In the last email blast there was a summary of the updated OSHA Covid-19 guidance. As part of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) commitment to protect workers and issue stronger worker safety guidance, the agency has published Protecting Workers: Guidance on Mitigating and Preventing the Spread of COVID-19 in the Workplace to help employers and workers identify risks of being exposed to or contracting COVID-19 in the workplace, and implement a COVID-19 Prevention Program. This fact sheet highlights the key elements of the revised guidance.
Employers should implement COVID-19 Prevention Programs that are tailored to their workplaces. The most effective programs engage workers and their representatives in their development, and include the following key elements:
*conducting a hazard assessment;
*identifying a combination of measures that will limit the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace;
*adopting measures to ensure that workers who are (potentially) infected are not in contact with other people in the workplace;
*implementing protections from retaliation for workers who raise COVID-related concerns; and
*educating and training workers on COVID-19 policies and procedures in a language they
understand.
The guidance provides additional details on key measures for limiting the spread of COVID-19, starting with:
*ensuring infected or potentially infected people are not in the workplace,
*implementing physical distancing,
*suppressing the spread by using surgical face masks or cloth face coverings,
*installing barriers,
*providing workers with appropriate personal protective equipment and making sure they are using it properly,
*improving ventilation,
*providing supplies for good hygiene, and
*routine cleaning.
Read the full text of the guidance document, Mitigating and Preventing the Spread of COVID-19 in the Workplace at osha.gov/coronavirus. OSHA will continue to update this guidance over time to reflect developments in science, best practices, and standards, and will keep track of changes to ensure transparency. Our team of experts is here to help you navigate employer requirements in this ever-changing landscape of COVID-19. Contact Blakeman & Associates if you need any assistance.