Yesterday we wrote about companies being essential businesses and staying open during the "Stay at Home" order. If you do remain open, here are some recommendations to help keep employees safe while they are at work:
- Encourage sick employees to stay at home - be flexible with your sick leave policy, if you can. Don't require a doctor's note - health care providers don't have time right now.
- Clean frequently touched surfaces at least daily. There are a lot of them so don't forget light switches, doorknobs, computer screens and mice, desks and other work surfaces, refrigerator and microwave handles, faucets and tools.
- Provide cleaning supplies, disinfecting wipes, tissues and paper towels - and encourage people to use them.
- Encourage employees to wash their hands with soap and water frequently. If soap and water is not readily available then provide hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol.
- Separate any employee displaying symptoms and place them in an isolated area until they can get home.
- Increase physical distance between employees as much as possible.
- Arrange shifts to minimize employee contact.
- Allow workers to work at home, if possible.
- Are employees wearing facemasks? We will present some information about those in tomorrow's blog.
OSHA has prepared a pamphlet for preparing your workplace for COVID-19 that offers some good suggestions.
Stay tuned for tomorrow's tip of the day from the Illinois Manufacturing Helpline.
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