Assessment of preventive measures application against Covid-19 in the workplace

The number of cases of SARS-Cov-2 contamination in Setif (Algeria) is constantly increasing, representing to date nearly 10% of all cases recorded throughout the country.

To evaluate the preventive measures taken by the service sector companies against the spread of the virus.

A survey of 115 service sector companies was carried out in the prefecture of Setif (Algeria). The data was collected using a pre-established questionnaire completed with one of the officials of the company and by direct observation.

A high prevalence (42%) of women put on leave was found. Physical meetings were held in 38% of the companies, hydroalcoholic solution was available for employees in 85% and for customers only in 4%. In more than 70% of cases, disinfection of surfaces, floors and door handles took place frequently. Safety distance between employees and customers was respected in 88%, between employees in 66% and between customers in 63% of the companies. The wearing of a mask by all, the majority, some and none of the employees was observed in respectively 15%, 17%, 39% and 29% of the companies.

The preventive measures against the risk of contamination by Covid-19 infection taken in the visited companies were considered insufficient. An awareness campaign has been initiated to correct the shortcomings observed.