COVID-19, Returning to the Workplace - Washington
The Washington State Department of Labor and Industries requires that all employers must take the following steps to protect employees:
- Train you on specific protective measures required at your workplace.
Included below is the basic employee training on Covid-19 infection protection for Washington State employees
What is the coronavirus (Covid-19) virus?
- It is a virus related to other coronaviruses that cause the common cold, but can cause much more serious health effects.
- It is highly contagious, spreading from person to person.
- In just a few months, it has infected millions of people worldwide.
What are the symptoms of infection?
- COVID-19 typically causes mild respiratory illness, but can cause severe disease, including pneumonia-like illness.
- Typical symptoms include fever, cough, and shortness of breath.
- Other symptoms are chills, muscle aches, sore throat, loss of sense of taste or smell, nausea or vomiting and diarrhea.
- Symptoms begin 2-14 days after exposure.
- Some people have no symptoms.
How is Covid-19 spread?
- It is spread from person to person mainly through respiratory droplets from someone who is infected.
- It can spread to others from coughing, sneezing, singing and even talking.
- It also can spread from contact with contaminated surfaces or objects.
- Infected people without symptoms can spread the virus
What to do if you feel sick
- If you believe you may have the coronavirus, stay home and call your healthcare provider.
- If you have been infected, you likely had no symptoms for several days, and you may have passed the infection onto coworkers.
- Inform your employer, so they can determine who you may have been in contact with at work.
Who is at risk at work?
Extremely High Risk:
- Healthcare workers treating or caring for coronavirus infected patients.
- EMT/ambulance employees transporting infected persons.
High Risk:
Dental workers working on patients known or suspected to be infected with coronavirus.
Medium Risk:
- Any job requiring you to work either:
- several times a day within 6 feet of others for several minutes at a time without physical barriers or other prevention measures in place;
OR
- in a room with 3-6 coworkers providing personal services to healthy clients wearing a face covering.
- Examples: grocery store stockers, public transit drivers, kitchen workers, hair salons
Low Risk:
- Jobs where you can mostly stay at least 6 feet away from coworkers; only needing to briefly pass by them a few times a day.
Negligible (very low) Risk:
- When you work alone, or work around but separate from several other people; and you only pass by them once or twice a day.
How to protect yourself and others
- Keep physical distance of at least 6 feet.
- Practice frequent hand washing for 20 seconds and/or use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
- Frequently sanitize work surfaces and tools.
- Cover coughs and sneezes and wear a face mask.
- Avoid touching the eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
- Stay home if you are sick and avoid co-workers who appear sick.
Face Coverings, Masks, and Respirators
- All three help prevent risk for spreading the virus to others.
- The Center for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that 40% of infections come from people with no symptoms.
- Depending on your job, level of risk, and whether prevention measures like physical barriers are used, you may be required to wear a face covering, mask, or respirator.
Face coverings, masks, and respirators–what’s the difference?
- Homemade cloth face coverings for low risk jobs. Keeps droplets (saliva particles) from escaping into the air.
- Purchased face coverings (many types) for low-risk jobs. Keeps droplets from escaping into the air.
- Disposable surgical-style mask for medium-risk jobs. Keeps droplets from escaping into the air.
- NIOSH-approved N-95 respirator for high and extremely high-risk jobs. Protects the wearer from inhaling droplets already in the air.
What your employer must do to protect you
- Provide hand-washing and sanitizing supplies.
- Set up physical distancing and control customer flow.
- Install barriers between workers where feasible.
- Send home any worker who appears infected.
- Provide personal protective equipment such as facemasks or gloves as needed for the activity being done.
- Train you on specific protective measures required at your workplace.
Worker Rights
You have the right to:
Raise a safety or health concern with your employer or L & I – DOSH, request personal protective equipment, or report a work-related hazard, including COVID-19.
Receive information and training on job hazards in your workplace.
Submitting a safety hazard concern to L & I -DOSH
Or call 1-800-423-7233
Specific guidelines/Resources for various workplaces
Coronavirus Prevention – summary of general workplace requirements
Coronavirus Prevention in Agriculture & Related Industries
Food Processing-Warehouse Coronavirus Fact sheet