Communicable Illness and Fitness for Work
Working Through Illness Can Transfer Risk to the Whole Team
Reporting illness early is a protective action, not a lack of commitment. A worker who hides symptoms or an exposure may become less fit for critical tasks and may pass illness to colleagues who share vehicles, tools, controls or welfare facilities. Use the site's health-reporting route, respect medical confidentiality and make fitness-for-work decisions through the appropriate competent support rather than informal pressure or self-diagnosis.
Controls to confirm
- Report relevant symptoms, a confirmed communicable illness or a significant exposure through the approved site route before the shift or as soon as it becomes known; do not conceal the concern or rely on self-clearance for safety-critical work.
- Have the supervisor and occupational-health or other designated competent support apply the site procedure, decide suitable work restrictions or absence, protect confidentiality and arrange safe cover without discouraging honest reporting.
- Maintain hand hygiene, clean shared touchpoints and equipment through the approved method, avoid sharing personal items, and follow any isolation, return-to-work or medical advice issued for the situation.
Today’s action
Confirm today that everyone can find the illness-reporting and occupational-health route, then identify who will provide safe cover if a person must step away from critical work.
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