Prevent the Spread of Viruses in the Workplace

Reopening your business to employees or the public requires a thorough plan for cleaning and disinfection. These resources can help you determine what to disinfect, what disinfectants to use and how often to disinfect.

• CDC Reopening Guide – this web page provides a general framework for creating a cleaning and disinfection plan for your business (includes examples of frequently touched surfaces, instructions for cleaning soft surfaces like chairs and couches, etc.).
• CDC Disinfection Flow Chart – use this flow chart to determine what should be cleaned and how, based on location, occupancy and type of material.
• EPA-Registered Household Disinfectant List – this list contains products that meet the EPA’s criteria for use against the virus that causes COVID-19 – as well as the amount of time a surface should be visibly wet with each disinfectant.

• Monitor public health communications about COVID-19 recommendations for the workplace and ensure that workers have access to and understand that information.
• Encourage workers to stay home if they are feeling sick, have a fever, cough or shortness of breath or have been exposed to viruses.
• Survey applicants attending orientation about their wellbeing and any viral symptoms.
• Encourage respiratory etiquette, including covering coughs and sneezes.
• Promote frequent and thorough hand washing. Instruct employees to wash their hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or clean their hands often with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60-95% alcohol.
• Educate workers about current precautions being taken at their facility or job site and actions they can take to protect themselves.
• Provide tissues, disinfectants and disposable towels that workers can use to clean high-touch work surfaces at the beginning and end of every shift, per CDC guidelines.
• Use Environmental Protection Agency-approved cleaning chemicals from List N.
• Discourage workers from sharing tools and equipment. Employees should especially not share headsets or other objects that are near their mouth or nose.
• Install hands-free door opener devices on restroom doors.
• Provide resources like helplines and Human Resources contacts for employees to manage their mental and emotional safety while working.

• Establish flexible work hours and allow office staff to work from home when feasible.
• Limit employee access to areas outside of the departments they work in.
• Encourage office employees to call coworkers on the phone, even if in the same department.
• Utilize alternative modes of communication for meetings and training when possible.
• Seek alternatives to physical punch cards and community pens for time clocks, roll call and other sign-in requirements.
• Practice sensible social distancing and maintain six feet between co-workers where possible.

• Provide or allow workers to wear personal protective equipment (PPE), like masks and gloves.
• Train workers on how to properly put on, use/wear, take off and maintain protective clothing and equipment.

CAL OSHA GUIDANCE on COVID 19

Following the June 17 vote by the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board to adopt the revised COVID-19 Prevention Emergency Temporary Standards, Governor Gavin Newsom signed an executive order to allow the revisions to immediately take effect on June 17. The revised regulations reflect the state’s latest COVID-19 public health guidance. The updates include changes to face coverings and physical distancing requirements. More information on the revised COVID-19 Prevention Emergency Temporary Standards can be found in Cal/OSHA’s Frequently Asked Questions.

https://www.dir.ca.gov/dosh/dosh_publications/COVIDOnePageFS.pdf

• Develop and implement COVID-19 Prevention Program https://www.dir.ca.gov/dosh/dosh_publications/CPP.doc
• Follow CDC guidelines for cleaning and disinfection
• Follow the OSHA Employer Notification Tool guidelines to alert employees within 24 hours when a person who has been in the workplace is positive
• Follow protocol for multiple reported infections or outbreaks https://www.dir.ca.gov/dosh/.archive/title8/3205_1-Nov.30.2020.html
• Train employees on workplace COVID-19 policies and procedures using accessible formats and in a language they understand – ETS Employee Training Presentation https://www.dir.ca.gov/dosh/coronavirus/EducationMaterials.html
• Implement protections from retaliation
• Set up anonymous process for workers to voice concerns about COVID-19-related hazards
• Implement all requirements at no cost to employees
• Report positive COVID cases to CompWest https://www.afgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/AF-Group_CA-SB-1159-Reporting-Form_Final.pdf
• When a COVID-19-related serious illness or death occurs, the employer must report this immediately to the nearest Cal/OSHA enforcement district office. https://www.dir.ca.gov/dosh/report-accident-or-injury.html
• Notify local health department, as soon as possible but within 48 hours, when three or more infections are reported in the workplace https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Pages/contact_us.aspxFollow CDC Interim Public Health Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated People
• Grant paid time off for employees to get vaccinated and recover from any vaccine side effects
• The following individuals should be instructed to stay home from work:
  • Individuals infected with COVID-19
  • Individuals with COVID-19 symptoms
  • Unvaccinated individuals who have had close contact with a positive individual
• Implement physical distancing for unvaccinated and at-risk workers in communal areas
• Train employees using accessible formats and in a language they understand
  • Training should include:
    • Workplace COVID-19 policies and procedures
    • Basic facts about COVID-19 spread and prevention
  • Maintain ventilation systems per OSHA and CDC recommendations
  • Perform routine cleaning and disinfection according to CDC recommendations

