COVID-19 Preparedness & Response Plan

 General

The following COVID-19 preparedness & response plan has been established for Die-Tech & Engineering (DTE) in accordance with the requirements in the Executive Orders (EOs) for COVID-19 signed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer, the OSHA Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19 and the latest guidance from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The purpose of this plan is to minimize or eliminate employee exposure to SARS-CoV-2.

The EOs, OSHA guidance and CDC guidance for COVID-19 have general safeguards applicable for all workplaces and specific safeguards for certain industries. Sandra Berry has read these guidance documents carefully, found the safeguards appropriate to DTE based on its type of business or operation, and has incorporated those safeguards into this COVID-19 preparedness and response plan.

As the COVID-19 situation evolves, the EOs and CDC guidance are periodically updated. Sandra Berry will be responsible for visiting the EO webpage and CDC guidance webpage regularly (for example, weekly) for the latest information and for revising the plan as necessary. Click here for the EOs. Click here for the CDC guidance documents. This plan reflects the EOs and CDC guidance as of 11/10/20.

DTE has designated one or more worksites supervisors to implement, monitor, and report on the COVID-19 control strategies developed in this plan. The worksite supervisor(s) are Adam Berry and Chris Berry. The supervisor will remain on-site at all times when employees are present on site. An on-site employee may be designated to perform the supervisory role.

The plan will be made readily available to employees and labor unions. The plan will be made available via shop posting and website, dietech-gr.com

.

 Exposure Determination

DTE has evaluated routine and reasonably anticipated tasks and procedures for all employees to determine whether there is actual or reasonably anticipated employee exposure to SARS-CoV-2. Sandra Berry was responsible for the exposure determination.

DTE has determined that its employees' jobs fall into only the lower exposure and medium exposure risk categories as defined by the OSHA Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19:

■ Lower Exposure Risk Jobs. These jobs do not require contact with known or suspected cases of COVID-19 nor frequent close contact (for example, within six feet) with the general public. Workers in this category have minimal occupational contact with the public and other coworkers. Examples are small offices, small manufacturing plants (less than 10 employees), small construction operations (less than 10 employees), and low-volume retail establishments, provided employees have infrequent close contact with coworkers and the public.

■ Medium Exposure Risk Jobs. These jobs are those that require frequent or close contact (for example, within six feet) with people who may be infected with SARS-CoV-2, but who are not known or suspected COVID-19 patients. Examples are most jobs at manufacturing plants, construction sites, schools, high-volume retail settings, and other high-population-density work environments.

Sandra Berry verifies that DTE has no high-risk exposure jobs. High exposure risk jobs have high potential for exposure to known and suspected cases of COVID-19. Examples are most jobs in healthcare, medical transport, nursing homes and residential care facilities, mortuaries, law enforcement, and correctional facilities. This sample plan is not intended for employers who have high exposure risk jobs.

DTE has categorized its jobs as follows:

NOTE: Some jobs may have more than one type of exposure risk depending on the task or qualifying factors.

 Engineering Controls

DTE has implemented feasible engineering controls to minimize or eliminate employee exposure to SARS-CoV-2. Engineering controls involve isolating employees from work-related hazards using ventilation and other engineered solutions. In workplaces where they are appropriate, these types of controls reduce exposure to hazards without relying on worker behavior and can be the most cost-effective solution to implement.

For lower exposure risk jobs, new engineering controls are not required. For medium exposure risk jobs, engineering controls can include:

■ Installing physical barriers (such as clear plastic sneeze guards) between coworkers or between workers and customers.

■ Increasing the amount of ventilation in the building.

■ Increasing the amount of fresh outdoor air that is introduced into the building.

William Berry will be responsible for seeing that the correct engineering controls are chosen, installed, maintained for effectiveness, and serviced when necessary.

The following engineering controls have been implemented:

 Administrative Controls

Administrative controls are workplace policies, procedures, and practices that minimize or eliminate employee exposure to the hazard. Sandra Berry will be responsible for seeing that the correct administrative controls are chosen, implemented and maintained for effectiveness. 

The following administrative controls have been established for DTE:

 Hand Hygiene

Sandra Berry will be responsible for seeing that adequate handwashing facilities are available in the workplace and that regular handwashing is required. Frequency of such handwashing will be determined in part by factors such as when and how often the employees’ hands are potentially exposed to SARS-CoV-2. When handwashing facilities are not available, DTE shall provide employees with antiseptic hand sanitizers or towelettes. DTE will provide time for employees to wash hands frequently and to use hand sanitizer.

 Disinfection of Environmental Surfaces

DTE will increase facility cleaning and disinfection to limit exposure to COVID-19, especially on high-touch surfaces (for example, door handles), paying special attention to parts, products, and shared equipment (for example tools, machinery, vehicles). DTE will make cleaning supplies available to employees upon entry and at the worksite.

Adam Berry will be responsible for seeing that environmental surfaces in the workplace are cleaned and disinfected. Frequency of such disinfection will be determined in part by factors such as when and how often the environmental surfaces are potentially exposed to SARS-CoV-2. When choosing cleaning chemicals, DTE will consult information on Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-approved disinfectant labels with claims against emerging viral pathogens. Products with EPA-approved emerging viral pathogens claims are expected to be effective against SARS-CoV-2 based on data for harder to kill viruses. The manufacturer’s instructions for use of all cleaning and disinfection products will be strictly adhered to.

