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Reducing Risk of Communicable Diseases in the Iowa Workplace

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention requires healthcare facilities to follow standard precautions (also referred to as "universal" precautions) to lower the risk of workers contracting communicable diseases and infections. 

These universal precautions include: 

• Hand hygiene - hands should be washed after touching any contaminated items, even if you are wearing gloves. Hands should also be washed immediately after removing gloves and before and after making contact with a patient.
• Gloves - gloves should be worn whenever there is the risk of coming in contact with infectious material or broken skin. The same gloves should not be used on different patients and gloves should never be washed and reused.
• Protective equipment - goggles, masks and face shields should be worn when performing procedures that may lead to contact with potentially contaminated materials.
• Gowns - gowns can protect your skin and keep your clothing from becoming contaminated with bacteria.
• Laundry - soiled bed linens and gowns must be handled with great care to prevent transmitting the bacteria onto yourself or surfaces around you. 

If you have contracted a communicable disease or infection in your workplace, you should speak with a West Des Moines Workers' Compensation attorney. Your attorney understands the risks of working in the healthcare industry and may be able to help you prepare a solid Iowa Workers' Compensation claim. To learn more about workplace safety concerns, visit our article library. 

Contacting a West Des Moines Workers' Compensation Attorney

The West Des Moines Workers' Compensation attorney team at Walker, Billingsley & Bair knows the importance of protecting your work injury claim from the get-go. Learn more by ordering this FREE book; Iowa Workers' Compensation - An Insider's Guide to Work Injuries: 7 Deadly Mistakes To Avoid If You Are Hurt At Work or by calling 1-800-707-2552.