For further information, review Cal OSHA’s guidance and resources https://www.dir.ca.gov/dosh/coronavirus/

• Workstation Setup
• Ergonomics Assessment
• Office Ergonomics eLearning Course
• Office Ergonomics Video
• Remote Work Life Balance
• Grocery and Retail Safety
• Home Care Safety
• Restaurant Delivery Safety
• Janitors, Custodians and Housekeepers Safety

Prevent virus spread in service industries:

• Maintain six feet between co-workers and customers, where possible.
• Establish six-foot distances with floor tape for customer lines.
• If social distancing is a challenge at checkouts, consider opening only every other cash register, temporarily moving workstations to create more distance, and/or installing plexiglass partitions.
• Lock or limit access to public restrooms through a key request, if feasible, in order to monitor usage and clean appropriately.
• Install hands-free door opener devices on restroom doors and disinfect the restroom key.
• If you must move workers to different departments or job duties, ensure proper training of the new job tasks including all safety requirements.
• Implement a drive-through window or curbside pick-up.
• Encourage customers to use digital payment methods or pay with a card. Disinfect pens and cards accordingly.
• Provide workers and customers with tissues and trash receptacles.
• Maintain regular housekeeping practices, including routine cleaning and disinfecting of door handles, elevator buttons and railings, stair railings, remotes, phones, alarm clocks, lights (lamps and switches), key cards, condiment containers and other frequently touched surfaces.
• Require delivery drivers to remain in their vehicle during loading/unloading activities and utilize electronic shipping documents to minimize interactions.
• Encourage workers to change and wash their clothes when they get home from a job.

Prevent virus spread in construction:

• Ensure enough handwashing/sanitizing stations are available at the worksite.
• Educate workers about the current precautions being taken at job sites and actions they can take to protect themselves.
• Modify work schedules to stage/stagger work crews and reduce the total number of employees on a job site at any given time.
• Prior to residential/individual business service, ask customer screening questions about recent illness, symptoms and travel.
• Consider submitting inspections, certifications, invoices, and other required documentation electronically.
• Provide and encourage customer use of digital payment options.
• Seek alternatives to physical punch cards/community pens for time clocks, roll call and other sign-in requirements.
• Encourage workers to drive to worksites/parking areas alone instead of carpooling.
• Minimize interactions when picking up or delivering equipment/materials.
• Organize the placement of materials at the worksite to minimize movement and interactions.
• Require delivery drivers to remain in their vehicle and utilize electronic shipping documents.
• Discourage workers from sharing hand tools, power tools, measuring devices and other tools and equipment.
• Disinfect all surfaces that are touched regularly, including vehicle/equipment interiors (steering wheel, gear shift, instrument panels, etc.) at the beginning and end of shifts.
• Do not use a common water cooler.
• Encourage workers to physically distance when they take breaks together, bring food and water bottles from home and to not share food/utensils.
• Wear proper personal protective equipment (PPE), including masks, safety glasses and gloves.
• Encourage workers to change and wash their clothes when they get home from a job.
• If contracted to perform work in healthcare facilities, train your workers in Infection Control Risk Assessment (ICRA).
• Consider implementing a work-hardening program with decreased hours to start with – as employees may be out of ‘working condition.’ Substitute safety training for remaining hours of the shift.

Prevent virus spread in electrical contracting:

• Ensure enough handwashing/sanitizing stations are available at the worksite.
• Educate workers about the current precautions being taken on job sites and actions they can take to protect themselves.
• Modify work schedules to stage/stagger work crews and reduce the total number of employees on a job site at any given time.
• Prior to residential/individual business service, ask customer screening questions about recent illness, symptoms and travel.
• Consider submitting inspections, certifications, invoices, and other required documentation electronically.
• Provide and encourage customer use of digital payment options.
• Seek alternatives to physical punch cards/community pens for time clocks, roll call and other sign-in requirements.
• Encourage workers to drive to worksites/parking areas alone instead of carpooling.
• Minimize interactions when picking up or delivering equipment/materials.
• Organize the placement of materials to minimize movement on the worksite.
• Require delivery drivers to remain in their vehicle and utilize electronic shipping documents.
• Discourage workers from sharing hand tools, power tools, measuring devices and other electrical system maintenance tools and equipment.
• Disinfect all surfaces that are touched regularly, including vehicle/equipment interiors (steering wheel, gear shift, instrument panels, etc.) at the beginning and end of shifts.
• Do not use a common water cooler.
• Encourage workers to physically distance when they take breaks together, bring food and water bottles from home, and to not share food or utensils.
• Wear proper personal protective equipment (PPE), including masks, safety glasses and gloves.
• Encourage workers to change and wash their clothes when they get home from a job.
• If contracted to perform work in healthcare facilities, train your workers in Infection Control Risk Assessment (ICRA).
• Consider implementing a work-hardening program with decreased hours to start with – as employees may be out of ‘working condition.’ Substitute safety training for remaining hours of the shift.
• Encourage workers to report any safety and health concerns.

