Considering how the current COVID-19 pandemic swept-sweeping across the world, controlling the virus and bacterial spread in the workplace is more important than ever. Industrial safety hazard education has traditionally focused on all other kinds of dangers and rarely emphasized these kinds of threats. There are some lessons to be learned and applied moving forward. If your workplace isn’t already doing it, below are some important steps that should be implemented immediately.
Key Takeaways
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Viral infections spread easily in workplace settings through respiratory droplets, surface contamination, and direct contact.
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Infection prevention requires multiple layers, including engineering controls, policies, hand hygiene, personal protective equipment (PPE), and routine sanitation.
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The CDC Respiratory Virus Guidance emphasizes symptom-based isolation, improved ventilation, and hygiene practices to reduce the spread of respiratory infections.
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The COVID-19 pandemic transformed workplace safety, leading to stricter hygiene measures, improved ventilation, and long-term health strategies.
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Virus outbreaks carry high costs, causing lost productivity, supply chain disruptions, financial losses, and operational setbacks.
The truth is that our country counts on us to keep it going. Preventing production disruptions has less to do with the profitability of an organization and more to do with job retention and output that can oftentimes be so desperately needed. Although many industries can adjust the way they work during a pandemic such as working from home, industrial workplaces don’t have that luxury, yet our output is crucial to the livelihood of everyone.
So, we’re going to take a look at some practical steps that many workplaces can implement to help them reduce the chances of employees spreading infection and viruses such as COVID-19.
What Is a Viral Infection?
A viral infection occurs when a virus enters the body and replicates, often triggering immune responses. Because viruses rely on a host to survive, they spread primarily through person-to-person contact and contaminated surfaces. In workplaces where employees share tools, workstations, and break areas, transmission can happen rapidly if proper infectious disease control measures are not in place.
Common ways viruses spread in industrial settings include:
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Respiratory droplets: Coughing, sneezing, or even talking releases particles that can infect others.
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Surface contact: Touching contaminated tools, machinery, or communal surfaces increases the risk.
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Airborne transmission: Some viruses remain suspended in the air, particularly in poorly ventilated areas.
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Direct contact: Shaking hands or sharing equipment can transfer viruses from person to person.
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Key Facts about the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19)
As we learn more about COVID-19, experts have highlighted several groups of people that are at ‘higher risk’ of contracting the virus and may experience more severe symptoms. If you are in one of the groups that are more at risk, it’s important to pay close attention to how you interact with people and how you manage your hygiene.
Covid-19 Risk Factors
Those over the age of 40 seem to be at a higher risk for the more severe forms of the illness. Moreover, those with weakened immune systems are at a higher risk for the more severe forms of the illness. Weak immune systems are present in people who fulfill one of the following conditions:
Below the age of 5
Above the age of 55
Post-organ transplant
Undergoing chemotherapy/radiotherapy
Chronic diabetes mellitus (DM)
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
End-stage renal failure (ESRF)
Poorly controlled human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
Taking high-dose steroids
Hematological (blood) cancers such as leukemia or lymphoma
Those with diabetes, heart, and lung diseases are at a higher risk for the more severe forms of the illness
Those with other underlying chronic health conditions
How Does Covid-19 Spread?
COVID-19 spreads in ways that are similar to the common cold or seasonal flu, primarily through respiratory droplets and contaminated surfaces. When an infected person touches their eyes, mouth, or nose and then touches items such as door handles, equipment, buttons and controls, and other surfaces, they leave behind viral particles that others may pick up.
It can also be spread by sneaking or coughing. Small droplets released from a carrier or infected person by breathing, coughing, or sneezing. The droplets land on hard surfaces or remain on the infected person's hands which then touch other surfaces leaving the virus behind. When others touch these contaminated surfaces and then touch their face, they introduce the virus into their body, increasing the risk of infection.
