Safety - OSHA - Mental Health During the Pandemic
Re-Starting - Revised Guidances - Whistleblowers Spike?

With Retailers Just Starting Their Engines, Safety Should be Priority #1

Which poses a lot of questions that will impact your stores

From testing returning workers to issuing PPE and expanding sick leave, retailers have a major responsibility to their associates, consumers, and to the community's they serve/impact.

And retailers have to be sensitive to the trends of the industry at large as well.

Right out of the box what the retail leaders are doing will inevitably become the duty of care and what's reported publicly then becomes your reputation in the market. And as everyone knows Chipotle had a heck of a time for over two years gaining their customers back. Costing millions in expense, building out a sophisticated safety program and team and losing their founder and president.

This re-start for a number of retailers will be their last chance and for others it'll be a time to shine. And a lot of it will be driven by how you approach the safety of your associates and consumers.

Just some thoughts -Gus Downing

Here are the safety measures businesses should adopt if operating during the coronavirus
Guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration is multifaceted and based on a job's exposure risk.

The following are guidelines from OSHA for workplaces based on coronavirus risk for employees:

Promote handwashing with a space for employees to wash their hands or provide hand sanitizer.

Encourage employees to stay home if they are sick and use proper respiratory etiquette, such as covering the mouth and nose when coughing.

Routinely clean workspaces and discourage employees from touching one another's work areas.

Isolate employees suspected of having the coronavirus, if possible. indystar.com

OSHA Issues COVID-19 Guidance for the Package Delivery Employers
OSHA had previously released a Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19, with recommendations for protecting employees during the COVID-19 pandemic. The new COVID-19 Guidance for Package Delivery Workforce is another industry-specific guidance released by OSHA. While the Agency’s guidance is advisory and non-mandatory, it provides useful tools for the package delivery industry in protecting employees and customers during the pandemic. To that end, OSHA’s recommendations include: Read Here

OSHA & Lawyers Expecting 'Significant Increase in Whistleblower Complaints'

What happens if an employee sends a whistleblower complaint to OSHA?

Employers should be prepared for significant increase in whistleblower complaints. OSHA is seeing an uptick in complaints related to COVID-19 issues, including workplace crowding and improper PPE use.

• Fatalities and imminent danger exposures related to COVID-19 will be prioritized for inspections, with particular attention given to healthcare organizations and first responders.

• OSHA is often sending letters to employers asking them to address the complaint. Employers should coordinate their response with outside counsel and respond to these letters immediately with responses to the specific issues outlined in the OSHA letter. Failing to adequately respond to OSHA could trigger an inspection not just of the complaint at issue, but your entire facility.

• Employer-reported hospitalizations will be handled using the rapid response investigation (RRI) in most cases. natlawreview.com

Employers Have a Crucial Role to Play During This Shut-Down

How to help employees manage their mental health during the coronavirus crisis

While everyone should take responsibility for their mental health, there’s a host of things employers can do to help employees remain happy and productive throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

Putting mental health at the forefront of the conversation is an important step organizations can take to ensure that employees have the support and resources they need now and for the future.

Employers are requesting webinars or Q&A sessions focused on mental health strategies for their workforce—including topics such as effective communication and how to cope with stress or anxiety. Other employers are offering training on best practices—like keeping consistent one-on-one meetings and hosting fun, virtual meetups that allow for human connection with coworkers—to help managers identify and support employees dealing with mental health challenges.

We have also seen senior leadership across a number of companies step up to the plate with more regular town hall meetings focused on mental health awareness. This is encouraging, since employer education and communication around mental health is crucial if employees are going to access the care they need during this crisis.

Taking care of ourselves and each other—including our families, friends, and coworkers—should be the first order of business right now. As employers look to both near-term and long-term solutions to support their workforce during the COVID-19 outbreak, mental health care should remain a focal point. Employers who are proactive, considerate, and flexible will be better positioned to weather this storm and to emerge post-pandemic with a resilient workforce. fastcompany.com

CDC Center for Disease Control and Prevention; Webinar
Emergency Partners Information Connection (EPIC)
Psychological First Aid: Addressing Mental Health Distress During Disasters
Overview: When people are faced with disaster, intense emotions are often present and appropriate. Psychological First Aid (PFA) can help responders promote an environment of safety, calm, connectedness, self-efficacy, empowerment, and hope. PFA was developed by the National Child Traumatic Stress Network and the National Center for PTSD, with contributions from individuals involved in disaster research and response. This webinar provides a brief overview of PFA and connects viewers with both online and in-person training resources.

Presenter Meghan Griffin, MPH, Public Health Advisor, U.S. Depart. of Health and Human Services

Wednesday, April 22, at 1 p.m. ET. Closed captioning will be available.

Objectives
• Describe the topic’s implications for respective constituents.
• Discuss concerns/issues related to preparedness for/response to public health threats.
• Describe how to promote health improvement, wellness, and disease prevention.

Target Audience: Administrators, Emergency Responders, Program Managers

View Slides [PDF – 849 KB]