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COVID-19 safety measures can help get us back to business 
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Keep employees safe and minimize the costs of COVID-19

The past 18 months have presented one of the biggest challenges employers have ever faced. It's not just hard on you, but on your employees and often times your customers. You want to get back to business, and everyone wants to get back to regular life.  

With the governor's recent announcement that masks will be required in indoor spaces statewide starting Aug. 13, you and your workers may be feeling extra fatigue and frustration about the pandemic and how long it has continued.

There is a silver lining: COVID-19 safety measures, including face masks and vaccinations, can help keep workers safe and save you money in the long run. 

The cost of COVID

Many of us are aware of the human toll the virus has taken on the health of people and communities. According to the Oregon Health Authority, there have been 234,393 total cases and more than 2,920 deaths in Oregon as of August 10. 

But what about your business? To get a basic idea of what COVID-19 costs, here are some numbers:
  • 3,020: the number of COVID-19 claims SAIF received through July 30, 2021
  • $1,727: the average cost of a COVID claim
While many claims were for quarantining or testing, we saw many that were much more serious and costly, including some that cost more than a million dollars. 

The pandemic also continues to impact supply chains, causing major disruptions to business. 

With the Delta variant on the move and the CDC's most recent recommendation for even vaccinated people to wear masks indoors, it's easy for businesses to feel like safety measures won't make a difference. But they do. 

What can employers do to prevent infections?
  • Encourage employees to get vaccinated. This includes providing paid time off to go get the shot, offering paid sick time to recover from potential side effects of the vaccine, or even hosting a vaccination event.
  • Implement physical distancing protocols in the workplace.
  • Provide periodic COVID testing for employees who can’t get vaccinated.
  • Implement engineering controls, like portable HEPA filters, that can help prevent the spread of the virus.
  • Provide N95 masks to employees who work in high-risk environments, like correctional facilities, long-term care facilities, and other health care workplaces.
  • Keep workplaces clean and make sure employees are provided with the time and supplies to practice good hand hygiene.
Resources
You can find more information and resources on keeping workplaces safe at saif.com/coronavirussafety.
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SAIF, 400 High Street SE, Salem, Oregon 97312 | saif.com | 800.285.8525 | office locations

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