One year in, what have environmental, health and safety professionals learned about the spread of the virus – and what can you do to comply with local, state, and federal regulations?
One year since the beginning of the pandemic, many business owners are still confused about guidelines and recommendations, many do not have a return-to-work plan in compliance with local, state and federal regulations, and a significant number lack the knowledge and the resources to implement safety requirements. Over the last 12 months, industry experts have learned a great deal about the virus and pivoted the safety protocols. At YellowBird, we match experienced, credentialed, and vetted environmental, health and safety professionals with businesses nationwide. What lessons have they learned over the past 12 months as companies bring employees back into the jobsite?
1) OSHA Requirements for Your Business
One major pain point even today are the conflicting guidelines. OSHA guidelines are not regulations, but state mandates are. This distinction has created a lot of misinformation and inconsistency, particularly across industries. Safety and health regulations vary industry by industry, but with the added layers of OSHA recommendations and state regulations, each small business implements protocols a different way. To ensure compliance, small business owners can rely on local organizations such as Local First and on industry-specific groups. If your business employs staff, you must comply with some of the OSHA requirements, but those requirements may differ by state and by industry. Consult a certified safety professional to determine what requirements your business must comply with.
2) Indoor Air Quality
Over the last 12 months, EHS professionals have learned that we should worry more about the number of air cycles through a room and less about cleaning surfaces. Many businesses still implement strict disinfecting protocols, but studies have shown that the COVID-19 virus is not more likely to spread via surface contact rather than by person-to-person interaction. EHS professionals advise that the most important safety measure is to conduct air flow analysis and ventilation testing.
3) Time of Exposure Vs Number of People You Are Exposed to
The spike in infection rates after the holidays has shown that it is not just being in crowds that can increase your risk of infection – it is also dangerous to sit for hours with a small “trusted group” of friends for game night. For instance, sitting in a room with others for one hour while social distancing (such as inside a church) is not as hazardous as closely sitting in a room with friends for several hours. With the information we have today, EHS professionals state that the risk of infection is higher for duration of the exposure vs how many people you are exposed to. For instance: if you go to a restaurant and sit close to people for hours, your chances of getting infected with the virus are higher than if you go to a grocery store where you pass by people briefly.
4) Safety Protocols Have Changed – And So Has the Virus
On January 29, the Biden administration issued a new advisory workplace safety guidance from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). However, mask mandates are implemented by the state. As an employer, it is your responsibility to provide your staff with safety equipment and ensure that they comply with mask mandates and other regulations.
5) Tracking, Planning and Posting
One of the new job requirements brought by the pandemic was the need to track infections in the workplace. Unbeknownst to many employers until 2020, it is their responsibility to record and track in a HIPPA-compliant manner who has had COVID-19. This requirement can easily be dismissed by small business owners, but it is a good opportunity to reach out to local small business organizations and discuss how other employers are keeping track of infections and vaccination in their businesses. On the early days of the spread of the virus, most employers did not know which government agencies are tapped when there is an outbreak in the workplace. The first touch points are the local health authorities. Once the company notifies the health department, employers are submitted to inquiries. This step is followed by contact from OSHA, responsible for auditing the monitoring process.
However, what we have seen is that many businesses are still not complying with these guidelines, and they can face significant problems if OSHA regulations are not followed. Small businesses must post the OSHA Job Safety and Health and comply with all the specific reporting requirements in their state for workplace injuries and illness. A safety expert can assist with the exact record keeping requirements and worksheets to help keep you in compliance.
6) Risk Assessments and Return-to-Work Plan
As the employer, it is your legal and business duty to identify the substances, conditions, or work practices that pose hazards to your employees, and build plans to mitigate those safety concerns. Regularly scheduled risk assessments can help you discover risks and act upon them. Consider identifying safety leaders within your staff and offering them OSHA training certifications to help implement better programs in your business.
The most challenging aspect, however, is the lack of a clear return-to-work or reopening plan. Small businesses are especially exposed to the risks of an outbreak since – unlike the large counterparts and chains – small business owners do not rely on a full-time safety and health expert on staff. However, where employers do not have a dedicated professional to coordinate the COVID-19 response, compliance can be achieved without incurring cost increase or the need for hiring an expert.
Professional Tips to Improving Indoor Air Quality
As a business owner, there are simple steps you can take to prevent COVID-19 and other virus transmissions. Brandan Dodds is an experienced EHS professional who has been helping businesses through YellowBird’s platform. Here are some of his recommendations:
- Service Your HVAC Units Twice a Year. According to Dodds, the most important step to achieving indoor air quality is hiring a trusted HVAC company to conduct maintenance on your ventilation systems once prior to the cooling season and once prior to the heating season.
- Open Windows and Doors Regularly. As Dodds emphasizes, you can significantly reduce the risk of airborne disease transmissions by increasing the volume of fresh air into your environment.
- Use Fans to Improve Air Flow. As more fresh air circulates into the room, less hazardous particles stay indoors.
- Install Higher Efficiency Filters. Dodds suggests you should follow the recommendations by the HVAC tech – MERV 13 or 14.
However, Dodds recommends businesses should hire an experienced EHS professional if there are further concerns and issues, such as:
- If the building is being reoccupied. An EHS professional can ensure the ventilation is appropriate.
- If you have concerns about COVID-19 exposure. Contact an EHS professional to provide you with an in-depth analysis.
- If you would like to assess your HVAC system’s effectiveness in preventing disease transmission. A safety professional can scientifically measure aspects that play an important role.
- If ventilation and engineering interventions are necessary to improve air quality.
Operating with a deep roster of over 2.000 experienced EHS professionals nationwide, YellowBird offers a comprehensive return-to-work program executed by a certified professional. The assessment includes performing airflow and COVID-19 specific surface testing, discovery of engineering controls, and delivery of a comprehensive plan to manage the return of workers and customers. We recently matched a safety and health expert with a Phoenix church. The pastor was concerned about the risks of an outbreak within his congregation if the church went back to in-person services. He was confused by the conflicting guidelines and feeling overwhelmed. The expert performed an in-depth analysis of the church’s readiness by assessing the entire ecosystem of the building and presenting the church’s board of directors with a straightforward, actionable plan to get the building ready to bring members back safely.
Construct America Magazine | The Home of Construction Industry News
