Best Management Practices for Workers
Safe Workplace Practices and Best Management Practices (BMPs)
Reopening workplaces during COVID-19 requires an initial assessment whether your business is prepared. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has an initial assessment tool titled, "Reopening Workplaces During The COVID-19 Pandemic" to help you determine your preparedness level.
As Businesses and Workplaces open, safe workplace practices and best management practices (BMPs) can minimize risk of COVID-19 exposure, increase workplace safety while protecting the vulnerable Populations.
Safe workplace practices are types of administrative controls that include procedures for safe and proper work used to reduce the duration, frequency, or intensity of exposure to a hazard. Examples of safe work practices for SARS-CoV-2 include:
- Providing resources and a work environment that promotes personal hygiene. For example, provide tissues, no-touch trash cans, hand soap, alcohol-based hand rubs containing at least 60 percent alcohol, disinfectants, and disposable towels for workers to clean their work surfaces.
- Requiring regular hand washing or using of alcohol-based hand rubs.
- Workers should always wash hands when they are visibly soiled and after removing any PPE.
- Post handwashing signs in restrooms.
Examples of Best Management Practices and Workplace Safety Tips (BMPs) include:
- COVID-19 Guidance for Construction Workforce (Spanish)
- COVID-19 Guidance for Manufacturing Industry Workforce (Spanish)
- COVID-19 Guidance for Package Delivery Workforce (Spanish)
- COVID-19 Guidance for Retail Workers (Spanish)
- How to Protect Yourself in the Workplace During a Pandemic
- Protecting Workers During a Pandemic
- Ten Steps All Work Places Can Take to Reduce Risk of Exposure to Coronavirus (Spanish)
- Worker Exposure Risks to COVID-19 (Spanish)
ODH Guidelines for Director's Stay Safe Ohio Order
In accordance with the Ohio Department of Health Stay Safe Ohio Order, All businesses and operations in the State, except as defined below, are permitted to reopen within the State so long as all workplace safety standards are met. All businesses and operations, except as defined below, are encouraged to either reopen or remain open if they have not ceased operation during the prior Stay at Home Orders. Businesses and operations shall continue to comply with Social Distancing Requirements as defined in this Order, including by maintaining six-foot social distancing for both employees and members of the public at all times, including, but not limited to, when any customers are standing in line. The pertinent sections, at a minimum, include:
Section 8: Facial Coverings (Masks).
Section 10: Manufacturing, distribution and construction.
Section 11: General Office Environments.
Section 12: Retail, Consumer, Services
Section 16: Social Distancing Requirements
Section 20: General COVID-19 Information and Checklist for Businesses/Employers.
Section 21: Sector Specific COVID-19 Information and Checklist for Businesses/Employers.
Social Distancing Requirements:
Essential business and operations and businesses engaged in minimum basic operations must take proactive measures to ensure compliance with social distancing requirements, including where possible:
- Designate six-foot distances. Designate with signage, tape, or by other means six foot spacing for employees and customers in line to maintain appropriate distance.
- Hand sanitizer and sanitizing products. Having hand sanitizer and sanitizing products readily available for employees and customers.
- Separate operating hours for vulnerable populations. Implementing separate operating hours for elderly and vulnerable customers.
- Online and remote access. Posting online whether a facility is open and how best to reach the facility and continue services by phone or remotely.