OSHA is committed to protecting the health and safety of America’s workers and workplaces, especially during these unprecedented times. They have begun issuing a series of industry-specific alerts designed to help keep workers safe.
As the weather begins to warm up and restrictions are lessening, we need to keep in mind OSHA’s guidelines throughout New England and Massachusetts.
If you are in the restaurant industry and offer takeout or curbside pickup services during the COVID-19 pandemic, these following tips can help reduce workers’ risk of exposure to the coronavirus:
1. Encourage workers to stay home if they are sick.
2. Avoid direct hand-off, when possible.
3. Display a door or sidewalk sign with the services available (e.g., take-out, curbside), instructions for pickup, and hours of operation.
4. Reserve parking spaces near the front door for curbside pickup only.
5. Train workers in proper hygiene practices and the use of workplace controls.
6. Allow workers to wear masks over their nose and mouth to prevent the spread of the virus.
7. Provide a place to wash hands and alcohol-based hand sanitizers.
8. Routinely clean and disinfect surfaces and equipment with Environmental Protection Agency approved cleaning chemicals that have label claims against the coronavirus.
9. Practice sensible social distancing by maintaining six feet between co-workers and customers. Mark six-foot distances with floor tape in pickup lines, encourage customers to pay ahead of time by phone or online, temporarily move workstations to create more distance, and install plexiglass partitions, if feasible.
10. Encourage workers to report any safety and health concerns.
These are only government guidelines. Businesses should take these precautions as a minimum. It will be quite a black eye if your business infects its customers. Please give East Shore Safety a call to schedule a COVID-19 inspection or other OSHA type inspection.