Pub. 5 Issue 3

29 can also use solutions that have 70%alcohol or diluted bleach solutions. Anyone involved in cleaning needs to be trained aboutwhat todo before getting start- ed. Other precautions include the following: • Someonewith supervisory responsibil- ity shouldwrite a JobSafetyAnalysis. It can be short (half a page), but it should have a list of hazards and the equipment beingused toprotect people. Thewriter should sign and date it. • If you use bleach, make sure it won’t ruin the surface you are trying to dis- infect. • Look at expiration dates. Only use products that haven’t expired. • Do not mix bleach and ammonia or other cleaners. • Everyone involved in cleaning should wear disposable gloves and gowns that are compatible with whatever you are using to disinfect. These are called personal protective equipment (PPE). Wear the gowns and gloves evenwhen carrying out trash bags. • You have to be careful when you take off the gloves andgowns toprevent con- taminating yourself or the area around you. Wash your hands after you take off your gloves. When you are training people about PPE, make sure they know when and what to use, how to put it on, wear it, take it off correctly, and dispose of it. You may need to train employees about the hazards of workplace cleaning chemi- cals. If you are not using household clean- ers, and if the cleaning products are being used more frequently than they would be at home, then you need to follow OSHA’s HazardCommunication standard (29CFR 1910.1200). The website address is https:// www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/stan- dardnumber/1910/1910.1200. As part of the Hazard Communication Program, you shouldhave a list ofworkplace chemicals. The chemical or chemicals you use should be on that list. Download the manufacturer’s Safety Data Sheet and let the employees who are cleaning read it and refer to it. What if you think an employee has COVID-19, but it hasn’t been confirmed? Don’t panic, but evaluate the situation. Did the employee travel recently to a CO- VID-19 hot spot? Are they in contact with someonewho hasCOVID19?According to the EEOC, you are allowed to ask about the following symptoms: • Aches and pains • Coughing • Diarrhea • Difficulty breathing (shortness of breath) • Fatigue • Fever • Headaches • Runny or stuffy nose • Sneezing • Sore throat Please remember, you must keep all information about an employee’s illness confidential. If the company is subject to theCCPA, give the employee aCCPA-com- pliant notice before you ask any questions. The Wo r l d He a l t h Or g a n i za - tion has a chart at https://www.whs. mi l /Por t a l s/75/Coronav i r us/CO- VID-19%20vs%20Cold%20vs%20Flu. jpg?ver=2020-03-10-105044-380, and there is also an article at https://www.medi- cinenet.com/covid-19_vs_f lu_vs_cold/ article.htm to help you evaluate the symp- toms so you can determine whether the employee has a cold, the flu or COVID-19. The two most common symptoms to look for when trying to decide whether someone has COVID-19 is whether they have a fever and a dry cough. If you are just not sure, assume the em- ployee has COVID-19 and treat them ac- cordingly. Tell everyone who is affected by your assumption that you don’t have confir- mation but that you think another employee has COVID-19 because of their symptoms. What if an employee self-reports being in contact with someone who might have COVID-19? Act conservatively. Let other employ- ees know that the self-reporting employee is asymptomatic, but treat the situation as though the employee has COVID-19. What if an employee has contact with clients and customers and then finds out they have been exposed to COVID-19? Act conservatively. In addition to pro- tecting your employees, you need to protect customers, clients and vendors. Tell them there is potential for a suspected case. Do we need to report suspected cases to the CDC? No. The medical professional who diag- nosedCOVID-19 is themandatory reporter, not you. Where can we find much more detailed information? The full Fisher Phillips FAQ report: Comprehensive and Updated FAQs for Employers on the COVID-19 Coronavirus is available through the following site and the QR code.   COVID-19 — continued from page 28