaks of infectious diseases
Effective communication during emergency situations
Sources of information and advice on infectious diseases
Preparation for future outbreaks by understanding common infection risks
Incorporating infection prevention strategies into existing plans
Creating actionable strategies to respond to health emergencies
Developing effective teamwork and procedures during emergency situations

Training Highlights:  

Pre-assessment
Online live training through a secure training platform
Post-assessment
E-copy of the pocketbook
Certificates (optional)

Who can attend this training?  

This course is open to anyone in a supervisory capacity or as part of their role in an organization’s day-to-day operations, such as management staff, infection control personnel, and allied health professionals. In fact, this training can be taken by all employees of a company.

Why NIST Global ?  

Occupational health concerns continue to exist despite employers’ best efforts to maintain high safety standards in the workplace. NIST safety advisors help organizations create safer working environments by ensuring that infection prevention and hygiene requirements are effectively implemented. With more than 15 years of combined expertise, NIST supports organizations in occupational health and safety practices and workplace hygiene management. We take pride in delivering expert services with integrity and professionalism, while striving to provide exceptional customer service.

For further details regarding the training, contact our client servicing team at +91 9384663536 or mail us at corporate.sales@nistinstitute.com.

 

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