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COVID-19/Coronavirus

Downloads & Resources
 
​Download Sample Coronavirus Infectious Disease Preparedness & Response Plan  |  Download Checklist  |  OSHA Guide  | 
Prevent Worker Exposure Guide  |  Respiratory Protection Alternatives  |  OSHA Coronavirus Safety Poster  |  OSHA Coronavirus Safety Poster ESP
 
 
​​​Overview

OSHA has released the following guidance on how to protect workers from coronavirus exposure. 

 

 

All employers should:

  •   Develop an Infectious Disease Preparedness and Response Plan (If one does not already exist)

    • Follow federal, state, and local health agency guidance

    • Consider and address levels of risk, including possible exposure sources including non-occupational risk factors, individual risk factors of workers (underlying conditions, older age)

    • Expect increased rates of absenteeism, the requirement of social distancing, the possibility of staggered work shifts and other measures to limit exposure

  • Prepare to Implement Basic Infection Prevention Measures

    • Promote frequent and thorough handwashing

    • Encourage workers to stay home if they are sick

    • Proper respiratory etiquette (covering coughs and sneezes)

  • Develop Policies and Procedures for Prompt Identification and Isolation of Sick People, if Appropriate

    • Prompt identification and isolation of potentially infected individuals

    • Inform and encourage self-monitoring of employees

    • Develop policies and procedures for reporting symptoms or possible exposure

  • Develop, Implement, and Communicate about Workplace Flexibilities and Protections

    • Encourage sick employees to isolate

    • Ensure flexible sick leave policies

    • Encourage other companies providing contract or temporary employees to also develop non-punitive leave policies

    • Do not require sick note from healthcare professional to validate time off

    • Maintain flexible policies that permit employees to stay home to care for others that may be ill

  • Implement Workplace Controls

    • Engineering Controls

      • High-efficiency air filters

      • Increase ventilation rates

      • Install physical barriers such as clear plastic sneeze guards

      • install drive-thru window for customer service

      • Negative pressure ventilation

    • Administrative Controls

      • Encourage sick workers to stay home

      • Minimize all worker and client contact, use virtual communication and telework as much as possible

      • Establish alternating or staggered shifts

      • Discontinue non-essential travel to locations with ongoing outbreaks

      • Develop emergency communication plans, allowing workers to express any concerns

      • Train all workers who need to use PPE

    • Safe Work Practices

      • Provide necessities for personal hygiene (soap, disinfectant, hand sanitizer)

      • Post handwashing signs, require regular handwashing

    • PPE

      • Use PPE based on the hazard to the worker

      • Must be properly fitted and periodically refitted, as applicable

      • Consistently and properly work when required

      • Regularly inspected, and replaced when necessary

      • Properly removed, cleaned, stored and disposed of

Employers with workers within six feet of patients known to be or suspected of being infected with coronavirus need to use respirators:

  • NIOSH-approved N95 respirators or better (we maintain a small stock of these in our Salisbury office)

  • When N95 is not available, consider using others that may provide greater protection: 

    • a R/P95, N/R/P99, or N/R/P100 filtering facepiece respirator;

    • an air-purifying elastomeric (e.g., half-face or full-face) respirator with appropriate filters or cartridges;

    • powered air purifying respirator (PAPR) with high-efficiency particulate arrestance (HEPA) filter;

    • or supplied air respirator (SAR)

    • Outdated or foreign respirators may be used - see more details here

For the complete OSHA guide on coronavirus, click here.

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