It has been over two years since the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) declared that the public health emergency from COVID-19 was over. At that time, there had been 1,228,289 confirmed deaths and unfortunately, people still become ill and some persons suffer from long COVID. It is difficult to determine if or what could be the next disease of global concern. It may not resemble COVID-19 but various organizations have been looking at what strategies were effective in combating the virus and what missteps were made along the way.
When the pandemic struck, most employers did not know how to protect employees from the disease. It was not until the disease was in full force that OSHA issued guidelines for employees and employers. It is important that employers develop policies on how to best deal with a future outbreak. Many of the lessons learned should be helpful developing a plan. Here are some of the steps employees should take:
- Follow CDC guidelines on how to best protect oneself at home or work and obtain a vaccination when available.
- Properly wear a face covering over the nose and mouth. Use NIOSH N-95 respirators when available.
- Stay far enough away from other people so that you are not breathing in particles produced by them – generally at least 6 feet (about 2 arm lengths).
- Practice good personal hygiene and wash your hands often. Always cover your mouth and nose with a tissue, or the inside of your elbow, when you cough or sneeze, and do not spit.
- Get tested regularly.
- Participate in training.
Here are some steps that employers should take.
- When and if available, facilitate employees getting vaccinated.
- Instruct any workers who are infected or have symptoms to stay home from work. Provide medical monitoring of employees who may have been exposed.
- Implement physical distancing in all communal work areas for unvaccinated and otherwise at-risk workers. Install barriers where distancing is not available.
- Provide workers with face coverings or surgical masks, as appropriate, unless their work task requires a respirator or other PPE.
- Educate and train workers and management on policies and procedures using accessible formats and in languages they understand.
- Suggest or require that customers, visitors, or guests wear face coverings.
- Provide and maintain adequate ventilation in all work areas to control airborne exposure to pathogens.
- Perform routine cleaning and disinfection.
No one can say when or if another pandemic will occur. However, is important that employees and employers plan ahead and take actions to prevent the loss of life that occurred from the COVID-19 pandemic.
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