How to Stay Safe & Healthy As An Essential Worker

If you’ve been deemed an essential worker and are still working outside your home during the COVID-19 pandemic, there are important protocols to follow to ensure you keep yourself and your family safe and healthy.

Healthcare workers, grocery employees, first responders, and many other essential employees put their lives on the line each day during the pandemic to continue serving the public to the best of their ability. Unfortunately, since these are public-facing positions, there is an increased risk of infection or spreading illness due to frequent exposure to others.

While it’s tempting to go straight into your home and hug your family when you’re off work, it is imperative to take precautions to avoid spreading illness to your household. These precautions may differ depending on the line of work you’re in and what level of contact you have with others during the day.

When arriving home from work, you might consider:

• Taking your shoes off before entering your home
• Spraying alcohol on the top and bottom of your shoes, as well as your clothes, glasses, keys, work utensils, computers, and your cell phone
• Discarding any receipts or papers that you’ve brought home with you
• Taking off your work clothes and directly putting them in the washer
• Not touching any beds or chairs
• Taking a shower immediately
• Washing your hands thoroughly after touching anything you’ve brought from outside your home

When you’re at work, you should also take precautions such as:

• Wearing a face mask
• Washing your hands frequently, and using hand sanitizer when a sink isn’t available
• Practice social distancing as much as your workplace permits; keep at least six feet of space between yourself and others and refrain from touching others
• Cleaning and disinfecting all shared spaces and electronic equipment—don’t share electronics with others
• Monitoring your symptoms; don’t come to work if you exhibit any COVID-19 symptoms such as a fever
• Go home immediately if you start to feel sick

These precautions may seem excessive to some, but it is worth taking measures to protect yourself and your household from COVID-19 and other illnesses. Thank you for your hard work and stay safe out there!