Prevent virus spread in heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) services:

• Ensure enough handwashing/sanitizing stations are available at the worksite.
• Educate workers about the current precautions being taken on job sites and actions they can take to protect themselves.
• Modify work schedules to stage/stagger work crews and reduce the total number of employees on a job site at any given time.
• Prior to residential/individual business service, ask customer screening questions about recent illness, symptoms and travel.
• Consider submitting inspections, certifications, invoices and other required documentation electronically.
• Provide and encourage customer use of digital payment options.
• Seek alternatives to physical punch cards/community pens for time clocks, roll call and other sign-in requirements.
• Encourage workers to drive to worksites/parking areas alone instead of carpooling.
• Minimize interactions when picking up or delivering duct work, mechanical units and other equipment/materials.
• Organize the placement of materials to minimize movement on the worksite.
• Require delivery drivers to remain in their vehicle and utilize electronic shipping documents.
• Discourage workers from sharing hand tools, power tools, measuring devices, and other HVAC tools and equipment.
• Disinfect all surfaces that are touched regularly, including vehicle/equipment interiors (steering wheel, gear shift, instrument panels, etc.) at the beginning and end of shifts.
• Do not use a common water cooler.
• Encourage workers to physically distance when they take breaks together, bring food and water bottles from home and to not share food or utensils.
• Wear proper personal protective equipment (PPE), including masks, safety glasses and gloves.
• Encourage workers to change and wash their clothes when they get home from a job.
• If contracted to perform work in healthcare facilities, train your workers in Infection Control Risk Assessment (ICRA).
• Consider implementing a work-hardening program with decreased hours to start with – as employees may be out of ‘working condition.’ Substitute safety training for remaining hours of the shift.
• Encourage workers to report any safety and health concerns.

Prevent virus spread in plumbing services:

• Ensure enough handwashing/sanitizing stations are available at the worksite.
• Educate workers about the current precautions being taken at job sites and actions they can take to protect themselves.
• Modify work schedules to stage/stagger work crews and reduce the total number of employees on a job site at any given time.
• Prior to residential/individual business service, ask customer screening questions about recent illness, symptoms and travel.
• Consider submitting inspections, certifications, invoices, and other required documentation electronically.
• Provide and encourage customer use of digital payment options.
• Seek alternatives to physical punch cards/community pens for time clocks, roll call and other sign-in requirements.
• Encourage workers to drive to worksites/parking areas alone instead of carpooling.
• Minimize interactions when picking up or delivering piping and other equipment/materials.
• Organize the placement of materials to minimize movement on the worksite.
• Require delivery drivers to remain in their vehicle and utilize electronic shipping documents.
• Discourage workers from sharing hand tools, power tools, measuring devices and other plumbing tools and equipment.
• Disinfect all surfaces that are touched regularly, including vehicle/equipment interiors (steering wheel, gear shift, instrument panels, etc.) at the beginning and end of shifts.
• Do not use a common water cooler.
• Encourage workers to physically distance when they take breaks together, bring food and water bottles from home and to not share food or utensils.
• Wear proper personal protective equipment (PPE), including masks, safety glasses, gloves and face shields.
• Encourage workers to change and wash their clothes when they get home from a job.
• If contracted to perform work in healthcare facilities, train your workers in Infection Control Risk Assessment (ICRA).
• Consider implementing a work-hardening program with decreased hours to start with – as employees may be out of ‘working condition.’ Substitute safety training for remaining hours of the shift.
• Encourage workers to report any safety and health concerns.

