"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."
—Benjamin Franklin

Safety News and Updates

COVID-19 Workplace Guidance
Responding to President Joe Biden's executive order on worker health and safety, the Occupational Health Administration issued stronger guidance on identifying coronavirus exposure risks and implementing a COVID-19 Prevention Program at work.

The ASA Safety Committee is committed to helping our members during the COVID-19 crisis. For this reason, we are using the Safety News and Updates section to provide you critical information about the COVID-19 pandemic as it relates to the workplace and worker safety. For more general information and resources on COVID – 19 visit the ASA Resource Center.

Federated Insurance Launches mySHIELD^SM : An Online Destination for Risk Management Resources to Help Support Your Business

On August 31, 2020, Federated Insurance launched mySHIELD^SM, an online destination for risk management resources to help businesses succeed. A brief video highlights mySHIELD's many features.

READ MORE
 

General Guidance Documents

• OSHA – Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19
• CDC – Interim Guidance for Businesses and Employers to Plan and Respond to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
• The World Health Organization (WHO) has published a document titled Getting your workplace ready for COVID-19.
• OSHA has issued temporary enforcement guidance related to the COVID-19 pandemic for recording and reporting occupational injuries and illnesses required under 29 CFR Part 1904. For more information see the Enforcement Memoranda section of OSHA's COVID-19 Safety and Health Topics page.
• AHIA Back to Work Safety™ webpage provided links to general guidance on operating safe work environments to lower COVID-19 risk in various settings include general office and construction.
• CDC Infographic– Reopening Workplaces During the COVID-19 Pandemic
• COVID-19 impact on Building Water Systems – includes best practices related to management of building water systems after a building has been closed for a period of time.
• U.S. EPA – Maintaining or Restoring Water Quality in Buildings with Low or Low Use

Cleaning and Disinfecting Documents

• EPA disinfectants registered for use against the coronavirus which causes COVID-19
• The CDC has put together recommendations for environmental cleaning and disinfection.
• The Indiana State Department of Health has put together a document providing cleaning guidance for businesses.
• The American Chemistry Council's (ACC) Center for Biocide Chemistries (CBC) has compiled a list of products that have been pre-approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for use against emerging enveloped viral pathogens and can be used during the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
• AHIA Workplace Cleaning for COVID-19
• U.S. EPA Infographic on Guidance For Cleaning & Disinfecting
• CDC and U.S. EPA Guidance for Cleaning & Disinfecting

Legal Considerations

• Sidley has published a resource helpful when legal at the legal aspects of COVID-19 in the workplace.
• SESCO – Reopening a Business Without Opening Employer Liability

Example Procedure Templates Provided by ASA Members

• Sample SOP
  Responding to a positive COVID-19 test, symptomatic individual, shared household. Thanks to First Supply’s Brittney Cornillaud for this.
  Sample SOP
• Authorization to leave goods
  From Winsupply’s Greg Holbrock, sample instructions for use of Authorization to Leave Goods.
  Sample Instructions for use of Authorization to Leave Goods
• Leave form
  From Greg Holbrock, a sample Authorization to Leave form.
  Sample Authorization to Leave Form

The ASA Safety Committee would like to hear from you concerning resources you have found useful in helping to reduce the risk of COVID-19 in workplace. Please send any recommendations you might have to Jim Kendzel at jkendzel@asa.net.