The CDC has issued new guidance for organizations regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. This guidance includes recommendations for both employers and employees on how best to minimize risks associated with the spread of the virus.
In this article, we will discuss some of the common questions related to COVID-19 in the workplace.
What The Employer Should Do If The Employee Comes To The Workplace With COVID-19 Symptoms
Any person who comes to work with symptoms of the COVID-19 virus should be sent home immediately. An employee with these symptoms can be a source of infection to other employees and customers. Therefore, if an employee arrives at work with the COVID-19 symptoms, the employer may want to follow a process to ensure that the employee is not a source of infection to other employees and customers. The employees should be sure to keep a safe distance from each other and avoid any physical contact. When they are home, they should keep the windows open and make sure the air conditioning is on, as those are the best ways to prevent the spread of the virus.
Sick workers should follow CDC-recommended measures to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace. Workers should not return to the workplace until they have met the standards to discontinue isolation and have consulted with a healthcare provider.
How to Reduce the Spread of COVID-19 in Workplaces
The spread of COVID-19 has been steadily increasing since the first case was reported in 2019. The disease, which has spread across the globe, is not yet curable, and many infected individuals are not yet showing any symptoms. Since it is airborne, it is easily spread in traditional offices, as well as open-plan offices, and even cubicle farms. Employees and customers are at particular risk. While you may not be able to prevent all contact between individuals in the office, you can take some basic steps to reduce the risk of further infection.
The control, containment, and reduction of COVID-19 is the number one priority for any organization that has been infected. In fact, the Center for Disease Control has identified this virus as the single most virulent and quickly spreading virus in human history. Fortunately, there are several steps that an organization can take to help contain and eventually eradicate contamination.
To keep the employees safe, the organization should:
- At least once daily, disinfect surfaces that are repeatedly touched by people. This incorporates door handles, tables, desks, light switches, phones, and faucets.
- Consider options to increase the physical distance between workers in work areas and between workers and customers like opening erecting partitions, a drive-through, and marking platforms to guide spacing at least six feet apart.
- Consider hiring a person in office to clean and disinfect surfaces.
- Consider scheduling a person to allow cashiers and service desk workers to wash their hands.
- Consider scheduling handwashing breaks so that workers can wash their hands thoroughly for at least twenty seconds. Also, if water and soap are not available, the employees can use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
- Consider executing flexible sick leave and supportive strategies and practices.
- Assess building ventilation systems and consider improvements.
Final Words
The CDC has acknowledged that the only way to reduce the spread of this new strain of COVID-19 is by preventing infected workers from coming to work.
To know more about CDC guidance for organizations regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, attend the Compliance Prime webinar.
