Keeping You and Your Family Safe Amid COVID-19

The health and safety of our workforce and their families is our number one priority. As the COVID-19 outbreak continues to disrupt daily life around the world, Workrise is working hard to support the well-being of our employees, contractors, customers, and everyone connected to this community.

Our team has put together this safety video as a resource for you to learn how to better protect yourself from this virus. It includes: best practices for health and hygiene, the best types of personal protective equipment (PPE) and cleaning supplies, the signs and symptoms of the coronavirus, what to do if you get sick, and the best resources to keep you informed and up to date.

To learn how to make your own face mask, watch this video from the U.S. Surgeon General.

HOW THE VIRUS SPREADS

As a respiratory disease, COVID-19 is spread primarily when an infected individual coughs or sneezes.

This produces small droplets that can travel through the air and infect others in one of two ways: either when another inhales the droplet directly, or when they touch a surface where the droplet has landed and then touch their face, or touch something that goes into their mouth.

PROTECTING YOURSELF

Practice Good Hand Hygiene

1. Wash your hands thoroughly and frequently. Use soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds, or the amount of time it takes to sing the happy birthday song twice.
2. If soap and water are not available, use alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol, which you should carry with you at all times.

Avoid Close Contact

1. Avoid handshakes, hugs, or kisses when greeting others, even if you are accustomed to greeting them this way.
2. Be mindful of your distance, giving everyone more space than you normally would. The CDC has recommended maintaining at least a 6-foot, or 2-meter, distance between you and any others you may interact with.

Avoid Touching Your Face

1. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth as much as possible. Many of us do this unconsciously throughout the day, so challenge yourself to stay aware of this. If you need to touch your face, be sure to wash or sanitize your hands first.

Practice Good Health Habits

1. Eating healthy, getting enough sleep, and staying physically active all help keep your immune system strong and decrease the likelihood that you will get sick.

Use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) As Appropriate

1. Personal protective equipment includes medical masks, respirators, protective coveralls, boots or shoe covers, face shields, disposable gloves, and biohazard response kits. While these items won’t be required in most cases, for some roles and in some situations, they are recommended.
2. As COVID-19 is primarily spread through coughing and sneezing, the use of a medical mask is one of the most common pieces of personal protective equipment used. Here are a few tips given by the World Health Organization for using a medical mask properly:
3. Before putting on your mask, clean your hands with an alcohol-based sanitizer or soap and water.
4. Cover both your nose and mouth with the mask and make sure there are no gaps between your face and the mask.
5. Avoid touching the mask while using it. If you do, clean your hands after doing so.
6. Replace a mask with a new one as soon as it is damp and do not re-use single-use masks.
7. To remove the mask, grab it from behind—do not touch the front of the mask. Discard  it immediately in a closed bin and clean your hands.

Maintain a Clean Environment

1. The virus has been shown to survive on some surfaces for as long as 4 days, so maintaining a clean environment with the use of disinfectants and other cleaning products is also essential for preventing the spread of this disease.
2. Products such as disinfecting wipes and sprays, isopropyl alcohol and hydrogen peroxide are recommended for killing the virus on surfaces at home or in the workplace.
3. Pay extra attention to the items that are touched most often, such as phones, doorknobs, countertops, handles and keyboards. While disinfectant wipes are usually safe for your mobile devices, alcohol-based solutions are safer for disinfecting laptop or desktop screens.

KNOW THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

The primary symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, cough, and shortness of breath. However, it is critical to understand that these symptoms can appear as late as 14 days after a person has been infected. So it is very possible to be a carrier, and to infect others, before showing any signs or symptoms.

Not all cases will result in severe illness. Many cases will only produce mild symptoms. If you notice these symptoms in yourself or with others, it’s best to assume that they may be from the coronavirus and you should take the proper precautions.

What to do if you’re experiencing symptoms:

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, even in mild form, you should take the following actions to decrease the chances of infecting others:

• Call your doctor and follow their advice for going in for a check-up or getting tested.
• Stay home and separate yourself from others as much as possible.
• Wear a medical mask if you are occupying space where others may be present within the next 4 days.
• Cover coughs and sneezes and clean your hands often.
• Avoid sharing personal household items.
• Clean and disinfect all “high touch” surfaces every day.

If you notice others who are coughing and sneezing, the first thing is to keep your distance. Encourage them to follow these same steps and to take the possibility of infection seriously.

REMAIN CALM

While this is a complex challenge, remember that the way we will overcome it is by making rational choices and working together. The best thing we can all do is to take responsibility for our own health and to consider how our decisions will impact others in our families, organizations and communities.

Because the situation is rapidly changing, it’s important to follow the latest guidance from reliable sources of information, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the World Health Organization, and the American Red Cross.

Workrise is here to help.

If you have any questions or need any support, please reach out to HSEreporting@rigup.com