Prevent virus spread in manufacturing:

• Seek alternatives to physical punch cards/community pens for time clocks, roll call and other sign-in requirements.
• Where social distancing is a challenge, consider limiting the duration of the activities, temporarily moving or repositioning workstations to create more distance, and/or installing plexiglass shields or other barriers between workstations.
• Establish protocols for disinfecting shared workspaces.
• Minimize interactions when picking up or delivering equipment or materials.
• Organize the placement of materials in work areas to minimize movement.
• Require delivery drivers to remain in their vehicle and utilize electronic shipping documents.
• Wear proper personal protective equipment (PPE), including masks, safety glasses and gloves. Plumbers should also consider wearing a full-face shield.
• Encourage workers to change and wash their clothes when they get home from a job.
• Consider implementing a work-hardening program with decreased hours to start with – as employees may be out of ‘working condition.’ Substitute safety training for remaining hours of the shift.
• Encourage workers to report any safety and health concerns.

Prevent virus spread in home health care settings:

• Conduct daily health screenings for caregivers at the beginning of their shift.
• Take resident’s/client’s temperature and ask screening questions to inquire about any recent illness, symptoms and travel.
• Conduct worksite assessments to identify exposure prevention strategies.
• Review current resident services and restrict non-essential healthcare personnel, such as elective consultations and volunteers, from providing in-home services.
• Consider implementing telehealth to offer remote access to care activities.
• Educate residents/clients, their families and caregivers about COVID-19, how it spreads, risk of exposure and actions they can take to protect themselves.
• Provide supplies necessary to adhere to recommended infection prevention and control practices.
• Make necessary personal protective equipment (PPE) available to caregivers, including gloves, face masks and gowns that can be discarded or put into a storage container in the worker’s vehicle after each visit. Prioritize respirators for aerosol generating procedures.
• Train workers on how to properly put on, use/wear, take-off, and maintain protective clothing and equipment.
• Encourage staff to discard PPE, prior to leaving the patient’s residence or before entering their vehicle and to change and wash their clothes when they get home.
• Encourage caregivers to always wear a facemask or cloth face covering while they are in a resident’s/client’s Guidance on extended use and reuse of facemasks is available from the CDC. Cloth face coverings should NOT be worn instead of a respirator or facemask if more than source control is required.
• Remind residents/clients to practice social distancing and perform frequent hand hygiene.
• Have residents/clients wear a cloth face covering or facemask, when feasible.
• Provide alcohol-based hand sanitizer for caregivers to use before entering a residence and after leaving/entering their vehicle.
• Encourage the owners of residences to regularly clean and disinfect door handles, bed railings, wheelchairs, hand railings, remotes, phones, alarm clocks, lights (lamps and switches) and containers, and other frequently touched surfaces in common areas.
• Encourage workers to report any safety and health concerns.
• To ensure the safety of home care employees and clients, the following measures should be considered prior to and during each shift:
• Initial Precautions
  • Verify scheduled visits are to continue
  • Contact supervisor for direction on client care
  • Consider taking client temperature upon entering the home
  • Postpone visits for clients experiencing a low-grade fever, cough or sore throat
  • Wash hands before entering the home and regularly throughout your shift
  • Wear personal protective equipment as directed
  • Resist touching your face
  • Disinfect all surfaces you come in contact with (ex: doorknobs, light switches, faucets, keys, phones, remotes)
  • Remain at least six feet from others and prohibit guests during shifts
• Laundry
  • Use disposable gloves to handle soiled laundry
  • Wash clothes, towels and linens on the warmest machine setting
  • Disinfect laundry hamper or use a disposable liner
  • Don’t shake dirty laundry to avoid dispersing contagions into the air
  • Remove gloves using CDC guidelines
  • Wash hands following task
• Grocery Shopping and Delivery
  • Wipe down vehicle controls (steering wheel, gear shift, directional, radio, window controls)
  • Wipe down grocery cart/basket handles with disinfectant wipes
  • Consider wearing disposable gloves for handling merchandise
  • Wipe keypad before entering payment data
  • Designate a disinfecting station at the client home — disinfect packaged foods and thoroughly wash produce
  • Wash hands following task
• Light Cleaning
  • Sanitize mop, broom and vacuum handles before use
  • Wear disposable gloves when wiping, dusting and emptying trash
  • Use universal precautions when handling spills and used tissues
  • Consider a mask while dusting, vacuuming or other tasks that generate air particles
  • Wash hands following task
• Companion/Social
  • Maintain six feet distance where possible
  • Disinfect communal objects (ex: game pieces, playing cards, keyboards, remote controls)
  • Clean/sanitize gait belts and other assistive devices
  • Have deliveries dropped at the doorstep and disinfect before opening
  • Wash hands after handling mail, magazines or newspaper

