Guidance On Preparing Workplaces For COVID-19

To reduce the impact of COVID-19 outbreak conditions on businesses, workers, customers, and the public, it is important for all employers to plan now for COVID-19.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) developed this COVID-19 planning guidance based on traditional infection prevention and industrial hygiene practices. It focuses on the need for employers to implement engineering, administrative, and work practice controls and personal protective equipment (PPE), as well as considerations for doing so.

This guidance is intended for planning purposes. Employers and workers should use this planning guidance to help identify risk levels in workplace settings and to determine any appropriate control measures to implement. Additional guidance may be needed as COVID-19 outbreak conditions change, including as new information about the virus, its transmission, and impacts, becomes available.

A brief overview of the important information contained in this timely and valuable health resource includes:

• Symptoms of COVID-19  
• How COVID-19 Spreads
• How a COVID-19 Outbreak Could Affect Workplaces
• Steps All Employers Can Take to Reduce Workers’ Risk of Exposure to SARS-CoV-2
• Developing an Infectious Disease Preparedness and Response Plan
• Prepare to Implement Basic Infection Prevention Measures for most employers, protecting work
• Developing Policies and Procedures for Prompt Identification and Isolation of Sick People, if Appropriate
• Develop, Implement, and Communicate about Workplace Flexibilities and Protections
• Implement Workplace Controls
• Establish Administrative Controls
• Provide Safe Work Practices

Introduction  3

About COVID-19 4

How a COVID-19 Outbreak Could Affect Workplaces  6

Steps All Employers Can Take to Reduce Workers’ Risk of Exposure to SARS-CoV-2  7

Classifying Worker Exposure to SARS-CoV-2 18

Jobs Classified at Lower Exposure Risk (Caution): What to Do to Protect Worker 20

Jobs Classified at Medium Exposure Risk: What to Do to Protect Workers 21

Jobs Classified at High or Very High Exposure Risk: What to Do to Protect Workers 23

Workers Living Abroad or Travelling Internationally 25

For More Information 26

OSHA Assistance, Services, and Programs 27

OSHA Regional Offices 29

How to Contact OSHA 32

All employers, business operators, and managers, national, state, and local public health officials, community based guidance and counselors in private sector, and all Americans seeking to support smart health practices during this national health crisis should consider securing one or more copies of this important and timely health guidance resource.