Even as the COVID-19 threat starts to reach its initial peak in some hotspots, government officials are providing extra direction on how to prepare manufacturing facilities for more employees to return to work. This recent pandemic has impacted how the world views infectious disease. It may be a long time before people around the world shake hands as a greeting. Companies need to prepare for how to deal with COVID-19 or other diseases in the workplace.
Many pallet companies have stayed working during the pandemic. But as more Americans head back to work, the risk of more community spread may grow. This article explores things to consider to protect your workforce.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released guidelines for critical infrastructure employees who may have had exposure to COVID-19. Those workers can return to the job as long as they remain asymptomatic and take additional precautions.
A potential exposure means being a household contact or having close contact within six feet of an individual with confirmed or suspected COVID-19. The timeframe for having contact with an individual includes the period of time of 48 hours before the individual became symptomatic.
Guidance for How to Respond if a Worker Tests Positive for COVID-19
So, what should you do if an employee tests positive for COVID-19? Of course, the manager or supervisor should show sympathy and express support even if the symptoms are mild. Let the employee share his or her feelings. This is a potentially scary diagnosis because the condition of a person can change quickly. You are allowed to ask for a doctor’s note to verify the results. But you don’t want the individual to spread the virus to co-workers. So, most employers are encouraging employees to go home as soon as they show symptoms and to seek a test afterward to verify the diagnosis.
Secondly, employers need to protect others in the workplace from the virus. This starts with asking the infected employee to identify co-workers he/she has been in close contact with over the last two weeks. The CDC defines “close contact” as “a person that has been within six feet of the infected employee for a prolonged period of time.”
Employers need to be careful about confidentiality and healthcare laws. You should tell everyone who was possibly exposed at work to the positive employee without revealing that employee’s identity. Timeliness is important. If you can’t reach affected employees over the phone, e-mail or text them. A suggested message might be, “Someone in our workplace has tested positive for Covid-19, and they have identified you as a close contact according to the CDC definition. We want to help keep you safe as well as co-workers. If you are at work, please prepare to leave as quickly as you can. Once you get home — or if you are already working from there — find a place to self-isolate, monitor yourself for any COVID-19 symptoms, and talk to your doctors. Please let us know if you develop any symptoms. How can I support you in this situation?”
Companies should regularly follow up with employees to monitor progress and provide guidance in regards to workplace rules. If workers ask for medical guidance, refer them to their doctor since you are not a medical expert. As you find out about more positive tests, you will need to work with them to identify other employees who may have been exposed.
As you communicate to employees, stay positive, supportive and calm. The good news is that most people have mild symptoms. You may need to reassure employees who are still at the facility that they are safe and were not considered to have close contact with an infected person.
It may be helpful for a senior company leader, such as a vice president or CEO, to reach out via a card, phone call or e-mail as a gesture to show support. This may be difficult if cases reach high levels. Regardless, the number of infected employees, a manager or supervisor should personally reach out to anyone who claims to test positive for COVID-19.
Steps for Employees Who Are Returning to Work After Possible COVID-19 Exposure
According to the CDC, critical infrastructure workers who have had an exposure but remain asymptomatic should adhere to the following practices prior to and during their work shift:
• Pre-Screen: Employers should measure the employee’s temperature and assess symptoms prior to them starting work. Ideally, temperature checks should happen before the individual enters the facility.
• Regular Monitoring: As long as the employee doesn’t have a temperature or symptoms, they should self-monitor under the supervision of their employer’s occupational health program.
• Wear a Mask: The employee should wear a face mask at all times while in the workplace for 14 days after last exposure. Employers can issue facemasks or can approve employees’ supplied cloth face coverings in the event of shortages.
• Social Distance: The employee should maintain 6 feet and practice social distancing as work duties permit in the workplace.
• Disinfect and Clean Work Spaces: Clean and disinfect all areas such as offices, bathrooms, common areas, shared electronic equipment routinely.
The CDC urges employers to take the following preventative measures if a worker becomes sick with possible COVID-19 symptoms at the workplace. If the employee becomes sick during the day, they should be sent home immediately. Surfaces in their workspace should be cleaned and disinfected. Information on persons who had contact with the ill employee during the time the employee had symptoms and two days prior to symptoms should be compiled. Others at the facility with extended, close contact within six feet of the employee during this time would be considered exposed.
COVID-19 Protection Measures
Notice that if you require workers to wear protective masks, you still have to comply with OSHA respiratory standards. That involves providing masks, training workers on proper use of the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), documenting all training and ensuring that employees comply with best practices.
While respirators are not required in most pallet plants, it can be a way to slow or prevent the spread of COVID-19. And respirators may be used in some forest products plants where fine particulates become a wood dust/air quality concern. Generally, it is best to limit N95 mask usage during the pandemic to allow for greater supply to be made available to healthcare workers.
At the same time the CDC has recommended that people wear masks or cover their mouth and nose when going into public. Most common respirator masks can pose problems for people who have significant facial hair due to the difficulty in creating a proper seal. Facial hair is common place for many pallet production workers. Some pallet companies are keeping N95 masks for managers who have to move from location to location within a plant to monitor production or workers who may have been exposed to COVID-19 and return to work.
Beyond masks, there are other alternatives for pallet companies when it comes to COVID-19 spread prevention. For example, pallet companies can increase the distance between work stations, limit the number of people who can congregate in common areas, and increase and improve cleaning practices. Some pallet companies are cleaning work stations/departments between shifts with a focus on common touch areas. Some employers may also use electronic thermal devices to measure the temperature of people entering a facility.
Companies should develop written policies and procedures for the following scenarios:
a.) If a worker comes down with COVID-19 symptoms at work,
b.) If a worker calls in sick or was exposed to someone with COVID-19 symptoms,
c.) If a worker doesn’t want to come to work due to COVID-19 concerns,
d.) If a worker files for unemployment due to COVID-19 concerns.
Pallet plants tend to have adequate space between workers, which can make it easier to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. This puts a focus on common areas, such as break rooms, restrooms, conference rooms and company kitchens.
Once company management decides its COVID-19 policies, these should be communicated to all staff. Make sure that training is updated to include COVID-19 procedures and that everyone is re-trained as soon as possible.
Thinking through likely scenarios will ensure that you have a good plan in place and will help you respond appropriately. While COVID-19 is creating a lot of uncertain situations, smart companies are working to be ready no matter what happens.
OSHA COVID-19 Resources Hub
https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/covid-19/
Guidance on Prepping Workplaces for COVID-19 Exposure
https://www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA3990.pdf
OSHA Guidance on N95 Respirator Masks
https://www.osha.gov/memos/2020-04-03/enforcement-guidance-respiratory-protection-and-n95-shortage-due-coronavirus
CDC Guidelines for Critical Industry Workers
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/critical-workers/implementing-safety-practices.html
CDC Resources for Businesses
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/organizations/businesses-employers.html
Impacts of COVID-19 on Forest Products Sector (State by State Information)
https://forestresources.org/impact-of-covid-19-on-the-forest-products-industry
Printable Flyers for Workplaces
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/Essential-Critical-Workers_Dos-and-Donts.pdf
Flyer 10 Steps to Reduce Workplace Exposure (English)
https://www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA3994.pdf
Flyer 10 Steps to Reduce Worker Exposure (Spanish)
https://www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA3995.pdf
