This past Friday, I received a e-mail from my director saying that someone in the building that I work in had been diagnosed with Swine Flu. After I read that e-mail, I was thinking of all the places in the building that I went and things that I had contact with — bathroom door, bathroom stall handle, bathroom sink, railing along the staircase…
Right away I went for my hand sanitizer gel that I have on my desk. People tease me about always using my gel, but now after reading this e-mail we got, every time I touch something or share something from someone, I will be using my gel and Handi-wipes.
Hopefully that person will be alright and that will be the only case of Swine Flu in the building. But now more then ever, I will make sure that I will “emphasizing proper hygiene (disinfecting hands and surfaces) and practicing social distancing (avoid close contact such as a separation of least 6 feet with coworkers and customers).”
In that e-mail, they also sent this information from the CDC.
The CDC’s General Business and Workplace Guidance for the Prevention of Novel Influenza A (H1N1) Flu in workers was updated on June 25th, 2009. This guidance states that a worker who has been exposed to a person with pandemic influenza A (H1N1) may continue to go to work unless he/she becomes ill.
What to do for co-workers of an employee who is a suspected or confirmed case of novel influenza A (H1N1) flu
- Inform the employees of their exposure to a co-worker with confirmed, probable, or suspected pandemic H1N1 flu during the ill person’s infectious period.
- Employees should monitor themselves for symptoms.
- Employees should check with their health care provider about any special care they might need if they are pregnant or have a chronic health condition such as diabetes, heart disease, asthma, or emphysema.
Recommendations for protecting all employees include emphasizing proper hygiene (disinfecting hands and surfaces) and practicing social distancing (avoid close contact such as a separation of least 6 feet with coworkers and customers). See below for the link to the CDC website where this information on lower risk zone protection can be found. Please contact me if you have additional questions or concerns.
Filed under: Current Events
