AIHA Develops Industry Specific Guidelines for Re-entry into the Workplace
COVID-19 has caused businesses in most industries to shut down. As the economy begins to reopen, occupational health and safety experts urge business owners to be aware of the special health considerations that must be made before safely re-opening. To assist employers during this transition, AIHA, a professional association for occupational health and safety science professionals, just introduced the “Back to Work Safely” initiative to help employers and employees get back to work safely with industry sector specific guidelines and resources.
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@AIHA occupational health and safety experts warn employers: Go “Back to Work Safely” by following new industry-specific guidelines at https://www.backtoworksafely.org/
The AIHA’s “Back to Work Safely” initiative to prepare for building re-entry after COVID-19 has launched in conjunction with Mark Cuban, entrepreneur, investor and owner of the National Basketball Association’s Dallas Mavericks. Cuban is one of several sports executives serving on the White House’s council to reopen the economy.
Yesterday Mark Cuban posted on his Twitter account (@mcuban): “Before you go back to work, this is one site you should review. The @AIHA, an organization that specializes in corporate and industrial hygiene has put together an amazing safety guide for almost every type of business. Backtoworksafely.org.”
These free guidelines include recommendations on ventilation, personal hygiene, physical distancing and enhanced cleaning. Guidelines are available for the following industries:
- At-Home Service Providers
- Construction Guidelines
- General Office Setting
- Gyms and Workout Facilities
- Hair and Nail Salon
- Retail
- Restaurant
- Rideshare, Taxi, Limo and other Passenger Driver-for-Hire
“Owners must not assume that they can walk back into a building that has sat un-used or with low occupancy for weeks or months. Some of the hazards include HVAC systems with mold, and cooling towers and water systems that have developed Legionella bacteria in the water. These hazards could lead to serious illnesses including Legionnaires’ disease, an atypical pneumonia which has symptoms similar to COVID-19,” said AIHA President, Kathleen Murphy. “As professionals committed to preserving and ensuring health and safety in the workplace and community, it is our ethical responsibility to develop science-based recommendations for limiting the transmission of COVID-19 as employers begin to re-open their workplaces.”
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