3 Tips to Fight COVID-19 Overload

The months/years of dealing with a global pandemic have proven to have long-term personal and societal effects. Part of this is what many are calling “COVID-19 Overload”.

New patterns about personal safety means individuals have more on their minds—and more potential for distractions--and increased workplace restrictions around COVID-19 safety have raised expectations for safety managers and EHS professionals.

• What is “COVID-19 Weariness”?
• How does it affect your facility?
• 3 Tips to fight “COVID-19 Weariness”

What is COVID-19 Weariness?

COVID-19 dramatically changed the way we work and live, and the many challenges of dealing with it have increased task-management. “COVID-19 Overload” happens when these additional safety measures cause a breakdown in processing and carrying out normal duties.

How Does it Affect Your Facility?

Your workplace is already full of safety challenges. The stresses of dealing with COVID-19 and the disruptions it causes individuals can add to general workplace fatigue—one of the biggest threats to safety—and that means clear safety communication is more important than ever to prevent accidents and stay productive.

3 Tips to Fight “COVID-19 Weariness”

“COVID-19 Weariness” is overwhelming to think about, but there are three things that can help employers stay ahead of the game.

1. Make Safety Communication Clear. In an article from the CDC about the long-term effects of the pandemic on workers and workplaces, clear safety communication is cited as an important strategy.
2. Stay on Top of COVID-19 Safety Protocols. The recent rulings (and delays) about OSHA’s COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard show just how changeable information about COVID-19 can be. Uncertainty is a stressor, so communication that reassures employees is helpful.
3. Keep the Atmosphere Positive. A Positive Psychology article states that positive social interaction can help a team collectively improve its performance. When pandemic parameters have shifted practices dramatically, this is critical to ongoing success. The ability to customize your facility's safety communication is an asset that can make this possible. Use positive language (and humor when possible and appropriate) to keep the atmosphere proactive and positive.
   

Clear safety communication is always a key to preventing accidents and staying productive. The challenges of dealing with COVID-19 on a personal and business level have raised the stakes and made it more important than ever, but it’s possible to keep compliant, productive, and positive with these tips.