How to Keep Workers Healthy on the Job
By Scott Gottlieb (original source The Wall Street Journal)
“The threat from Covid-19 won’t end when the epidemic subsides. The recent upsurge in cases in Singapore and Japan shows how easily the virus can re-emerge. It will be a constant threat until an effective vaccine is on the market. So how does America function? What happens at work sites could be the difference between relative safety and constant disruption from new outbreaks.
The virus will have fresh opportunities to spread as workers return to the job. But businesses can take steps to minimize risk and make the country safer. Employers need to start crafting plans for safe, healthy and productive work environments in an age of Covid risk.
The first step is reducing the risks of commuting. The virus can spread from person to person in crowded spaces and through shared surfaces that become contaminated. Mass transit systems in New York, San Francisco and Chicago probably contributed to early spread. Cities have stepped up cleaning protocols, but workers should limit their use of mass transit when possible, and be aware that surfaces can spread infection. Businesses can encourage carpooling or deploy corporate vans or other forms of transport where hygiene and social distancing are easier to control.”
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