In the United States, infectious diseases have a significant impact on workplaces. In 2023, private industry reported an estimated 100,200 respiratory illness cases, leading to lost productivity and operational disruptions. Seasonal respiratory infections such as influenza and COVID-19 cause millions of illnesses each year, resulting in countless medical visits, hospitalizations, and missed workdays. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), worker absenteeism nearly doubles during periods of high respiratory illness transmission.
This course provides employees with practical, science-based strategies to maintain personal health and prevent the spread of infectious diseases at work.
Course Topics
- Workplace hygiene and housekeeping essentials
- Overview of common contagious diseases, including:
- Common Cold
- COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019)
- Influenza (Flu)
- Strep Throat
- Prevention techniques such as:
- Proper handwashing
- Safe use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers
- Routine cleaning and disinfection
- Introduction to an Infectious Disease Preparedness & Response (IDPR) Plan
Course Objectives
By the end of this course, you will be able to:
| ID | Objective |
|---|---|
| TO 1.0 | Achieve a minimum score of 70% on the final course assessment. |
| LO 1.1.1 | Define hand hygiene and explain the proper steps for effective handwashing. |
| LO 1.1.2 | Demonstrate the correct use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers. |
| LO 1.1.3 | Identify best practices to prevent the spread of germs and protect yourself and others. |
| LO 1.2.1 | Define pathogens and explain how they infect the human body. |
| LO 1.2.2 | Provide examples of infectious diseases caused by different pathogens. |
| LO 1.2.3 | Differentiate between communicable and non-communicable diseases. |
| LO 1.2.4 | Describe the direct and indirect methods of disease transmission. |
| LO 1.2.5 | Identify common infectious diseases and recognize their typical signs and symptoms. |
| LO 1.2.6 | List symptoms that indicate the need for medical attention. |
| LO 1.3.1 | Explain key methods for preventing the spread of disease. |
| LO 1.3.2 | Discuss how vaccines help strengthen immunity and prevent infection. |
| LO 1.3.3 | Describe healthy workplace practices that reduce the spread of infectious diseases. |
Key: TO – Terminal Objective, LO – Learning Objective