Prevent virus spread in long-term care facilities:

• Encourage caregivers to stay home if they are feeling sick or have a fever, cough or shortness of breath.
• Evaluate and manage residents/clients and caregivers with a fever and symptoms consistent with COVID-19. Screen all caregivers at the beginning of their shift.
• Encourage respiratory etiquette, including covering coughs and sneezes.
• Make tissues and trash cans available in common areas and resident rooms for respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette and source control.
• Educate residents/clients, healthcare workers and visitors about the current precautions being taken in the facility and actions they can take to protect themselves.
• Dedicate space in the facility to monitor and care for residents/clients with COVID-19.
• Review current resident services and restrict non-essential healthcare personnel, such as elective consultations and volunteers, from providing in-home services.
• Consider implementing telehealth to offer remote access to care activities.
• Educate residents/clients, their families and caregivers about COVID-19, how it spreads, risk of exposure and actions they can take to protect themselves.
• Provide supplies necessary to adhere to recommended infection prevention and control practices.
• Lock or limit access to public restrooms through a key request, if feasible, in order to monitor usage and clean appropriately.
• Install hands-free door opener devices on restroom doors and disinfect the restroom key.
• Make necessary personal protective equipment (PPE) available in areas where resident care is provided.
• Position a trash can near the exit inside the resident room to make it easy for staff to discard PPE, prior to exiting the room, or before providing care for another resident in the same room.
• Train workers on how to properly put on, use/wear, take-off, and maintain protective clothing and equipment.
• Encourage workers to always wear a facemask or cloth face covering while they are in the healthcare facility.
• If there are shortages of facemasks, prioritize them for health care workers and then for residents/clients with symptoms (as supply allows). Prioritize respirators for aerosol generating procedures. Guidance on extended use and reuse of facemasks is available from the CDC. Cloth face coverings should NOT be worn instead of a respirator or facemask if more than source control is required.
• Remind residents/clients to practice social distancing and wash hands frequently.
• Have residents/clients wear a cloth face covering or facemask whenever they leave their room, if feasible, including for procedures outside of the facility.
• Put alcohol-based hand sanitizer in every resident/patient room (ideally both inside and outside of the room) and other resident care and common areas.
• Develop a schedule for regular cleaning and disinfection of door handles, call buttons, bed railings, wheelchairs, elevator buttons and rails, hand railings, remotes, phones, alarm clocks, lights (lamps and switches), key cards, containers, shared equipment and other frequently touched surfaces in resident rooms and common areas.
• Encourage workers to report any safety and health concerns.

Prevent virus spread in transportation:

• Limit access to the maintenance facility and other departments only to employees who work in those areas.
• Minimize interpersonal interaction by working with customers to allow drivers to remain in their vehicle during loading/unloading activities and by utilizing electronic shipping documents.
• Provide and encourage the use of masks and gloves by drivers when at customer facilities.
• Survey drivers attending orientation about their wellbeing and any viral symptoms.
• Provide tissues, disinfectants and disposable towels that workers can use to clean office work surfaces and vehicle interiors (steering wheel, gear shift, instrument panels, etc.) at the beginning and end of every shift.

Prevent virus spread during curbside pick-ups and deliveries:

Delivery Driver Safety – when tasking an employee with meal delivery, the following controls should be applied:

• Verify the employee has a valid driver’s license
• Confirm that the vehicle is in good working order — check turn signals, brake lights, headlights and mirrors
• Confirm current auto insurance policy in force
• Provide defensive driving instruction
• Establish a hands-free driving policy
• Develop a protocol to ensure drivers return safely from their assigned deliveries
• The employee should:
• Enter GPS directions before beginning each route
• Secure delivery items in the vehicle
• Practice social distancing when handing off order
• Do not exchange or carry large sums of cash
• Practice good hygiene before and after each delivery (hand washing and use of hand sanitizer)

Curbside Pick-up – to keep your employees safe while delivering orders to vehicles outside your building, implement the following OSHA guidelines:

• Use on-line monetary transactions to prevent handling cash or credit cards
• Consider heaving staff wear a reflective vest for visibility
• Prohibit running
• Reserve parking spaces near the front door for curbside pick-up only
• Use a cart to reduce lifting exposure
• Avoid direct hand-off, when possible
• Display a door or sidewalk sign with instructions for pick-up and hours of operation
• Practice social distancing by maintaining six feet between co-workers and customers
• Allow workers to wear masks over their nose and mouth to prevent them from spreading the virus
• Practice good hygiene before and after each transaction