Image showing desk set up with laptop, tablet, phone, coffee, notepad and pen pot to show eLearning taking place

Hygiene, cleanliness and infection control in the workplace have never been more important than now as COVID-19 (Coronavirus) circulates and continues to cause worldwide disruption. 

It’s not just the spread of Coronavirus in the workplace we should be concerned about. According to HSE (Health and Safety Executive), 1.4 million workers in the UK suffered from work-related ill-health in 2018/19.

To help workplaces stop the spread of infection and diseases, NLT has added a new e-learning course to its line-up of Health & Safety courses. 

The CPD-certified E-Learning – Infection Prevention and Control Training course is suitable for all workplaces. Costing less than £30 and takes only 90 minutes to complete online, the course will give you the practical skills and knowledge to make your workplace safe and hygienic for staff and customers ahead of the lockdown being lifted.

Whether your workplace is in lockdown or not, now is the time to implement improved 

hygiene measures in your workplace to avoid future infection and associated staff absences.

As well as our new online training course, we’ve also compiled a list of top tips to help you reduce the risk of infection during the Coronavirus outbreak and beyond.

  1. Wash your hands – it’s the simplest, yet one of the most effective ways to stop the spread of infections. It’s been a running theme in the Government’s daily conferences throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, and rightly so. You need to use soap, or a hand cleansing alternative, and water for at least 20 seconds – do this frequently.

  2. Use gloves where necessary – wearing disposable gloves can be effective in the right circumstances. Gloves can protect hands from irritants and contaminants as well as prevent passing existing germs onto others.

  3. Environmental hygiene – One of the most common sources of transmission of infection is surfaces like worktops and door handles. Clean and disinfect areas regularly in order to prevent the spread of infection and disease.

  4. Use heavy duty cleansers – In order to fully remove substances like oil, dirt and grime, you need to use heavy duty cleansers that contain grit. This helps to effectively cleanse the hands. Be careful not to use a cleanser that could cause damage to the skin and thus expose it to bacteria.

  5. Avoid staff cross contamination – If you’re running a multiple shift system in the workplace, have a short gap in between shiftswhere possible. This means one set of employees can leave before the next set arrives, minimising contact and risk of infection.

These tips are a great start for immediately practicing infection control but to ensure your knowledge practices are up-to-date, please visit here for more information on our new e-learning course.

If you have any questions on the above, please get in touch with our friendly team on 0333 880 3540.