To help businesses and communities adopt healthy practices to protect employees and the public from COVID-19, the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) and Direct Education Worldwide (DEW) today announced the launch of COVID SMART, an interactive safety training program for workplaces.
COVID SMART teaches and tests knowledge of COVID-19 and basic infection prevention measures through short online modules and animated videos. The program will be distributed primarily to non-healthcare workplaces to ensure that schools, commercial offices, government agencies, retail stores, shopping centers, factories, and processing plants are ‘COVID Smart.’ Those who successfully graduate from the program receive a certificate of completion.
“To restart the economy, consumers and employees need unambiguous reassurance that business establishments are committed to public health and safety,” said Robert Tercek, CEO of DEW. “Our partnership with APIC provides businesses of every size a way to teach best practices to reduce the risks and instill consumer confidence.”
DEW developed the content with clinical input and oversight from APIC. APIC will update the modules periodically to ensure accuracy as more is learned about the spread of COVID-19.Modular in structure for easy customization by industry or business, the COVID SMART program is intended for workers at all levels. It is currently available in English and Spanish, with more languages in development.
COVID SMART began U.S. efforts in July, via a pilot program with Southern California businesses and child nutrition professionals at a school district in Phoenix, Arizona.
The program was originally launched in Australia, where it remains successful and currently in use.