Stopping the spread of respiratory infections at work: guide

Washington — A new guidance document from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences is intended to help prevent respiratory illnesses and infections in the workplace. 

The guide has three modules:

• The Basics of Respiratory Infection
• Assessing the Risk of Exposure in the Workplace
• Methods to Prevent Exposures and Infections in the Workplace

“Infectious agents that cause respiratory illnesses are a major reason for absenteeism and loss of productivity in the workplace,” NIEHS says in the guide. “Workplace conditions can facilitate the spread of respiratory illnesses if risk reduction practices and control measures are not implemented.”