INZ advice for employees and management of companies and institutions

SARAJEVO, (Patria) -  The cooperation between the Institute for Health and Food Safety Zenica (INZ) and the private and public sector in BIH in the field of preventing the spread of the coronavirus continued this week by sending recommendations from the competent ministries and crisis headquarters to public institutions and public enterprises, as well as private companies and INZ partners throughout BIH. 

The recommendations relate to personal protection and the protection of people in the environment, but also to the preparation of one's workplace, whereby each individual can contribute in simple ways to preventing the spread of the coronavirus in our local communities.

This week, the Institute for Health and Food Safety sent or is sending an informational set of recommendations for action during the pandemic that has also hit Bosnia and Herzegovina to the addresses of several hundred companies and institutions, small, medium and large enterprises.

This is part of the significant social role assigned to it for the purpose of protecting the health of citizens. A special place in the Institute's activities in these difficult days is occupied by activities aimed at protecting health and the working environment in business entities and business partners.

How to react in the workplace and public spaces

"We responded to every call for disinfection services, in order to protect our business partners from a possible blockade of the business process. Industrial plants, public institutions, residential buildings, banks, are just some of the spaces where the Institute performed disinfection. The Institute's experts were available 24 hours a day, providing advice to business entities to take preventive measures to protect their employees and the spaces where they operate. The Institute continued to provide sanitary inspection services and laboratory analyses, thus enabling the uninterrupted production and distribution of foodstuffs," points out Edin Fetić, Head of the Sales, Marketing, Planning and Analysis Department of INZ.

The disease caused by the Covid-19 virus is generally mild, especially for children and young people. However, it can also cause a more serious course of the disease. Therefore, it is completely normal to feel concerned about how the coronavirus epidemic will affect you, your loved ones and your colleagues. However, we can channel our concern into taking actions to protect ourselves, our loved ones and our community.

"Only if we ensure that all recommendations are applied in the workplace, in public spaces, but also at home, in the building, in the apartment, can we be sure that we will prevent or slow down the spread of the virus and its serious consequences for part of the population. Therefore, responsible behavior of each individual is a priority and an obligation, not a matter of choice and goodwill," state from INZ.

First and foremost is frequent and thorough hand washing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, hand disinfection with an alcohol-based agent, proper respiratory hygiene (sneeze and cough into the elbow and use a mask, etc.), and maintaining a physical distance from other people of at least 1.5 to two meters (now the popular term 'social distancing'). It is invaluable to stay at home during the pandemic whenever possible, and most often it is indeed possible with a little organization. Also, it is necessary to be informed, but to follow exclusively the recommendations of the competent health institutions and crisis headquarters.

Follow exclusively the recommendations issued by the competent health institutions and bodies in the territory of BIH, entities and cantons.

Follow information on the website of the Institute for Health and Food Safety Zenica inz.ba, the Federal Ministry of Health fmoh.gov.ba and the Institute for Public Health of the FBiH zzjzfbih.ba. In the Republic of Srpska, these are the website koronavirususrpskoj.com and the website of the Institute for Public Health of this BH entity phi.rs.ba.

The latest information from the World Health Organization (WHO) on areas of spread and instructions regarding Covid-19 are available on their website who.int in the Coronavirus covid-19 section.

Tips to help yourself and your fellow citizens

Given the constant messages that "Panic is not an option, caution is!" INZ reminds of the recommendations for personal protection and the protection of people in the environment - Among others, wash hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or with 70% alcohol-based hand sanitizers. Washing hands with soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizers removes viruses that may be on your hands.

It is necessary to keep a distance of at least 1.5 to two meters between you and other people, especially those who cough and sneeze. When someone coughs or sneezes, they expel small droplets that may contain the virus. If you are too close, you can inhale these droplets, including the Covid-19 virus if the person coughing is possibly infected. All of these are recommendations from official institutions such as WHO, INZ, FMZ, and ZZJZ FBiH.

"Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with your hands, because we touch numerous surfaces with our hands and can pick up viruses with our hands. With contaminated hands, we can transfer the virus to the eyes, nose and mouth from where the virus can enter the body and cause disease; When coughing or sneezing, cover your mouth and nose with the inside of your elbow or a disposable tissue, and after use, immediately throw the tissue in a waste bin and wash your hands with soap, then disinfect them. Respiratory droplets spread the virus. By adhering to the above, you protect the people around you from viruses that cause colds, flu and possibly Covid-19," state from INZ.

It is also emphasized to avoid organizing or attending larger groups of people, public gatherings and staying in enclosed public spaces, as this reduces the risk of diseases transmitted by droplets such as colds, flu and possibly Covid-19. At the workplace, if possible, organize and distribute work across multiple rooms. During this period, it is highly recommended to avoid handshakes, hugs and kisses, as they are considered close contact for the spread of diseases transmitted by droplets.

"Air out the rooms and spend as much time as possible outdoors (balcony, terrace) but without close contact with other people; If you have symptoms of a respiratory infection (fever, cough, sneezing), wear a medical mask and contact your doctor by phone. By wearing a mask, you protect others. Regularly inform employees, colleagues, partners and clients that any person who has even a mild cough or low temperature (37.3°C or higher) must stay home. People who are taking medications such as paracetamol, ibuprofen or aspirin, which can mask the symptoms of infection, should stay home (or work from home). This does not refer to aspirin that heart patients take in their regular therapy, but these types of medications that someone might take to 'remove' symptoms of a current cold that may possibly be related to Covid-19," explain from INZ.

Measures for maintaining a clean workspace and environment

At the workplace, just like at home, it is necessary that all surfaces are clean and hygienically safe, which can be achieved by using disinfectants based on 70% alcohol. At least three times a day, it is necessary to clean touch points in buildings, such as door handles, window handles, taps in toilets and kitchens, toilet flush buttons, remote controls, light switches, doorbells, elevator buttons, reception counters, and other touch surfaces used by a larger number of people. Touching contaminated surfaces by employees and clients is one of the main ways of spreading Covid-19;

It is necessary to wipe floors, as well as toilet floors, with disinfectant, and other similar surfaces, wipe tables, benches and chairs with disinfectant, halls, and other similar surfaces, keeping records of regular wiping with disinfectant; At least twice a day, clean all touch surfaces - work surfaces, smartphones and other phones, laptops, keyboards and computers.

"Use phones, video conferences, the internet, Viber groups, various multimedia communication channels and the like for business as much as possible as a substitute for meetings. When meetings are necessary, organize them in as large rooms as possible, and leave sufficient distance (1.5-2 meters) between people. Avoid handshakes and keep a distance of at least 1.5 to two meters during conversations. Clean and air out meeting rooms, training rooms and other spaces where a larger number of people gather after each meeting, and also air them out during the meeting. Regularly, at least twice a day, air out all rooms. Frequent airing of rooms is a preventive measure against droplet infections of the respiratory tract. Place hand sanitizers in visible places everywhere in the work environment, as well as in your home, especially in public places where people have fewer opportunities to wash their hands regularly. Ensure that these products are regularly replenished," advise from INZ.

Finally, it is stated that it is necessary to ensure running water, preferably warm, and soap in toilets for hand washing, as well as disposable paper towels, and to place waste bins with lids for the safe disposal of used paper towels and other waste in toilets and other rooms, but also to place Instructions on proper hand washing in a visible place in the toilet, and to empty waste baskets from all rooms daily.

"Promote good respiratory hygiene in your organizations and homes. Put up posters in the workplace that promote respiratory hygiene. Regularly implement disinfection measures at your workplace, while disinsection and deratization measures (DDD procedures) will be carried out in accordance with the recommendations of the competent authorities. Additional self-education of the public in the field of first aid is desirable, while maintaining first aid cabinets and boxes at the workplace and at home fully stocked," say from INZ.