Beating COVID-19: How to Keep Safe As an Essential Services Worker
In early January when coronavirus was taking hold in China, many people in the United States weren’t giving it much thought.
Barely three months later, the U.S. is feeling the pain of a virus that’s threatening to go out of control. Lockdowns are now the order of the day, with people ordered or advised to stay home.
But not you. You’re an essential services worker, which means lockdown doesn’t apply to you.
Perhaps you’re a healthcare professional or a fireman, police officer, or food service worker.
Regardless of the nature of your job, one thing is clear: you’re at a high risk of contracting COVID-19.
This is why you need to keep reading and learn how to keep safe while serving people when they need you the most.
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Embrace the Fact That Protection Starts with You
Your employer has certainly taken measures to make your workplace safer for you, your coworkers, and customers.
However, don’t rely on your employer to guarantee 100% safety. Only you can give yourself that guarantee.
Protection from coronavirus really starts with you.
As much as your employer can provide you with a mask, gloves, and other pieces of protective wear, they won’t monitor you to ensure you’re wearing them all the time. I
t’s your individual responsibility to ensure that you’re always wearing proper protective equipment while at work.
If your job doesn’t require close contact with other people, you still need to practice social distancing.
Just because you and your colleagues are essential workers and you’re both wearing protective gear doesn’t necessarily mean you get too close to each other.
Adhere to Other Workplace Health and Safety Measures
Before COVID-19, workplaces had occupational health and safety measures for preventing certain hazards.
These hazards haven’t gone anywhere, even if COVID-19 now seems to be the only imminent threat to mankind.
As such, it’s important to observe other workplace health and safety measures.
If you don’t, you could get injured on the job and end up in the hospital, which is the last place you want to be at this time.
Hospitals are not only stretched out but are also coronavirus hotspots.
In the unfortunate event that you’re injured at work, it helps to know that you might not need to physically go to the hospital.
In New York, for instance, some facilities offer telemedicine workers comp services, designed for people who have been hurt on the job.
Keep Your Loved Ones in Mind
As an essential worker, one can argue that your loved ones at home are also essential workers.
You go out and come back to them, meaning they’re exposed to the virus almost as much as you’re.
If you catch it, you could transmit it to them – unless you take the right precautions.
If possible, minimize interactions with your loved ones. Have a separate room for yourself.
This might seem harsh, but the best way to care for your loved ones as an essential service worker is to keep physical distance with them.
Stay Safe as You Provide Essential Services
As an essential services worker, the world needs you now more than ever. It’s a big show of courage to be in service at this time, but bear in mind you aren’t immune to coronavirus.
Always observe these safety tips and follow all others your employer and government authorities will give.
Good luck and keep tabs on our blog for more tips and updates.
