640 OSHA COVID-19 Plan: 1910.50 - Healthcare Requirements

(i) Physical Barriers

At each fixed work location outside of direct patient care areas (e.g., entryway/lobby, check-in desks, triage, hospital pharmacy windows, bill payment) where each employee is not separated from all other people by at least 6 feet of distance, install cleanable or disposable solid barriers, unless you can prove doing so is not feasible.

The barrier must be sized (e.g., height and width) and located to block face-to-face pathways between individuals based on where each person would normally stand or sit. The barrier may have a pass-through space at the bottom for objects and merchandise.

Physical barriers are not required in direct patient care areas or resident rooms.

(j) Cleaning and Disinfection

In patient care areas, resident rooms, and for medical devices and equipment, follow standard practices for cleaning and disinfection of surfaces and equipment the CDC’s COVID-19 Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations and Guidelines for Environmental Infection Control (2019), pp. 86–103, 147-149 for guidance.

In all other areas, you must:

• clean high-touch surfaces and equipment at least once a day, following manufacturer instructions for application of cleaners; and
• when you are aware that a COVID-19-positive person has been in the workplace within the last 24 hours, clean and disinfect, using the CDC’s Cleaning and Disinfecting Guidance, any areas, materials, and equipment under your control that have likely been contaminated by the person who is COVID-19 positive (e.g., rooms they occupied, items they touched).

You must provide alcohol-based hand rub that is at least 60% alcohol or provide readily accessible hand washing facilities. CDC recommends using ABHR with 60-95% alcohol in healthcare settings. Unless hands are visibly soiled, an alcohol-based hand rub is preferred over soap and water in most clinical situations due to evidence of better compliance compared to soap and water. Hands should be washed with soap and water for at least 20 seconds when visibly soiled, before eating, and after using the restroom.

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