Is Your Company Prepared for the Cold and Flu Season?

With summer coming to an end, it's important for employers to take the necessary precautions to protect their workers from illness. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it costs employers anywhere from $16 to $286 for each day a worker is absent. Considering that most people catch two to three cold infections per year -- not counting the flu or other infections -- the cost can quickly add up. However, there are ways to protect workers from infectious illness in the workplace, including the following.

Clear Dirty Surfaces

Germs are found just about everywhere, but some surfaces contain significantly more germs than others. By cleaning these particularly dirty surfaces in their workplace, employers can reduce the risk of transmissible illness. A study cited by TIME found that the dirtiest surfaces in a typical workplace are bathroom faucets, microwave doors, computer keyboards, refrigerator roots, water fountains and vending machine buttons.

Encourages Workers to Wash Hands

What's the single most important thing you can do to protect against illness? It's washing your hands. Washing your hands with soap and warm water will eliminate germs, thereby reducing the risk of illness. As a result, employers should encourage workers to wash their hands. Something as simple as placing a sign saying, "Please wash your hands before returning to work" is a great way to keep workers healthy.

Make Hand Sanitizer Accessible

Another way to protect workers from illness is to provide them with hand sanitizer. Alcohol-based hand sanitizer kills more than 99% of germs. And while it shouldn't be used as a substitution to handwashing, it can reduce the risk of illness among workers. Employers can place bottles of hand sanitizer around workers' desks, in the break room, bathroom and elsewhere.

Ventilate the Workplace

Ensuring their workplace is well ventilated can reduce the risk of transmissible illness. Employers who neglect their workplace's heating and air may inadvertently pave the way for illness. When worker is sick, he or she may spread germs through the air that infect others. To reduce the risk of airborne transmission, employers should ensure that their workplace has ample ventilation with fresh air flowing through it.