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643 Developing a COVID Prevention Program (CPP)
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Face Coverings

The CPP should mandate the provision of clean, undamaged face coverings. It should require that face coverings be properly worn by employees over the nose and mouth when indoors. When outdoors and less than six feet away from another person, including non-employees, as required by state regulations.

Select the right face coverings for the situation.

The CPP should describe how face coverings will be provided, replaced, and cleaned. The Program should also state what your policies are should your employees encounter non-employees that are not wearing face coverings.

The CPP should discuss the following exceptions to the use of face coverings in the workplace:

  • When an employee is alone in a room.
  • While eating and drinking at the workplace, provided employees are at least six feet apart and has outside air supply to the area, if indoors, has been maximized to the extent possible.
  • When employees are wearing respiratory protection per OSHA regulations
  • Employees who cannot wear face coverings due to a medical or mental health condition or disability or are hearing-impaired or communicating with a hearing-impaired person. Alternatives will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
  • Specific tasks that cannot feasibly be performed with a face covering, and employees are kept at least six feet apart.
  • Any employee not wearing a face covering, face shield with a drape or other effective alternative, or respiratory protection, for any reason, should be at least six feet apart from all other persons unless the unmasked employee is tested at least twice weekly for COVID-19.

For information on face shields, see the CDC's Interim Operational Considerations for Implementing the Shielding Approach to Prevent COVID-19 Infections in Humanitarian Settings.

Face Coverings

We provide clean, undamaged face coverings and ensure they are properly worn by employees over the nose and mouth when indoors, and when outdoors and less than six feet away from another person, including non-employees, and where required by orders from [enter the local, state, and/or federal health agency]. [describe how face coverings will be provided, replaced, and cleaned, as needed, as well as what your policies are should your employees encounter non-employees that are not wearing face coverings].

The following are exceptions to the use of face coverings in our workplace:

  • When an employee is alone in a room.
  • While eating and drinking at the workplace, provided employees are at least six feet apart and outside air supply to the area, if indoors, has been maximized to the extent possible.
  • Employees wearing respiratory protection in accordance [Reference local, state, and federal requirements.]. [delete if not applicable]
  • Employees who cannot wear face coverings due to a medical or mental health condition or disability, or who are hearing-impaired or communicating with a hearing-impaired person. Alternatives will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
  • Specific tasks that cannot feasibly be performed with a face covering, where employees will be kept at least six feet apart. [delete if not applicable]

Any employee not wearing a face covering, face shield with a drape or other effective alternative, or respiratory protection, for any reason, should be at least six feet apart from all other persons unless the unmasked employee is tested at least twice weekly for COVID-19.

Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.

2-3. What is an exception to the COVID Prevention Plan (CPP) face covering guidelines?