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Updated OSHA Guidelines
OSHA recently released new guidance for employers and workers not covered by OSHA’s Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) (healthcare workers) on maintaining a safe and healthy workplace for all employees during COVID-19.
This guidance has been updated to include recommended procedures for only unvaccinated employees.
Unless otherwise required under federal, state, or local law, employers no longer need to take steps to protect most vaccinated employees meaning that companies where all employees are vaccinated no longer need to take safety and protection measures such as required masking and social distancing unless there are high-risk employees.
Recommendations for employers who have employees that are unvaccinated or that are vaccinated but also high-risk should include:
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Require any unvaccinated employee to self-quarantine if they have close contact with a person who has tested positive for COVID-19.
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Implement distancing measures for unvaccinated and high-risk employees in areas where multiple employees work or congregate.
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Limit the need for close contact between unvaccinated and high-risk employees, such as traveling together in a car.
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Restrict the number of unvaccinated or high-risk employees in the office at one time, implementing measures such as remote work and flexible schedules to control who is in the office and at what times.
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Provide masks to be worn by unvaccinated and high-risk employees to wear unless their job requires they wear a respirator or other PPE. Mandate they be worn when in close proximity to others.
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Recommend unvaccinated customers, visitors, and guests wear face coverings while in your workplace even if no longer required to by law.
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Thoroughly clean and disinfect the workplace if anyone shows symptoms of or tests positive for COVID-19.
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Train all employees about your policies and procedures implemented to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
For all workplaces regardless of whether or not employees are vaccinated or high-risk:
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All employees (vaccinated or unvaccinated) must stay home for at least 10 days if they have COVID-19 symptoms and test positive.
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As with other health and safety issues, ensure employees know how to report any COVID-19-related concerns, offering protection from retaliation for doing so. Implement reporting and investigation procedures so all concerns are properly handled.
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Report all workplace-related COVID-19 injuries and illnesses as required under OSHA posting requirements.
As always, Affinity HR Group is on top of the changing requirements surrounding COVID-19 and the workplace. Please reach out to us at 877-660-6400 or contact@AffinityHRGroup.com if we can help!
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The Monday HR Minute, brought to you by Affinity HR Group, is designed to provide you with practical, applicable human resources and management advice and information in a format that will take you 60 seconds or less to read. We believe that by dedicating just one minute a week to thinking about people management practices, business owners and managers can make enormous strides in improving workplace performance. |
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Affinity HR Group is a full service human resources consulting firm that specializes in advising small and medium-sized enterprises. Our services include recruiting and selection, HR policies and compliance, ad hoc HR support, compensation and performance management, and training and development. We are an endorsed HR partner of a number of leading national trade associations and offer free initial consultations and discounted services to their member companies.
Email us at contact@affinityhrgroup.com or call 877-660-6400.
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