TIP 1: Practice good hygiene
Maintain good hand hygiene
Did you know that the average person touches their face
around 69 times per hour?
The more we touch our face, the higher the chance that we become infected with the flu. Cold and flu viruses can survive on hard surfaces for up to 48 hours and on a person’s hands for around five minutes. Encourage your workers to avoid touching their faces and wash their hands and use hand sanitiser regularly for flu prevention. Keep in mind, hand sanitisers
must contain at least 70% ethanol to be effective at killing viruses and germs.
Clean and disinfect frequently used surfaces
Target high touch points, like elevator buttons and bathroom doors, with soap or detergent and water to break up oil and grease before using a disinfectant spray to kill any germs present in these hot spots for flu prevention.
Follow cough and sneeze etiquette
The most common cause of germ transmission is through fine droplets when a person coughs or sneezes. Use a tissue and immediately throw it away after use, or cough and sneeze into your elbow. Make sure to fully cover your face when you cough or sneeze!
TIP 2: Equip your workplace
Have the right equipment
If you haven’t already done so, now is the perfect time to introduce hand sanitiser stations at the workplace in addition to a range of other hygiene products designed to keep germs and pathogens at bay. These include disinfectant wipes and gels, tissues, soap, paper towels and no-touch rubbish bins at each work station or office.
A
temperature of over 38°C is usually a sign of a fever. Non-contact thermometers are an easy and hygienic way to detect fever-related symptoms. Keep them in first aid kits and at reception areas for easy access.
You can also provide employees with complimentary packs containing items such as a travel-sized hand sanitiser, facial tissues, disposable wipes, and surgical face masks to encourage good hygiene practices whilst they travel to and from work, and within shared workspaces such as lobbies, elevators, and at work for greater flu prevention.
Offer a free flu vaccine
Vaccinations are our best defence against the flu. Offer free flu shots at work and encourage employees to get vaccinated to break the chain of infection.
Create a comfortable working environment
Although staying warm won’t prevent cold or flu, research shows when your body is cold, blood vessels in the nose narrow, causing less blood flow and
making it easier for cold and flu viruses to multiply. Set your thermostat at a comfortable temperature or provide items such as hot water, tea and coffee stations, or space heaters to help workers feel more comfortable in the workplace and therefore increase flu prevention.
Tip 3: Encourage healthy habits
A balanced diet and regular exercise can help strengthen your immune system. Encourage your workers to form or continue healthy habits by hosting a lunchtime yoga session or distributing recipe cards that show what to eat to prevent flu to employees. Share tips for building healthy habits and encourage employees to create conversations about healthy habits for flu prevention.
Tip 4: Review your sick leave policy
Review and update your employees on the process for taking sick leave including notice, submitting sick leave and circumstances where evidence, like a doctor’s certificate, is required.
COVID has made workers more aware of the
importance of staying home whilst they are sick, but a significant number of Australian workers still show up to work despite being sick. Not only do you put others at risk when you come to work sick but overexerting yourself during a bout of cold or flu can also weaken your immune system.
NSW Health recommends if you are sick with flu, stay at home, seek flu treatment, take flu prevention medicines, and avoid close contact with others to prevent them from becoming sick. Wait at least 24 hours after the fever resolves so that you are unlikely to infect others.
