After enduring the brunt of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are still at a time where we are learning how to live with the virus. However, another concerning health hazard has sprouted up in recent months: Monkeypox. This new virus is similar to the virus that causes smallpox and a member of the family called orthopoxvirus. With all of the protocols that are already in place to ensure the safety of the workforce from problems arising from COVID-19, we might have let our guard down, but we still have to keep a close eye on our sanitary habits to prevent Monkeypox from becoming a problem that will spiral out of control.
As a business owner, it is important to educate employees on the possible Monkeypox danger in Dallas. Similar to COVID-19, knowledge is power in this instance. The more you know about the topic, the more
What is Monkeypox?
Monkeypox is a rare disease that for decades has mostly been seen on the African continent. Human monkeypox cases were recognized back in 1970 and outbreaks have largely been documented in the tropical rainforest regions of Central and West Africa. In May 2022, clusters of these cases have been found in several countries that have little to no history of the disease with further investigations underway to find the root cause of the spread.
Monkeypox can spread from person-to-person through direct contact with someone who is found to have a Monkeypox rash. This can mean close contact such as skin-to-skin contact or through short range aerosols that are produced when talking to someone or breathing within a close distance to a person infected with the disease. Other mechanisms of transmission may be possible, but air transmission is still not well understood. Similar to Covid, surfaces can also be possible contamination points as touching infected surfaces such as clothes, electronics and other high contact objects and then touching your eyes, mouth or nose can lead to being infected.
The disease can also spread to people if they come in close contact with infected animals through bites, scratches or eating infected animals that aren’t cooked properly. Monkeypox causes less severe and more severe symptoms. The common symptoms include fevers, muscle pain, headaches, and swollen lymph nodes which are accompanied by rashes that can last two to three weeks. In mild cases, Monkeypox can go away without treatment within a few weeks, but in more severe cases, it can lead to serious complications that can lead to death.
Educating Employees
It is important for employers to educate their employees on the dangers of Monkeypox and preventive measures to decrease the health risk of the disease in the workplace. Aside from identifying and assessing common hazardous situations in the workplace, it is important to mitigate and control the spread of the disease in case one of your Dallas truck drivers is confirmed to be infected.
Setting aside a chunk of the work day to educate your employees concerning the disease and distributing additional resources such as pamphlets or handouts can go a long way to making the workplace a safer space, especially since truck drivers come into contact with other people throughout the day.
Encouraging taking the Monkeypox vaccine for your truck drivers in Dallas can also be another option that you want to keep in mind. Even moreso for the more vulnerable drivers that are susceptible to the disease, taking the vaccine may be a good way to alleviate any anxieties from the workforce.
Preventive Measures
Similar to COVID-19, you can protect yourself and your drivers from monkeypox by limiting close contact or situations that warrant close contact between people. Emphasizing good health habits such as washing your hands with soap and water after touching surfaces and frequently disinfecting commonly touched surfaces can establish a solid foundation for these measures.
Trucks, vans, and other vehicles that are used by the company, especially if they are shared among a pool of drivers, should regularly be maintained and sanitized between uses to help prevent the spread of monkeypox between employees. Equipping the vehicles with fixtures that protect the driver from outside factors such as aerosols can also be an effective measure to take.
NEED HELP WEATHERPROOFING YOUR TRUCK?
In the event that you need to maintain your fleet or equip them with fixtures to protect your drivers, look no further and contact WTX Truck Repair, LLC. If you’re looking for truck repair in Dallas, Texas, WTX Truck Repair, LLC is a professional company that can cater to your needs. Contact us today for more information.
