8 a] Explain various types of occupational diseases and their spread. Also suggest preventive measures to curb the spread.
An infectious disease sometimes referred to as “contagious” or “communicable,” spreads from person to person by various routes and is caused by pathogens (i.e., germs or “bugs”). Preventing the spread of infectious diseases requires basic infection-control procedures, including appropriate hand washing technique, personal hygiene and keeping the workplace clean. Educating employees on these basic practices and other information on transmission and common prevention measures can have a huge impact on your ability to control infectious diseases in the workplace. Employees can be exposed to communicable diseases at work, home, recreational facilities, health clubs and while traveling. Business travel, and in particular global travel, can increase workers potential exposure to infections, if they are not immunized properly. Multiple exposures may occur as these travelers return to the workplace, possibly exposing associates to communicable diseases. Contractors and temporary agency workers can expose on-site employees to various communicable diseases, too. Various types of communicable diseases at work place may spread thorough airborne and contact
Airborne Diseases
TB (Tuberculosis), SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome), Meningitis, Chickenpox,
Measles, Smallpox, Influenza (flu), etc. are transmitted primarily from airborne droplets from
an infected person’s cough, sneeze, or spit, which can then be inhaled by others.
Contact Diseases
Hepatitis A virus (HAV), Dysentery, Salmonellosis, E. Coli, Typhoid Fever and Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) are spread primarily by person-to-person contact, generally from an infected person’s feces, urine, nasal discharge or infected skin, directly or indirectly from contaminated food, drinking water, someone else’s hands or objects. These diseases are spread more easily where there are poor sanitary conditions or poor personal hygiene is practiced.
Best practices for preventing infectious disease
Best practices for preventing infectious disease exposure include the following:
- Written policies and procedures for infection control.
- Employee screening, vaccination, and education.
- Communication and follow up with the physician regarding the employee’s clearance to work.
- Absence Management program that allows sending a sick employee home, encouraging the employee to stay at home while feeling ill, and seeking medical attention.
- Good housekeeping including cleaning/disinfecting contaminated work areas with an EPA- approved detergent/disinfectant.
- Properly managing an occupational exposure.
These prevention techniques should minimize your workers’ compensation and liability exposures. Aside from these prevention techniques, effective controls include early recognition of symptoms, prompt diagnosis and adequate isolation or treatment.