How to Effectively Manage a COVID-19 Positive Case in the Workplace

Nanette Moss and Steve Bloom | September 17, 2020

As essential businesses continue to operate and other businesses prepare to return to work, employers will need to interpret and implement guidance from public health authorities on how to manage coronavirus risks in the workplace. A critical need many employers will face is how to effectively and compassionately deal with employees who have been confirmed...

Research with SARS-CoV-2: Safety Considerations for BSL-2 and BSL-2+ Laboratories

Jessica Healey | August 25, 2020

Research into therapies and vaccines for COVID-19 is exploding across the globe. Laboratories looking to begin research involving SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, must rapidly assess whether their facilities, policies and training are sufficient to protect their employees and the surrounding community. SARS-CoV-2 is a new pathogen and we learn more about it every...

Practical Tips for Performing Your Hospital’s After Action Evaluation for COVID-19

Kristin Pitocco | July 2, 2020

When your hospital starts to see the crisis period for COVID-19 deescalate, it will be important to thoroughly evaluate your response to the pandemic and document the assessment in an After Action Report (AAR). What worked well? What didn’t? The extreme strain hospital staff has been under for months makes it daunting to think about...

CDC and ASHRAE HVAC Guidance for Commercial Buildings: Beware of creating new problems when modifying systems for COVID-19

Brian Baker | July 1, 2020

Across the country employers and building owners and managers are working to ready their buildings to welcome back workers and visitors after the COVID-19 shutdown. Maintaining health-protective workspaces is key for controlling the spread of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) during the pandemic and to help minimize the “second wave”. Building systems can play...

Six Common Mistakes When Donning and Doffing PPE that Could Lead to COVID-19 Infections

Bryan Connors | June 15, 2020

As of June 12, 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated that approximately 75,000 cases of COVID-19 were healthcare providers in the US. Healthcare providers are on the front lines and are at high risk of infection. Personal protective equipment (PPE) is paramount in helping to protect them from infection. Yet, PPE...

COVID-19 Management Planning: Questions Employers Must Be Able to Answer Before Returning Employees to the Workplace

Nanette Moss and Jack McCarthy | May 27, 2020

Across the U.S. states are beginning to lift restrictions that will allow businesses to reopen. While this brings hope, it also presents an enormous task and responsibility for employers. Employers will need to coordinate with multiple groups to prepare their workplace for re-occupancy and establish plans for how they will safely manage their workforce and...

Reopening Clinics: Ensuring a Healthy Facility and Staff Safety

Bryan Connors | May 14, 2020

As public health experts determine that it is safe to see patients and stay-at-home restrictions are relaxed, ambulatory care centers, physician clinics and dental clinics should strategically plan when and how best to reopen. The physical environment is part of the foundation of providing a healthy workplace so properly preparing your facility prior to re-occupancy...

Do I Need to Disinfect My HVAC System for the Coronavirus Before Re-Occupancy?

Kevin Coghlan | April 27, 2020

We are fast approaching a point (if we are not there already) where our collective focus will shift from supporting a work-at-home strategy to planning for employees to return to the workplace. There will be a great number of issues to address prior to that happening. From a facility management perspective, one immediate question is...

Update – Emergency Use of Uncertified Respirators: OSHA Releases Guidance in Alignment with FDA and CDC

Kevin Coghlan | April 8, 2020

OSHA recently provided some much-needed compliance relief for healthcare providers (HCPs). On April 3, 2020, OSHA released two enforcement guidance memorandums to Regional Administrators and State Plan Designees regarding the emergency use of respirators that are not NIOSH-certified and respirators for which the use-by date has expired. This supplements earlier guidance that was the subject...

Emergency Use of Uncertified Respirators: Can the FDA Allow Use of Uncertified Respirators to Protect Workers?

Nanette Moss and Kevin Coghlan | March 30, 2020

Can the FDA allow uncertified respirators to be used to protect worker health and safety? Check out the newest post on this issue: OSHA Releases Guidance in Alignment with FDA and CDC On March 28, 2020, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an emergency use authorization (EUA) to allow healthcare providers (HCPs) to re-use...