- Actively encourage sick employees to stay home. Develop a non-punitive policy and ensure employees are aware of this policy.
- Encourage respiratory etiquette, including covering the mouth when coughing or sneezing. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue and properly dispose of tissues after use. If tissues are not available, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve, not your hands.
- Provide a place for employees to wash hands or use alcohol-based hand rubs containing at least 60% alcohol. If hands are visibly dirty, always wash your hands with soap and water, if available.
- If possible, limit worksite access to only essential workers. However, regardless of how many employees are coming into the workspace, continue to practice social distancing and hygienic guidelines.
- Consider engineering controls to aid with isolating employees from work-related hazards. Install high-efficiency air filters. Increase ventilation rates in the work environment. Install physical barriers, such as clear plastic sneeze guards. Install a drive-through window for customer service. etc.
- Establish flexible worksites and flexible work hours, if feasible. Options may include telecommuting or staggering shift times.
- Discourage workers from using other workers’ phones, desks, or other work tools and equipment.
- Regularly clean and disinfect surfaces, equipment, and other elements of the work environment. Always wear the appropriate PPE when cleaning/disinfecting and thoroughly wash hands after removing gloves.
- Use Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-approved cleaning chemicals with label claims against the coronavirus and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for use.
- Encourage workers to report any safety and health concerns.
KEMI does not assume liability for the content of information contained herein. Safety and health remain your responsibility. This information is to be used for informational purposes only and not intended to be exhaustive or a substitute for proper training, supervision or manufacturers’ instructions/recommendations. KEMI, by publication of this information, does not assume liability for damage or injury arising from reliance upon it. Compliance with this information is not a guarantee or warranty that you will be in conformity with any laws or regulations nor does it ensure the absolute safety of any person, place or object, including, but not limited to, you, your occupation, employees, customers or place of business.
