As the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to cause uncertainties, our focus is clear: the safety of our employees, customers, subcontractors and vendors. We have made several provisions and are working to provide valuable resources to help protect the health of our employees, ensure a safe working environment for everyone involved and guide our team through the professional challenges COVID-19 poses in our organization and in the industry.
PREVENTING WORKER EXPOSURE
COVID-19 is believed to spread from person-to-person, primarily through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The virus is also believed to spread by people touching a surface or object and then touching one’s mouth, nose, or possibly the eyes.
The following are the general guidelines our team is required to follow to help prevent exposure to coronavirus:
- Frequently wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
- If soap and running water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub that contains at least 60% alcohol.
- Avoid touching eyes, nose, or mouth at all, but particularly with unwashed hands.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Wear appropriate PPE
- Practice respiratory etiquette which includes to cover and contain coughs and sneezes
- Avoid the use of other workers’ phones, tools and equipment
- Thoroughly and routinely clean all tools and equipment
- Thoroughly and routinely clean work areas, disinfecting surfaces
Should we find a potential occupational exposure to coronavirus we will follow these practices:
- Assess the hazards to which workers may be exposed
- Evaluate the risk of exposure
- Select, implement, and ensure workers use controls to prevent exposure, including:
- physical barriers to control the spread of the virus
- social distancing
- appropriate personal protective equipment, hygiene, and cleaning supplies
- staggered work schedules if feasible
- limiting the number of employees in the same work area
Corporate monitoring and safe practices include:
- Our team is actively researching and staying abreast of guidance from federal, state, local, tribal, and/or territorial health agencies
- We are incorporating those recommendations and resources into workplace-specific and/or job-specific plans
- Corporate Employees are all able to work 100% remotely as needed in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19
- Corporate Employees are cross trained across different areas in order to continue operations with a reduced workforce as needed
- The need for social distancing, staggered work shifts, use of face masks, delivering services remotely, and other exposure-reducing measures have also implemented in the corporate office
- Visitation is extremely limited.
Additional Resources:
For the latest information on the symptoms, prevention, and treatment of coronavirus, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention coronavirus webpage.
For interim guidance and other resources on protecting workers from coronavirus, visit OSHA’s COVID-19 webpage.