The following is a list of environmental surfaces, methods used to disinfect, and the frequency of such disinfection:

DTE will perform enhanced cleaning and disinfection after persons confirmed to have COVID-19 have been in a work area. In the interim, that work area will be temporarily closed, and employees will be sent home or relocated. William Berry will be responsible for seeing that this protocol is followed.

The following methods will be used for enhanced cleaning and disinfection:

Work Area will be closed off to all employees.  Air circulation will be increased to this area. Any other surfaces possibly touched by the infected employee will be sanitized immediately.  After 24 hours, a thorough sanitizing will be performed, including wiping down with an approved cleaner and sprayed with a disinfectant.  No employees will be allowed to return to this work area until it has been disinfected.

 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

DTE will provide employees with personal protective equipment for protection from SARS-CoV-2 appropriate to the exposure risk associated with the job. The PPE policy will follow the CDC and OSHA guidance applicable to the industry and types of jobs at the workplace, and it will be in accordance with latest EOs.

All types of PPE are to be:

■ Selected based upon the hazard to the worker.

■ Properly fitted and periodically refitted as applicable.

■ Consistently and properly worn.

■ Regularly inspected, maintained, and replaced, as necessary.

■ Properly removed, cleaned, and stored or disposed of, as applicable, to avoid contamination of self, others, or the environment.

DTE will provide non-medical grade face coverings (cloth face coverings) to employees (cloth face coverings are technically not considered PPE). DTE will require employees to wear face coverings when they cannot consistently maintain six feet of separation from other individuals in the workplace. DTE will consider face shields when employees cannot consistently maintain three feet of separation from other individuals in the workplace.

The following type(s) of PPE have been selected for use:

 Health Surveillance

DTE has implemented a screening protocol to identify known or suspected cases of COVID-19 among employees and isolate them from the remainder of the workforce. Sandra Berry will be responsible for ensuring that all required health surveillance provisions are performed.

As workers enter the place of employment at the start of each work shift, DTE will have employees self-screen for COVID-19. DTE will have employees complete a questionnaire covering the signs and symptoms of COVID-19 and their exposure to people with suspected or confirmed COVID-19. When obtainable, a no-touch thermometer will be used for temperature screening of employees. DTE will similarly screen contractors, suppliers, and any other individuals entering the worksite.

Employees have been directed to promptly report any signs and symptoms of COVID-19 to William Berry before and during the work shift. DTE has provided employees with instructions for how to make such a report to the employer.

The specific instructions for employee reporting signs and symptoms of COVID-19 are as follows:

– If you are experiencing any signs of illness, fever, cough, shortness of breath, or you believe you are at high risk as defined by the CDC, do not come to work or do not stay at work. If a family member or other person in your household exhibits symptoms of  COVID-19, do not come to work.  Please report your absence on the call line, or text Bill.  If you exhibit symptoms while on the job, you will be sent home.

DTE will physically isolate any employees with known or suspected COVID-19 from the remainder of the workforce, using measures such as, but are not limited to:

■ Not allowing known or suspected cases to report to or remain at their work location.

■ Sending known or suspected cases to a location (for example, home) where they are self-isolating during their illness.

■ Assigning known or suspected cases to work alone at the location where they are self-isolating during their illness.

DTE will not discharge, discipline, or otherwise retaliate against employees who stay at home or who leave work when they are at particular risk of infecting others with COVID-19.

When an employee is identified with a confirmed case of COVID-19, Sandra Berry will notify the local public health department immediately, and any co-workers, contractors, or suppliers who may have come into contact with the person who is the confirmed case of COVID-19, within 24 hours. When notifying coworkers, contractors, and suppliers, DTE will not reveal the name or identity of the confirmed case.

DTE  will allow employees with a confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19 to return to the workplace only after they are no longer infectious according to the latest guidelines from the CDC.

 Training

Sandra Berry shall coordinate SARS-CoV-2 training and ensure compliance with all training requirements.

DTE will train workers on, at a minimum:

■ Routes by which the virus causing COVID-19 is transmitted from person to person.

■ Distance that the virus can travel in the air, as well as the time it remains viable in the air and on environmental surfaces.

■ Symptoms of COVID-19.

■ Workplace infection-control practices.

■ The proper use of PPE, including the steps for putting it on and taking it off.

■ Steps the worker must take to notify the business or operation of any symptoms of COVID-19 or a suspected or confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19.

■ How to report unsafe working conditions.

 Recordkeeping

DTE will maintain the following records as they relate to the COVID-19 preparedness and response plan:

■ Training records.

■ A record of daily entry self-screening results for all employees or contractors entering the workplace, including a questionnaire covering signs and symptoms of COVID-19 and exposure to people with suspected or confirmed COVID-19.

■ When an employee is identified with a confirmed case of COVID-19, record when the local public health department was notified; as well as any co-workers, contractors, or suppliers who may have come into contact with the person who was the confirmed case of COVID-19.

Sandra Berry will ensure that the records are kept.