Returning to Work: Small Manufacturing, Repair and Maintenance Shops Guidance Document
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Returning to Work: Small Manufacturing, Repair and Maintenance Shops Guidance Document aiha.org Photo courtesy of Getty Images Version 5 | December 8, 2020 Guidance Document Returning to Work: Small Manufacturing, Repair and Maintenance Shops Overview that people can spread the virus while pre-symp- tomatic or asymptomatic. With stay at home and shelter-in-place restrictions beginning to lift, small manufacturing sites, repair Small manufacturing sites, maintenance and repair and maintenance shops, etc. are faced with difficult shops, etc. should continually monitor global World questions that must be addressed as they transition Health Organization [WHO]), federal (Centers for back to normal operations, such as: Disease Control [CDC] and Occupational Safety and Health Administration [OSHA]), state, and local • How can we protect our employees, third parties, guidelines for changes in recommendations, disin- and customers from the disease? fection strategies, worker protections and other best • How can we minimize the risk of disease transmis- management practices. sion if those that are ill or those who have had con- tact with positive COVID-19 in our workforce? Employers should consider the following strategies for reducing the risk of COVID-19 transmission in re- • What steps are needed if an employee had gards to physical distancing, ventilation, enhanced COVID-19 symptoms or a confirmed test for COVID-19? cleaning and disinfecting practices, restrooms, gath- ering areas and contact surfaces, personal hygiene, Common examples of small manufacturing sites and employee wellness, personal protective equipment maintenance shops include: (COVID-19 related protective equipment should in- • Plants that directly manufacture, package, and clude face coverings/masks and/or face shields for transport material and goods for market close contact activities, regular work gloves), train- ing, waste and laundering, and communication. Em- • Plants that manufacture parts, materials, and ployers should consider forming a knowledgeable goods as parts that are sent to other manufactur- team to monitor, assess, and implement new strate- ers gies as they become available. • Welding shops, mechanical shops, small repair shops, etc. Tips to Consider to Return to Normal Business Operations: What should an Employer do to protect • Implement and inform employees of supportive themselves and their workers? workplace policies as applicable: – Flexible sick leave policies consistent with public SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is health guidance. Providing paid sick leave is an thought to be spread primarily through respiratory important way to encourage employees to stay droplets at close range. Airborne transmission from exposure to very small droplets over long distances home when sick. is unlikely. However, there is evidence that this mode – Consider not requiring a COVID-19 test result of transmission is possible, particularly in crowded, or a healthcare provider’s note for employees indoor spaces. People may also become infected by who are sick to validate their illness in order to touching contaminated surfaces. The virus has been qualify for sick leave. If you do require a doctor’s shown to survive in aerosols for hours and on surfac- note from your employees to verify that they are es for days. Infection can occur through eyes, nose, healthy and able to return to work, be aware that and mouth exposures. There is also strong evidence healthcare provider offices and medical facilities AIHA | 3141 Fairview Park Dr., Suite 777 | Falls Church, VA 22042 | aiha.org ©aiha 2020 DISCLAIMER: These are meant to be general guidelines to help you re-open your establishment. Page 2 of 12 Always follow local, state and federal laws and guidelines. Guidance Document Returning to Work: Small Manufacturing, Repair and Maintenance Shops may be extremely busy and not able to provide tions on what to do if they develop symptoms. At such documentation in a timely manner. Get a minimum, any worker should immediately notify more information related to the Americans with their supervisor, their health care provider, and the Disabilities Act during the COVID-19 pandemic. local health department, who will provide guid- – Flexibility to stay home to care for a sick family ance on what actions need to be taken. member. • Ask employees to consider the following if they – Human resources policies consistent with pub- commute to work using public transportation: lic health guidance, and state and federal work- – Use other forms of transportation if possible. place laws. For more information on employer – If taking public transportation, maintain physical responsibilities, visit the Department of Labor’s distancing and wear a cloth or disposable face and the Equal Employment Opportunity Com- covering. mission’s websites. – Change commute time to less busy times if pos- – Employee assistance program and community sible. resources to help employees manage stress and