STOP THE SPREAD OF GERMS AT WORK:
- Avoid close contact with sick people.
- Stay home and away from others when you're sick.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat, and lungs. According to the CDC, most experts believe that the flu is spread when people who already have the virus cough, sneeze or talk near others. The flu can also sometimes be spread by touching a surface that has the flu virus on it, and then touching your face. Someone can be contagious 1 day before they develop flu symptoms and up to 5 to 5 days after becoming sick.
If you have the flu, stay home and recover. Do not go to work and risk infecting your co-workers.
Flu season starts around October and lasts until May, but most flu activity occurs in the months of December, January and February every year.
Visit the CDC website to get a copy of the Cover Your Cough poster above, and put this poster up around the office, shop and warehouse during flu season. This poster is available in more than 10 languages.
Is Seasonal Flu a good subject for a safety meeting topic in the workplace? You bet! The more employees and managers are educated on the best ways to prevent the flu and stay healthy during the winter months, the more productive everyone will be on the job. This is a safety meeting topic that every company in every industry, and every organization should be discussing at least once year.