Infection Prevention and Control in the Workplace

Effective infection prevention and control (IPC) is essential for organisations across all sectors. Whether operating in health and social care, education, hospitality, manufacturing, retail or office environments, employers have a responsibility to protect employees, visitors, contractors and service users from the risks associated with infectious diseases and communicable illnesses.

Workplaces can be significantly affected by respiratory infections such as influenza, COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), alongside outbreaks of norovirus and other communicable illnesses. These can significantly impact service delivery through increased staff absence, outbreak management requirements and additional pressure on care services. Early preparation is essential to maintaining safe, effective and resilient care.

Employers should regularly review their Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) arrangements, and with winter approaching, additional pressures make now an ideal time. This article provides guidance to ensure they remain effective in protecting service users, visitors and employees.

What is Infection Prevention and Control?

The concept of infection prevention and control refers to policies, procedures and practices used to minimise the transmission of infectious diseases and other harmful microorganisms.

IPC should not be seen as solely for the purpose of tackling the COVID-19 pandemic; it should remain a crucial aspect of day-to-day workplace health and safety management.

Legal Duties for Infection Prevention and Control

Duties for Health and Social Care Providers

Key legislation and guidance relevant to IPC for health and social care providers includes:

• Health and Social Care Act 2008: The overarching framework underpinning regulations setting standard of care, and the act which established the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and its enforcement powers.
• Health and Social Care Act 2008 Code of Practice on the Prevention and Control of Infections: An aspect of HSC Act 2008 which offers guidance to health and adult social care providers on keeping affected people safe from infections.
• Regulation 12 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014: Regulation 12 (Safe Care and Treatment) requires health and social care providers to assess and manage risk of infection in their activities. This is also a requirement by the CQC.
• National Infection Prevention and Control Manual (NIPCM) for England: Another benchmark employers can use to meet their obligations to the CQC.

Providers should also ensure suitable and sufficient assessments have been completed under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH) 2002 for both biological hazards, such as infectious diseases and bodily fluids, and chemical hazards including cleaning agents and disinfectants.

Duties for Employers and Employees

Employees also have a duty to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their acts or omissions at work. Employees must also cooperate with their employer so far as is necessary to support compliance with relevant health and safety requirements.

This is regulated under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.

Key Infection Prevention and Control Measures for Review

Organisations should consider refreshing IPC processes and training by focusing on:

Hand Hygiene

Hand hygiene is one of the most effective ways to reduce infection transmission.

Organisations should ensure:

• Adequate hand-washing facilities are available
• Soap and hand sanitiser is accessible and well-stocked
• Employees understand how to wash their hands effectively

Respiratory Hygiene

Droplets and airborne particles are major sources of the spread of infections. Encouraging good respiratory hygiene can include:

• Covering coughs and sneezes properly
• Using tissues and disposing of them properly
• Checking ventilation across workspaces
• Creating the means for remote working for unwell employees, where appropriate

Cleaning and Disinfection

Germs can remain on some surfaces for hours and even days. Regular cleaning and disinfection of surfaces can help reduce infection. This should be tailored and appropriate to the environment.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

It is also advisable to review PPE stocks, to ensure services can continue safely during periods of increased demand.

Outbreak Procedures and Reporting

Managers should ensure outbreak management procedures remain current and that employees understand their responsibilities should an infectious disease outbreak occur. This includes arrangements for enhanced cleaning, visitor management, communication with families and healthcare professionals, and the safe management of affected service users.

Providers should also ensure that business continuity plans have been reviewed and that contingency arrangements are in place to manage potential staffing shortages arising from seasonal illness and infectious disease outbreaks.

Regulatory Focus

Infection prevention and control continues to be a key area of focus for the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Providers are expected to demonstrate effective IPC systems, appropriate employee training, robust governance arrangements and evidence of continual monitoring and improvement.

Recent enforcement activity, albeit outside of infection prevention and control, has highlighted the consequences of failing to implement known controls. In 2025, a care home provider was fined £1.8 million after a resident with known choking risks was left unsupervised during a meal, contrary to her care plan. In a separate prosecution in 2026, a care provider was fined after a resident with documented swallowing difficulties was served food that did not meet his prescribed dietary requirements. Investigations identified failures in supervision, communication and the consistent application of established procedures.

These cases reinforce an important message: policies alone are not enough. Organisations must be able to demonstrate that procedures are effectively communicated, implemented and monitored in practice.

Summary

Effective infection prevention and control should remain an ongoing priority for every organisation. Regularly reviewing risk assessments, refreshing employee training, maintaining suitable hygiene arrangements and testing outbreak procedures can help protect people, reduce workplace illness and support business continuity.

Seasonal changes may increase the likelihood of some infectious illnesses, making autumn an appropriate time to review whether existing arrangements remain effective. However, infection prevention and control should be embedded within health and safety management throughout the year.

AfterAthena assists clients in embedding the ideal policies and procedures across health and safety, through one-off, project-based, or ongoing retained support.

Get in touch today to speak with an expert.

Further Guidance

For additional support, providers may wish to review:

• National Infection Prevention and Control Manual (NIPCM)
• National Standards of Healthcare Cleanliness 2025
• UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) winter preparedness guidance
• Care Quality Commission Infection Prevention and Control Guidance for Care Homes
• Regulation 12 of Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014

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