1. Assess the hazards to which workers may be exposed,
2. Evaluate the risk of exposure and
3. Select, implement and ensure workers use controls to prevent exposure.
These steps fall under OSHA’s overall requirement that employers “provide a workplace free from serious recognized hazards.”
OSHA’s List
If you think you’ve already considered every possible workplace safety measure, take a look at the following list of OSHA tips — you may be surprised by what you’ve missed:
Distancing
• Practice physical distancing even if employees show no signs or symptoms of infection.
• Move workstations farther apart to create social distancing.
Disinfecting
• Screen workers before they enter the workplace.
• Allow workers to wear face coverings when entering, during the workday, and when exiting the workplace and while working at drive-thru windows.
• Promote regular handwashing and place handwashing signs in workplace restrooms.
• Disinfect all work surfaces and equipment regularly.
• Use cleaning chemicals approved to disinfect against COVID-19.
• Discourage workers from sharing tools and equipment.
• Avoid the sharing of desks and phones.
• Clean vehicles shared by drivers and riders, including door handles.
• Avoid direct hand-off of takeout or curbside orders.
• Train workers to use, wear, store and dispose of personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Instruct employees to wash their hands before or after touching masks, gloves and other PPE.
• Encourage workers to monitor their health for symptoms of infection.
• Encourage workers to report any issues about safety and health and develop a process to address their concerns.
Encourage sick workers to stay home.
Disinfect the workstation and tools of any employee who becomes ill with COVID-19.
Communicating
• Promote confidence with clear communications.
• Use multiple languages to effectively communicate with all workers.
• Stay current on public health recommendations.
• Post OSHA’s 10 steps poster to reduce exposure.
Note an important caveat to OSHA’s advice about disinfection practices: Never mix cleaning products that contain bleach and ammonia. When combined, those chemicals yield a toxic gas (chloramine) that can cause severe health problems.
Dealing With Resistance
Some workers may not welcome some of the restrictions — for example, being required to wear a mask. What happens if an employee violates a policy? Establish procedures for handling such violations, including whether you’ll provide warnings and impose progressively stronger sanctions following each incident.
The reasonableness of your organization’s safety requirements can be tested against recommendations by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). The CDC currently recommends “that everyone wear cloth face coverings when leaving their homes, regardless of whether they have fever or symptoms of COVID-19.” However, this doesn’t mean masks should be worn constantly in every work setting. Before issuing mask instructions to employees, weigh the risks.
For example, if wearing a mask causes safety goggles to fog up and makes operating a machine unsafe, it may make sense for workers to remove masks while performing that job. Or if wearing a mask aggravates an employee’s existing medical condition, you’ll probably need to allow the employee to work without a mask — or work from home.
Contact Us
© Copyright 2020 Thomson Reuters.
Disclaimer of Liability
Our firm provides the information in this e-newsletter for general guidance only, and does not constitute the provision of legal advice, tax advice, accounting services, investment advice or professional consulting of any kind. The information provided herein should not be used as a substitute for consultation with professional tax, accounting, legal or other competent advisors. Before making any decision or taking any action, you should consult a professional advisor who has been provided with all pertinent facts relevant to your particular situation. Tax articles in this e-newsletter are not intended to be used, and cannot be used by any taxpayer, for the purpose of avoiding accuracy-related penalties that may be imposed on the taxpayer. The information is provided “as is,” with no assurance or guarantee of completeness, accuracy or timeliness of the information, and without warranty of any kind, express or implied, including but not limited to warranties of performance, merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose.
Blog
Nonprofit Insights