Covid-19 Symptoms
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Dry cough
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Malaise/Lethargy/Fatigue
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Shortness of breath
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Sore Throat
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Nasal Congestion
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Headache
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Muscle Pains
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Fever (above 100.4 F or 37.6 C or higher)
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Shortness of breath or severe difficulty breathing
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Pain or pressure in the chest – does not let up
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Confusion or an altered mental state in people who were previously fine
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Lethargy or inability to arouse
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Bluish lips and/or face
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The World Health Organization (WHO), along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other global and national health agencies, recommends a set of simple yet effective measures to help control the spread of COVID-19.
How to Prevent Infectious Diseases?
The most effective approach to infection prevention follows the Hierarchy of Controls, a framework used in occupational health and safety to minimize workplace hazards. Originally developed by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), this model prioritizes interventions based on their effectiveness, ensuring that the most protective measures are applied first.
In the context of infection prevention and control, the hierarchy provides a structured approach to reducing workplace transmission of viruses, including infectious diseases like COVID-19. A layered approach is essential in viral infection prevention because no single intervention is foolproof. The hierarchy of controls helps organizations prioritize strategies that reduce exposure at their source rather than relying solely on individual protective measures like masks and gloves.
General Workplace Hygiene & Safety Practices
To prevent the spread of infections due to bacteria, viruses, and fungi passed on through bodily fluids, workplaces should follow established best practices for worker protection. It's important to note that these interventions are not useful for mitigating the spread of COVID-19 alone. Indeed, these general measures are also robust and effective against a myriad of viral and bacterial illnesses that spread via human-to-human or surface-to-human transmission.
Implement Hand Hygiene Procedures
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Provide non-touch waste receptacles.
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Encourage employees to clean their hands often with warm water and soap, or with an alcohol hand sanitizer that is at least 60% alcohol but preferably 95% alcohol (e.g. isopropyl alcohol).
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Hand washing should take a minimum of 20 seconds. Ideally, all workers should be trained in the 7-step of handwashing.
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Maintain an adequate supply of hand sanitizer and soap in the workplace.
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Use non-sterile single-use gloves when handling and emptying waste receptacles. Use once and place in waste containers.
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Implement General Housekeeping Hygiene Rules
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Clean and disinfect all surfaces regularly, and if surfaces come into contact with someone who is exhibiting symptoms of an illness.
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Clean and disinfect all push buttons, phone receivers, phone buttons and keypads, other keypads, LOTO locks, door handles, etc.
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Dispose of gloves after each cleaning task to ensure that contaminated gloves do not serve as niduses for infection.
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Provide employees with hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes for surfaces, and facial tissues.
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It’s important to note that most, if not all, of these hygiene procedures, should be part of any thorough OHS policy and not just implemented during an outbreak.
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Implement Standardized Clean-Up Procedures
If the situation arises in any workshop or job site where there is a sick person, there are several important steps that you should follow to ensure that the clean-up is handled correctly. These clean-up steps should be well documented so that any employees required to clean up after an accident or spill understand the correct steps to take.
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Do not come into direct contact with any bodily fluids such as vomit, urine, blood, etc.
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Wear gloves and a face mask which must be discarded after each cleanup task.
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Sprinkle the area with an antiseptic absorbent powder if it is a hard surface.
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Have powder sit for 5-10 minutes, or as indicated in use instructions.
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Wipe up with disposable wipes or paper towels.
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Place all waste from cleaning up in a plastic garbage bag and seal.
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Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water.
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If bodily fluids are on carpeted or upholstered areas, use a carpet extractor to remove the fluids.
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Clean carpet or upholstery with a heavy-duty disinfecting cleaner that won’t discolor the area
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Any other tools used to clean the area must be disinfected after cleaning up.
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Actionable Prevention Strategies for Businesses
If you can eliminate people getting sick before they enter the workplace, you’ll reduce the amount of clean-up and sickness that you need to deal with later on. This could mean implementing strategies that go beyond temporary fixes and focus on sustainable solutions that reduce the risk of infectious diseases spreading among employees. By incorporating principles of substitution and engineering controls, companies can create safer environments while maintaining operational efficiency.
Preventive Measures for Employees
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Encourage employees to get relevant immunizations (e.g., influenza) and keep immunizations up to date.
