Anyone who cannot simply hand off responsibility for their work to someone else has an interest in remaining able to perform. Health is the foundation of that capacity to perform. Especially during periods when work cannot be allowed to pile up, adequate self-protection against illness is part of one’s duty toward oneself and toward one’s clients.
While protection against infection through food, water, sexual contact, or smear infection already enjoys broad social acceptance, the picture still looks rather bleak when it comes to protection against airborne infection, that is, infection transmitted through the air.
Since the pathways of airborne infection — via droplets or aerosols — are now well researched, and suitable protective techniques exist, avoiding infection is possible here too — and is therefore advisable, in order to avoid unnecessary liability risks.
The “Swiss cheese” principle applies here: each layer of infection protection has holes, just like a slice of Swiss cheese, but stacking these measures together creates an almost impenetrable barrier against infection.
Depending on the scenario, these protective measures include:
- A well-fitted mask
- An appropriate vaccination
- Keeping distance, in particular from symptomatic people
- Ventilation
- HEPA filtration
- Testing
Typical scenarios include:
- Professional appointments
- Private appointments
- Travel
The effort required for optimal protection is certainly considerable, but it generally pays for itself after just a few “saved” assignments. The protective measures described help avoid illness and liability, thereby preserving one’s own capacity to perform — and, in turn, protecting the people around oneself as well.