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A Checklist for Bringing Employees Safely Back to Work [COVID-19]

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A Commonsense Guide to Responsible RestartOhio

As Ohio manufacturers, distributors, construction businesses, and general offices reopen this month; there are many essential guidelines to bring employees safely back to work. While there is a fair amount of expected anxiety with everyone, you can avert much of it by implementing the following practices.

 

Fourteen Ways to Bring Employees Safely Back to Work

  1. On every external door, post a one-page document that explains your new check-in protocol for employees, visitors, and suppliers.
  2. Take everyone’s temperature as they come in.
    Employers can do this, per the state’s guidelines. If you are looking for a faster, touchless solution, consider implementing monitors that can read multiple employees at the same time. Our Facebook page has more details on this product.
  3. Everyone must fill out a daily symptom assessment.
    Again, this is required. Each person reads the questions and answers them with a simple yes or no. If they answer yes to even one question, (i.e., have you had a cough, have you been around someone who has COVID-19), you must send them home or turn them away.
  4. Either make sure they have a face mask or covering or give each person. Check throughout the workday that all employees are wearing theirs. While disposable masks are in short supply, cloth masks and face coverings are not. JoAnn has an entire page devoted to how to make masks. If you or your team do not sew, you may want to call your local JoAnn store and see if they have extras that you can have or purchase. You will also want to have extras on hand for visitors and suppliers.
  5. Ensure workers are always six feet apart.
    If this is not possible, you have three options:
    1. Install barriers between them
    2. Implement staggered schedules or
    3. Allow employees or a select group of employees to continue to work from home.
  6. Limit business travel.
    As almost every state is still under stay-at-home orders, it’s best practices that meetings continue to be conducted via phone or videoconference.
  7. Have signs posted near every bathroom, kitchen, breakroom, and the cafeteria that employees should wash their hands often for 20-seconds each time.
  8. Put hand sanitizer in high-contact locations.
  9. If possible, open windows and doors to provide natural ventilation.
  10. Have employees disinfect their desk, workstation, keyboard, and other contact areas before the start of their shift and at the end of their workday.
  11. Make sure you have three weeks of the following supplies available:
    1. Hand soap
    2. Hand sanitizer
    3. Disinfectant
    4. Disinfectant wipes
  12. If you have a cafeteria, be sure to stagger lunch periods.
    Remember, there can be no buffet, and everything has to be disposable.
  13. If someone shows symptoms on the job, be sure to isolate them immediately and contact the local health department for guidance on contact tracing.
  14. Contact us if you need help with the following:
    1. Writing your policy for employees and visitors.
    2. Aggressive employees who don’t want to be there
    3. Workers and visitors who will not follow, challenge or have questions about your protocol and/or
    4. Keep guests, workers, and suppliers following social distancing guidelines.

 

SACS Consulting and Investigative Services, Inc. is Here to Help Bring Employees Safely Back to Work

Please check our home page for a complete listing of all the COVID-19 services we provide that will get your business up and running in a safe environment for everyone.