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Employees who intend to travel overseas should consult with their general practitioners for region-specific immunizations (e.g., Hepatitis A and Japanese Encephalitis).
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Encourage employees to stay home if they are sick.
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Formulate remote-work policies to encourage work-from-home if necessary (e.g. if an asymptomatic employee is quarantined at home because of a positive travel history).
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Provide training to employees regarding infection prevention and control.
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Simple and Low-Cost Infection Control Solutions
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Keep the workplace clean and hygienic with good housekeeping, as indicated above.
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Practice good hand hygiene including frequent and regular hand washing by all employees regardless of position.
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Avoid handshaking and instead adopt verbal greetings as the norm.
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Request that customers and contractors use sanitizer or wash their hands when they enter and leave the premises.
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Infection prevention and control training in the workplace.
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Encourage employees to keep a 6-foot (2-meter) personal space between each other.
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Keep ample hand sanitizer and paper tissues on hand.
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Check CDC and WHO guidelines for gathering recommendations before hosting meetings or events.
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Additional Infection Prevention and Control Measures
Respiratory Hygiene
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Ensure that sick employees cover their noses and mouths with a tissue when coughing or sneezing.
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If there are no tissues readily available, always cough or sneeze into your elbow. Never cough or sneeze without covering your nose and mouth.
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Never cough or sneeze into your hands.
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Ensure that employees wash their hands with soap and water after sneezing.
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Post Health Posters
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Attach posters delineating the 7 steps of handwashing at every sink/restroom for maximum visibility and adherence.
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Attach posters summarizing the social distancing measures recommended by the CDC and WHO.
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Attach posters at the entrance/exit of the premises to remind employees and visitors to use the hand sanitizers when entering and leaving the premises.
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Self-Isolation
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Encourage any employees who have COVID-19 type symptoms to stay home
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Implement a temporary sick policy that is flexible and takes into account the 14-day self-isolation recommendations. Include provisions for employees to complete work from home where possible to maintain productivity if that is an issue.
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The CDC Isolation Precautions Guideline provides guidelines on self-isolation to prevent the spread of infectious diseases, particularly respiratory viruses like COVID-19, influenza, and RSV. According to the CDC's updated Respiratory Virus Guidance, individuals exhibiting symptoms of a respiratory infection should stay home and away from others until their symptoms improve and they have been fever-free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications.
After this initial isolation period, the CDC recommends taking additional precautions for the next five days to minimize the risk of transmitting the virus to others. These precautions include:
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Wearing a well-fitting mask when around others.
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Maintaining physical distance from people.
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Enhancing hand hygiene practices.
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Improving indoor ventilation.
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Avoiding crowded or poorly ventilated spaces.
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The CDC emphasizes that these guidelines are based on symptom improvement rather than testing. This approach aligns with longstanding public health practices for other respiratory illnesses and acknowledges that while testing can provide additional information, it may not be practical or necessary for managing isolation periods.
It's important to note that these recommendations are intended for the general public and may differ for health care settings or individuals at higher risk for severe illness. The CDC advises consulting with health workers for personalized guidance in such cases.
What Is the Temporary Sick Days Policy During the COVID-19 Pandemic?
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Sick note requirements will be suspended for the duration of the pandemic.
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Self-isolation will be included in the policy for employees who have a sick family member or a family member with a recent travel history to high-risk areas such as China, Italy, or South Korea.
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Flexibility will be provided for employees who need to care for sick family members.
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Sick leave policies will be revised as public health guidelines evolve throughout the pandemic.
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Employees must remain home until they are symptom-free for at least 24 hours without taking medications.
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What Are the Strategies for Effective Contingency Planning During Health Crises?
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If an employee is found to be symptomatic during work, they should be sent home immediately.
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Implement flexible work policies such as remote work, staggered shifts, and paid sick leave to reduce workplace transmission.
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Identify a replacement in advance that can take over any responsibilities that may not be able to be left unattended such as maintenance, safety supply purchasing, or logistics just to name a few.
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Create cross-training programs to equip employees with the skills to cover critical roles in case of absenteeism.
