Infection Prevention: Why It Matters in The Workplace Reading Answers

Sep 17, 2024

Reading Answers is an academic reading answers topic. Infection Prevention: Why It Matters in The Workplace Reading Answers has a total of 7 IELTS questions in total, 22-28 you have to fill in the blanks with correct words.

Candidates should read the IELTS Reading passage thoroughly to recognize synonyms, identify keywords, and answer the questions below. IELTS Reading practice papers, which feature topics such as Infection Prevention: Why It Matters in The Workplace Reading Answers. Candidates can use IELTS reading practice questions and answers to enhance their performance in the reading section.

Read the text below and answer Questions 22-28.

INFECTION PREVENTION: WHY IT MATTERS IN THE WORKPLACE

Whether you are in a workplace, public facility, leisure environment or educational facility, germs are spread from person-to-person and by touching everyday surfaces. In fact, according to a recent presentation by Dr. Charles Gerba, a microbiologist from the University of Arizona, "we share more common surfaces, with more people than ever before in history." Enclosed environments-like the workplace-where people are working or interacting in close proximity with one another are particularly at a higher risk for the spread of germs. Poor hygiene will lead to increased illness and can result in disruption cost, lost productivity, reduced employee efficiency through illness at work, and lower morale.

Skin Hygiene Facts: Hands are the single most effective method of spreading germs, yet over half of all workers do not know the basics of hand washing. At least 40 percent of workers do not wash their hands often, or long enough, to protect against the spread of germs. Approximately 65% of maintenance and construction workers and 47% of office workers wash their hands less than five times a day. The average hand wash misses vital areas where germs are commonly found, e.g., under fingernails and on the backs of hands. Since our hands are responsible for the spread of 80% of common infectious diseases, effective hand hygiene continues to be universally recognized as the smartest and most cost effective means of infection control in the workplace.

Ways to Improve At-Work Hand Hygiene: Communicate the proper length of time needed to wash hands effectively, which is for at least 20 seconds. Educate employees on the 'dirtiest' areas of the work environment-which according to Dr. Gerba include desks and unwashed coffee cups. When hand washing facilities are not conveniently located, hand sanitizers can be used to complement normal hand washing. In addition to the frequency and technique of hand washing, the format for how sanitizing products are used is very important. With wall-mounted cartridge dispensing systems, with a closed, one-time-use sealed system, there is no entrance of air during use, thus minimizing any risk of extrinsic microbial contamination. As a result, the product dispensed is fresh every time. For as little as a few cents per day, each employee and visitor can have access to hand hygiene products in the workplace. Businesses already lose millions of working days every year due to employee sickness from seasonal influenza, so this low cost investment is well worth it to significantly reduce the risk of germs being spread in the workplace. Numerous separate studies show that good hand hygiene practices can reduce employee illness, absence and associated cost

on an average by around 40%.

It can be easy for businesses to think of skin care as a trivial issue and a commodity buy, or for it to fall off their radar screens completely. However, encouraging proper hand hygiene through a structured skincare system helps to protect your employees' health, as well as the operational health of your company.

Questions 22-28

Use ONE WORD for each answer.

Establishments where people work are generally covered from all sides and full of surfaces that people touch. This enables the spread of germs; coupled with inadequate (22)........... this leads to increased incidence of illnesses and thus a loss of productivity.

Answer: hygiene

Supporting statement: Poor hygiene will lead to increased illness and can result in disruption cost, lost productivity, reduced employee efficiency through illness at work, and lower morale.

Keyword: hygiene, illness, productivity

Keyword location: 1st paragraph, last line

Explanation: Poor hygiene will lead to increased illness and can result in disruption cost, lost productivity, reduced employee efficiency through illness at work, and lower morale. Thus the correct answer is hygiene.

Our hands are the single most effective means of spreading germs. Almost half of all workers do not wash their hands often enough; many of them do not do so (23)........... times a day.

Answer: five

Supporting statement: Approximately 65% of maintenance and construction workers and 47% of office workers wash their hands less than five times a day.

Keyword: wash,five

Keyword location: 2nd paragraph,3rd line

Explanation: Approximately 65% of maintenance and construction workers and 47% of office workers wash their hands less than five times a day.

Thus the correct word is five

Also, generally when hands are washed, the places where (24)......... abide are missed out.

Answer: germs

Supporting statement: The average hand wash misses vital areas where germs are commonly found, e.g., under fingernails and on the backs of hands.

Keyword: germs,hand wash

Keyword location: 2nd paragraph, 4th line

Explanation: The average hand wash misses vital areas where germs are commonly found, e.g., under fingernails and on the backs of hands.

Thus the correct word is germs.

Employees have to be told about how much time is (25)........... to ensure that - their hands are washed in an efficacious manner.

Answer: needed

Supporting statement: Communicate the proper length of time needed to wash hands effectively, which is for at least 20 seconds.

Keyword: communicate,needed, effectively

Keyword location: 3rd paragraph, 1st line

Explanation: Communicate the proper length of time needed to wash hands effectively, which is for at least 20 seconds. Thus the correct word is needed.

One should ensure that an appropriate hand washing cleanser is used and the dispensing mechanism is such that the cleanser that each user gets to use is (26)........... every time.

Answer: fresh

Supporting statement: As a result, the product dispensed is fresh every time.

Keyword: product,fresh

Keyword location: 3rd paragraph,6th line

Explanation: As a result, the product dispensed is fresh every time. Thus the correct word is fresh.

Hand hygiene products do not (27)........... much and can help reduce the costs associated with employee illness and absence by around 40%.

Answer: cost

Supporting statement: Businesses already lose millions of working days every year due to employee sickness from seasonal influenza, so this low cost investment is well worth it to significantly reduce the risk of germs being spread in the workplace.

Keyword: low cost, germs

Keyword location: 3rd paragraph,8th line

Explanation: Businesses already lose millions of working days every year due to employee sickness from seasonal influenza, so this low cost investment is well worth it to significantly reduce the risk of germs being spread in the workplace. Thus the correct word is cost.

Taking care of one's skin is not a (28)........... issue and making sure of good hand hygiene can help to protect the health of employees.

Answer: trivial

Supporting statement: It can be easy for businesses to think of skin care as a trivial issue and a commodity buy, or for it to fall off their radar screens completely.

Keyword: skincare,trivial

Keyword location: 4th paragraph,1st line

Explanation: It can be easy for businesses to think of skin care as a trivial issue and a commodity buy, or for it to fall off their radar screens completely. Thus the correct word is trivial.

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