Session 2:

At the Workplace

Dr. Ante Trinidad and Ms. Ava Batay-an

A 4-day webinar series on practical prevention and control of COVID-19 in the workplace

#ThisWorks
 OBJECTIVES

At the end of this session,

participants are able to:
1. Identify the risks of getting infected
or infecting others at the
workplace.
2. Describe diverse workplace
scenarios and individual
(employers and employees)
responsibilities to reduce the risk of
COVID-19 transmission
3. Enumerate administrative and
engineering controls to reduce the
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risk of COVID-19 transmission at
the workplace.
CONTENT OUTLINE

Policy Guideline:
Joint Memorandum Circular DTI-DOLE Workplace Guidelines

Identifying risks:
1. Understanding the workplace
2. How to break the chain of Covid-19 transmission
3. Identifying risks at the workplace

Preventive Measures and Reducing Transmission

1. Ensuring risk assessment and screening
2. Reducing risks whilst at work
3. What else can I do to protect myself
4. Some practical recommendations that work! ☺
 What policies are in place on Covid-19 in the Workplace

Joint Memorandum Circular No. 20-04-A Series of 2020 DTI AND DOLE
Supplemental Guidelines on Workplace Prevention and Control of COVID-19

Sec. II. Workplace Safety and Health

A. Increase Physical and Mental Resilience
B. Reducing Transmission of COVID-19

PEZA Guidelines in Setting up Covid-Free Ecozone

 Understanding the workplace

In which kind of place do you work?

1
Scan the QR code and you will be
routed to the Mentimeter voting link
page

2 Go to www.menti.com and use the code 5838

 Let’s look at a communal area at work
Workplace scenario:

It’s 10:00 am, Lina goes to the staff kitchen to make

herself a cup of coffee. There was no one in the
kitchen. Whilst waiting for the kettle to boil, she
pulls down her face mask so she can relax and
breathe.
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Scan the QR code and Go to www.menti.com

you will be routed to or
and use the code 5838
the Mentimeter voting
link page
Note: Correct answer is FALSE. Always wear your face mask to protect yourself and others, especially
in the workplace communal areas.
Dr. Ante’s tips to protect ourselves at workplace communal spaces

Everything you do has a

risk/consequence
Dr. Ante: How Covid-19 spreads and the risks for contracting Covid-19

• How Covid-19 spreads

• What is the risk of

contracting COVID-19 in the
workplace
Reducing transmission, PREVENTION is the Key

#ThisWorks
 Let’s look at another communal space at work

It’s 12:00 noon, Lina is looking forward to eating her baon (packed lunch).
She prepared chicken pork adobo at home and brought it with her for
lunch. She decided to eat in the staff canteen. She uses her own cutlery
(spoon and fork) to eat. After eating, she goes straight to her desk to rest
before the starts working again at 1pm.

In this scenario, what should Lina do before proceeding to her desk.

https://www.freepik.com

Scan the QR code and Go to www.menti.com

you will be routed to the
Mentimeter voting link
or and use the code 5838
page
Correct answer: She needs to practice thorough handwashing/disinfect her hands with alcohol
Solution before going back to her desk.
Diverse workplace environments

Manufacturing BPOs. Normal office space.

companies.
Open space, cubicles Air-conditioned offices.
Factories, if you can’t (extend the wall barriers – Any place right now that
keep a meter distance, this is not a real wall, but have windows, should
use of PPEs, surgical a divider, changing layout, have ventilation as much
mask, not touching your cubicles might need to be as possible.
face, latex gloves, gloves moved).
akin to the work.
Dr. Ante: How can we protect others and ourselves if we don’t know
who is infected

Practicing hand and respiratory hygiene is

important at ALL times and is the best way to
protect others and yourself

When possible maintain at least a 1 meter distance

between yourself and others. This is especially important
if you are standing by someone who is coughing or
sneezing.
WHO framework of support recommended for industries

Understanding minimum health standards

Surveillance and reporting within industries

Linking industries to health care pathways

Workplace risk assessment and contingency planning

Moving from response to prevention through strategic communication

What should you do to protect yourself and prevent the spread of
disease at the workplace?

Data taken from the pre-webinar survey. 814 out of 820 people answered this question
 Key Messages

We have to keep businesses going. The responsibilities in prevention will

come from both employees and employers.

Enabling environments are necessary component to workplaces being

functional throughout this pandemic. (Structural reorganization, hygiene,
etc.
Different workplaces, will have different protective guidelines. There is no
one size which fits all.
Maraming salamat po!