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Enhance workplace sanitation protocols by increasing the frequency of cleaning and disinfecting high-touch surfaces.
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Invest in workplace health monitoring systems such as temperature checks and symptom screening to detect early signs of infection.
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What Are the Real Costs Associated With a Virus Outbreak Such as COVID-19?
Look at what’s happening to industries and businesses around the world right now, and you’ll get a pretty clear picture of what happens when a business doesn’t have infectious disease control in the workplace. Businesses are closing down, employees are being laid off, and around the world, we see businesses and entire industries grind to a complete halt.
Can you afford to close the doors and simply walk away for a month or two months, with no income stream coming in? Not many businesses can. It’s important to control the risks of any virus outbreak before it happens.
We know that social distancing and basic hygiene are the easiest preventative measures that any business can take to control the risk of infection. Below are some steps that any large manufacturing business can take to help get on top of the risks before it’s too late:
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Walkthrough your workshop or factory and identify any areas where employees are gathering in large areas such as lunch areas, toilets, clock-in/outlines, storerooms, meeting rooms, and specific machines and implement measures to maintain recommended social distancing.
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Any areas that are high touchpoints such as toilet doors, office doors, food preparation areas, handrails, machinery buttons, power points, isolation points, and equipment control rooms need to be regularly cleaned as well as having anti-bacterial wipes and sprays installed for employee use.
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Provide up-to-date information about how employees can help to protect themselves and others through the correct hygiene methods.
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Take a proactive approach to infectious disease control by reducing meetings, spreading out employees, looking at rotating alternative shifts, and encouraging employees not to come to work if they are sick, or have been in close contact with someone who has been sick.
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Employ additional cleaners to continually cycle through the workplace and focus on cleaning the areas that you have identified as being high-touch areas.
Looking Ahead: Strengthening Workplace Health and Safety
Now, years after the COVID-19 pandemic forced businesses to reevaluate workplace safety, the lessons learned continue to shape industrial hygiene practices and drive long-term improvements in infection prevention. Moving forward, manufacturing and industrial facilities should:
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Integrate infection prevention into long-term occupational health programs
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Invest in real-time monitoring tools for air quality and surface contamination
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Promote a workplace culture that prioritizes health without penalizing sick employees
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Adapt policies for emerging infectious diseases, ensuring readiness for future outbreaks
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Another simple yet effective way to reinforce infection prevention and control is through workplace safety signs. Clear signage reminding employees to wash their hands or wear face masks in designated areas helps reinforce hygiene habits and keeps safety top of mind. When placed in high-traffic areas, these reminders support a culture of workplace health and reduce the risk of disease transmission.
By embedding infection prevention and control into standard operating procedures, businesses can protect employees, maintain operational continuity, and minimize the economic impact of workplace outbreaks.
Infection Prevention and Control FAQs
Are viral infections contagious?
Yes, most viral infections are contagious and spread through respiratory droplets, direct contact, or contaminated surfaces, depending on the virus. The level of contagion varies based on the virus type and environmental factors.
Is upper respiratory infection contagious?
Yes, upper respiratory infections (URIs), such as the common cold and flu, are highly contagious and typically spread through coughing, sneezing, or touching contaminated surfaces. Proper hand hygiene and avoiding close contact with infected individuals can help reduce transmission.
How long is a cold contagious?
A cold is most contagious during the first 2-3 days after symptoms appear but can still spread for up to two weeks. People should stay home until they are symptom-free for at least 24 hours without medication.
Which practice can help prevent many diseases?
Frequent hand hygiene, including regular handwashing with soap and water or using alcohol-based sanitizers, significantly reduces the spread of infectious diseases. Additional measures such as vaccination, proper ventilation, and workplace sanitation further enhance infection prevention and control.
What is the best treatment for viral infections?
Most viral infections have no cure, but supportive care—such as rest, hydration, fever management, and antiviral medications (when available)—helps alleviate symptoms. Preventing infection through control measures and vaccines is the most effective way to reduce the risk of viral illnesses.