Identification and Evaluation of COVID-19 Hazards
It's important to conduct workplace-specific evaluations to identify potential hazards and exposures to employees and others.
Evaluations should focus on all persons in the workplace, including employees, customers or clients, and independent contractors.
They should also consider how employees and other persons enter, leave, and travel through the workplace, in addition to addressing fixed work locations.
To identify and evaluate COVID-19 hazards, take the following actions:
- Allow for employee and authorized employee representative participation in the identification and evaluation of COVID-19 hazards.
- Develop and implement a process for screening employees for and responding to employees with COVID-19 symptoms. You may ask employees to evaluate their own symptoms before reporting to work.
- Ensure both screeners and employees use face coverings during screening.
- If temperatures are measured, non-contact thermometers are used.
- Develop COVID-19 policies and procedures to respond immediately to COVID-19 cases to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19.
- Conduct a workplace-specific identification of all interactions, areas, activities, processes, equipment, and materials that could potentially expose employees to COVID-19 hazards. Treat all persons, regardless of symptoms or negative COVID-19 test results, as potentially infectious.
- For indoor locations, evaluate how to maximize outdoor air and whether it is possible to increase filtration efficiency to the highest level compatible with the existing ventilation system.
- Review state and local health department COVID-19 orders and guidance on identifying hazards and prevention. Include general application information and information specific to the industry, location, and operations.
- Evaluate existing COVID-19 prevention controls at the workplace and the need for different or additional controls.
Identification and Evaluation of COVID-19 Hazards
We will implement the following in our workplace:
- Conduct workplace-specific evaluations using the Identification of COVID-19 Hazards form (see below).
- Evaluate employee potential workplace exposures to all employees and others in our workplace.
- Review applicable orders and general and industry-specific guidance from the [Enter local, state, federal agencies] related to COVID-19 hazards and prevention.
- Evaluate existing COVID-19 prevention controls in our workplace and the need for different or additional controls.
- [Enter other identification and evaluation measures you take in your workplace].
Person conducting the evaluation: [enter name(s)]
Date: [enter date]
Name(s) of employee and authorized employee representative that participated: [enter name(s)]
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
1-3. In an effective COVID Prevention Plan (CPP) evaluation of hazards, who should be considered as potentially infectious?
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