Infectious Disease: Control and Prevention

Did you know that our skin is home to millions of microorganisms including bacteria, fungi, and viruses? These microorganisms are everywhere – they are both on and in our bodies, in the air, on surfaces in our homes and workplaces, and in the soil! Some microorganisms cause no harm, others help us like those on our skin and in our gut, and others can make us ill, some extremely ill. The organisms that make us ill are known as infectious agents. Infectious agents are all around us, and sometimes, depending on the task at hand, you may be exposed to some while at the workplace completing a job.

Both the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provide clear requirements on how to control and prevent infectious disease in the workplace (29 USC 654 S5; 29 CFR 1910.1030; 29 CFR 1910 Parts 132 and 134; Universal and Standard Precautions).

Some industries are more prone to exposure than others, especially those that work in the healthcare industry, but they are not the only industry that needs to be aware of infectious agents and how they cause disease. Most industries are affected by non-occupational infections like rhinovirus or the influenza virus. Additionally, many career fields have the potential to exposure to various occupational infections including diseases like tetanus, lyme, and rabies.This course will help you to identify what causes infection and how infectious agents spread. In addition, this course will discuss several common infections including the common cold and the seasonal flu, and how to prevent them from spreading.

Finally, this course will introduce you to several methods of prevention and control including the Hierarchy of Controls and what an exposure control plan is, and its role in the workplace. If you need to learn more about what causes infection and how to prevent and control infectious diseases, this training is for you!

Keywords: infectious diseases, infection, exposure control plan, cdc, epidemiologic, droplet transmission, common cold, seasonal flu, covid-19, tuberculosis, occupational infections, exposure determination, communication of hazards, bloodborne pathogens, methods of compliance, recordkeeping, contact, droplet, airborne, ppe