Documents type : Safety Talk

Document Code:ACME-EHS-ST-10-20
Corona-Control and Prevention
Domain :- Environment, Health & Safety Version:-02 23/03/2020

Background
According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), WHO,
Chinese authorities identified an outbreak caused by a novel—or new—
Coronavirus. The virus can cause mild to severe respiratory illness. The outbreak
began in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, and has spread to a growing more than
100 countries—including the India. The virus is different from six other,
previously identified human Coronavirus, including the Severe Acute Respiratory
Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) Coronavirus
that have caused previous respiratory disease outbreaks.

How does COVID-19 spread?

Although the ongoing outbreak likely resulted originally from people who were
exposed to infected animals, COVID-19, like other coronaviruses, can spread
between people. Infected people can spread COVID-19 through their respiratory
secretions, especially when they cough or sneeze.
According to the CDC, spread from person-to-person is most likely among close
contacts (about 6 feet). Person-to-person spread is thought to occur mainly via
respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes, similar
to how influenza and other respiratory pathogens spread. These droplets can land
in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the
lungs. It’s currently unclear if a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or
object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or
possibly their eyes.
Measures for protecting workers from exposure to, and infection with, the novel
coronavirus, COVID-19 depend on the type of work being performed and
exposure risk, including potential for interaction with infectious people and
contamination of the work environment. Employers should adapt infection
control strategies based on a thorough hazard assessment, using appropriate
combinations of engineering and administrative controls, safe work practices, and
personal protective equipment (PPE) to prevent worker exposures.
For all workers, regardless of specific exposure risks, it is always
a good practice to:
1. First off, DO NOT PANIC!
2. Continue to use precautionary measures that we have all been using:
3. Practice social distancing
4. Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly Environmental
5. If you do have to sneeze or cough, be sure to cover your mouth/nose, preferably Decontamination
with your shirt or arm if possible.
6. Clean “high-touch” surfaces frequently When someone touches a
7. If you do develop symptoms such as a cough, fever (temperature of 100.4F or surface or object
higher), shortness of breath or flu-like aches and pains, GO HOME, STAY HOME contaminated with the virus
and call your doctor. that causes COVID-19, and
8. If you have been exposed to someone who THINKS that they may have Covid 19, then touches their own eyes,
GO HOME, STAY HOME and DO NOT PANIC. Call your doctor if you develop nose, or mouth, they may
any symptoms, do NOT go to a doctor’s office or hospital. expose themselves to the
We know that this is a stressful time for everyone, but we are a
virus.
community that takes care of one another. If we can instill these Because the transmissibility
measures, we can help to ensure that anyone who is sick can be cared
for and we can do our part to help stop the spread of this virus.
of COVID-19 from
contaminated environmental
What is a Coronavirus? surfaces and objects is not
Coronaviruses are a family of viruses that can cause respiratory illness in people.
Coronaviruses circulate among animals, including camels, cattle, cats, and bats.
fully understood, We should
carefully evaluate whether or
How is the Novel Coronavirus, COVID-19 Different from Other Coronaviruses? not work areas occupied by
Just like there are different types of related viruses that cause smallpox, chickenpox, people suspected to have
and monkeypox, different coronaviruses cause different diseases in people. The Severe
Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) coronavirus causes SARS and the Middle East virus may have been
Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) coronavirus causes MERS. The novel coronavirus, contaminated and whether
COVID-19 is one of seven types of known human coronaviruses. COVID-19, like the or not they need to be
MERS and SARS coronaviruses, likely evolved from a virus previously found in
animals. The remaining known coronaviruses cause a significant percentage of colds in
decontaminated in response.
adults and children, and these are not a serious threat for otherwise healthy adults.