The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued an alert providing steps that employers may follow to implement social distancing in the workplace; helping to protect their workers from exposure to the coronavirus.
OSHA suggested the following safety measures employers can implement:
- Isolate any worker who begins to exhibit symptoms that cannot immediately leave the worksite;
- Establish flexible schedules to include telecommuting and alternative work schedules;
- Stagger breaks and re-arrange seating in common areas such as break rooms or kitchens to help maintain physical distance between workers;
- In workplaces where customers are present, mark-off six-foot distances with floor tape in areas where lines should form, use drive-through windows or curbside pickup, and limit the number of customers allowed on the premises at one time;
- Move or reposition workstations to create more distance, and install plexiglass partitions; and
Encourage workers to bring any safety and health concerns to their manager or supervisor’s attention.