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Coronavirus (COVID-19) Office Safety and Exposure Control Plan

The CDC is currently working across the Department of Health and Human Services and across the U.S. government in the public health response to COVID-19. Much is unknown about how the virus that causes COVID-19 spreads. Current knowledge is largely based on what is known about similar coronaviruses.

The following plan may help prevent workplace exposures to acute respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19. Forge Industrial Staffing will ensure guidance provided by the CDC and other public health services will be adhered to as information is updated. The following rules will be followed to make sure the site stays a safe and healthful workplace.

• Sick employees must stay home:
  • Employees who have symptoms of acute respiratory illness are recommended to stay home and not come to work until at least 10 days from onset of symptoms and until they are free of fever (100.4° F [38.0° C] or greater), signs of a fever, and any other symptoms for at least 72 hours, without the use of fever-reducing or other symptom-altering medicines (e.g. cough suppressants). Employees should notify their supervisor and stay home if they are sick. If an employee is showing signs or symptoms of COVID-19, he or she must be promptly sent home.
  • Sick leave policies will be flexible and consistent with public health guidance and all employees will be aware of these policies. This flexibility is temporary to coincide with the ongoing Pandemic and will be revisited post Pandemic.
  • Forge Industrial Staffing will not require a healthcare provider’s note for employees who are sick with acute respiratory illness to validate their illness or to return to work, as healthcare provider offices and medical facilities may be extremely busy and not able to provide such documentation in a timely way.
  • Forge Industrial Staffing will maintain flexible policies that permit employees to stay home to care for a sick family member. Everyone should be aware that more employees may need to stay at home to care for sick children or other sick family members than is usual.
• Separate sick employees:
  • Employees who appear to have acute respiratory illness symptoms (i.e. cough, shortness of breath) upon arrival to work or become sick during the day should be separated from other employees and be sent home immediately.
• Forge Industrial Staffing emphasizes staying home when sick, respiratory etiquette and hand hygiene by all employees:
  • Information will be posted or sent to all employees that encourage staying home when sick, cough and sneeze etiquette, and hand hygiene at the entrance to the workplace and in other work areas where they are likely to be seen.
  • Tissues and no-touch disposal receptacles will be provided for use by employees.
  • Employees are instructed to clean their hands often with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60-95% alcohol or wash their hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Soap and water should be used preferentially if hands are visibly dirty.
  • Soap and water and alcohol-based hand rubs will be provided in the workplace and Forge Industrial Staffing will ensure that adequate supplies are maintained to the best of their ability based on sourcing available products.
• Employees will perform routine environmental cleaning:
  • At the direction of company managers, employees will clean all frequently touched surfaces in the workplace, such as workstations, countertops, and doorknobs. Use the cleaning agents that are usually used in these areas and follow the directions on the label.
  • Maintain and keep clean all work areas and lunch areas. Throw away all debris and trash that is created from these activities.
  • Provide disposable wipes so that commonly used surfaces (for example, doorknobs, keyboards, equipment, tools) can be wiped down by employees before each use.
  • Additionally, Forge Industrial Staffing has increased the frequency of cleaning by contracted janitorial services and enhanced office cleanings that they are conducting including electrostatic sanitation where available.
• Employees are advised to take certain steps before traveling:
  • Check the CDC’s Traveler’s Health Notices for the latest guidance and recommendations for each country to which you will travel.
  • Employees are advised to check themselves for symptoms of acute respiratory illness before starting travel and notify their supervisor and stay home if they are sick.
  • Employees who become sick while traveling must understand that they should notify their supervisor and should promptly call a healthcare provider for advice if necessary.
• Additional measures in response to currently occurring sporadic importations of the COVID-19:
  • Employees who are well but who have a sick family member at home with COVID-19 should notify their supervisor and refer to CDC guidance for how to conduct a risk assessment of their potential exposure.
  • All employees should practice social distancing and stay at least 6 feet away apart whenever possible.
  • All employees should wear the proper PPE while working in the office to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The use of face masks that cover the mouth and nose is strongly encouraged whenever social distancing of 6 feet is not possible and when helping applicants and associates at the service windows and in the office lobbies.  When Social distancing of at least 3 ft cannot be observed, it is highly recommended to use face shields.  As executive orders, laws, or guidance from CDC or Health Departments are updated, these recommendations could become mandatory.
  • Employees should contact their manager for the issuance of a face mask, face shield, or other appropriate PPE.
  • The number of Applicants and Service Associates allowed into office lobbies is being limited to 10 or less.
  • Floors are marked to demonstrate and facilitate social distancing.
  • Cough and sneeze etiquette posters and handwashing posters provided by CDC are posted in office areas and in office lobbies.
  • Applicants, visitors, and Associates who are granted access to office lobbies are given a mask if they do not present with one on.
  • Applicants, visitors, and Associates are required to pass a Covid-19-screening questionnaire.