Safety meeting blueprint: COVID-19

No doubt you’ve noticed the many changes we’ve made to our operation in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus among our employees.

Although we hope and expect that the measures we’ve taken will keep all our people safe, we also need everyone working here to follow sensible safety protocols. Otherwise, we could risk an outbreak of the deadly coronavirus.

Keep in mind that the coronavirus primarily spreads from person to person through droplets produced when an infected individual coughs, sneezes, or talks.

That’s why it’s important to wear a face covering whenever you could be exposed to another person. The covering should fit snugly against your face.

The covering should be placed over your mouth and nose. Don’t leave it hanging off one ear or dangling from your neck.

Also remember that face coverings aren’t substitutes for personal protective equipment. Use the appropriate safety gear for each job assignment in addition to the covering.

When you remove your face covering, don’t touch your eyes, nose, or mouth. And wash your hands after you take off the covering.

If your face covering is a disposable mask, remove and replace it whenever it’s wet or dirty. Disposable masks need to be regularly replaced; their effectiveness decreases with each use.

If you’re using a cloth face covering, wash it in hot water.

To reduce the chances of an outbreak within our operation, everyone needs to be on the lookout for the warning signs of a COVID-19 infection.

(Does anyone know the symptoms of COVID-19?)

People who’ve contracted the coronavirus experience a wide range of symptoms, including fever or chills, a cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, a headache, a loss of taste or smell, a sore throat, congestion or a runny nose, nausea, and diarrhea.

If you experience any of these symptoms, you should contact your doctor and avoid coming into work. Also reach out to your supervisor to let him or her know what’s going on.

Most of us are aware of the importance of staying at least six feet away from our coworkers during conversations, in locker rooms, hallways, or corridors and when entering and leaving the workplace.

You also shouldn’t share drinks or food with your coworkers. And tools need to be regularly cleaned and disinfected, especially when you change work stations or use a different set of tools.

Thanks for your attention. And remember, let’s stay safe out there!

(From the Nov. 16, 2020, issue of Safety Alert for Supervisors. To download the current issue of the publication right now, please click here.)