people wearing masks
people wearing masks

Press Room

Prevent the spread of COVID-19 at work

January 2, 2021

Simple ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in your workplace

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends all employers take the following steps now, even if COVID-19 has not arrived in the communities where they operate. 

    • Make sure your workplaces are clean and hygienic.
    • Surfaces (e.g. desks and tables) and objects (e.g. telephones, keyboards) need to be wiped with disinfectant regularly.
    • Promote regular and thorough hand washing by employees, contractors and customers.
    • Put sanitizing hand rub dispensers in prominent places around the workplace. Make sure these dispensers are regularly refilled.
    • Display posters promoting hand washing.
    • Combine this with other communication measures such as offering guidance from occupational health and safety officers, briefings at meetings and information on the intranet to promote hand washing.
    • Make sure that staff, contractors and customers have access to places where they can wash their hands with soap and water.
    • Promote good respiratory hygiene in the workplace.
    • Display posters promoting respiratory hygiene. Combine this with other communication measures such as offering guidance from occupational health and safety officers, briefing at meetings and information on the intranet etc.
    • Advise employees and contractors to consult national travel advice before going on business trips.
    • Brief your employees, contractors and customers that if COVID-19 starts spreading in your community anyone with even a mild cough or low-grade fever needs to stay at home. They should also stay home (or work from home) if they have had to take simple medications, such as paracetamol/acetaminophen, ibuprofen or aspirin, which may mask symptoms of infection. 

Learn More about COVID-19 Coronavirus

Excerpt taken from WHO’s “Simple ways to present the spread of COVID-19 in your workplace.” Access the full publication here.

The information on this site is compiled from resources from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO). It is not intended to replace medical advice from your health care provider. Please contact your health care provider for specific information concerning your personal medical situation and individual health care needs.