receive support. – Wash hands before and as soon as possible af- – Encourage employees at increased risk for se- ter their trip. vere illness to request special accommodations Best Management Practices Protocols to allow them to perform their job duties safely • If possible, stagger shifts to isolate and compart- while also protecting sensitive employee health mentalize employees. This will allow protection of information. others if a breakout occurs and reduces/limits the • Post signs and reminders at entrances and in stra- number of people who are exposed at shift change. tegic places providing instruction on hand hygiene, Having the same teams work together can limit the respiratory hygiene, and cough etiquette. This reach of a potential outbreak. should include signs with images for non-English • Consider a 4-day work week, or other variation readers, as needed. where possible, to allow for 72 hours of downtime • Encourage those who are sick or at greater risk to at the facility. stay home. This includes: – This allows for limited exposure to 4 days instead – People with underlying medical conditions. of 5 days and; – People who live with elderly people or those who – The CDC and other recent studies have shown are at risk. COVID-19 can stay active up to 3 days on surfaces. – People with upper respiratory or flu-like symp- • Complete a task-based review/mapping of the toms or who live with someone with these clin- business work areas to determine best strategies ical symptoms. for physical distancing of at least 6 feet, and en- – People with COVID-19, people who live with sure employees have cloth or disposable face cov- someone with COVID-19, or who have been ex- erings as necessary. posed to someone with COVID-19. • Identify all high touch surfaces and ensure they are • Employers should educate employees to recognize cleaned and disinfected on a daily basis and be- the symptoms of COVID-19 and provide instruc- tween shifts. AIHA | 3141 Fairview Park Dr., Suite 777 | Falls Church, VA 22042 | aiha.org ©aiha 2020 DISCLAIMER: These are meant to be general guidelines to help you re-open your establishment. Page 3 of 12 Always follow local, state and federal laws and guidelines. Guidance Document Returning to Work: Small Manufacturing, Repair and Maintenance Shops • For two person jobs, determine what additional • Employee teams or identified groups shall clean PPE may be required besides cloth or disposable and disinfect their shared workstations and equip- face coverings. ment after each use or shift. • Where individual workstations prevent 6-foot sepa- • Do not share tools if possible. When tools are ration, utilize plastic partitions between employees. shared, ensure they are cleaned and disinfected • Reduce the number of individuals on the site to before and after each use. essential employees to complete the work. Tem- • All large shared equipment and tools shall be porary spaces (site/job trailers) should be cleaned cleaned before and after use. and disinfected daily. • Ensure toolbox talks have adequate spacing and • Inform all customers, sales personnel and visitors only have one person note who is in attendance. to wear cloth or disposable face coverings and to abide by physical distancing requirements when • Encourage employees to raise other measures that on site. can be put into place to further reduce the poten- tial spread of the virus. • No handshake greetings. • Modify break areas to allow for physical distanc- • Eliminate non-essential visits, such as job tours, ing. Stagger breaks to reduce people in break ar- vendor demos, etc. Essential visits should be done eas. in a dedicated, isolated space if available. • Do not share clipboards, but rather use a white • Dining tables should be marked with “X”s to dis- board to demonstrate the concept in the field. courage people from sitting closer than 6 feet away from each other. • If you are symptomatic – do not visit the site and stay home. • Breakrooms should have chairs removed to mini- mize any chance of gathering. • Establish an isolated area for all delivery compa- nies to drop off materials and supplies. Require • Janitorial employees should be disinfecting eating delivery and shipping personnel to wear cloth or areas hourly or as frequently as possible. disposable face coverings and gloves when arriv- • Reduce the number of people in company-owned ing at the site. vehicles or organized van pools. • Consider wiping down/disinfecting all items to be • Encourage employees to wash clothes and face shipped prior to pick up. coverings daily on the warmest setting possible. • Reduce tasks requiring a large number of people to • If a positive COVID-19 case amongst the work- be in one area. force is identified, quickly disinfect the employee’s • Weekly safety/toolbox talks should be virtual or workspace. in smaller groups. All hands meetings shall be re- • Maintain a daily approved visitor log. This log duced in frequency. Consider limiting meetings to should include the date, time, and contact informa- 10 people or less, depending on the size of the room tion of the visitor. where the meeting will be conducted.