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837 Shaw Road • Stockton, CA 95215 Telephone (800) 511-9300 • Fax (888) 445-8786 CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) PREVENTION AND CONTROL PLAN HAZARD AWARENESS AND RECOGNITION WHAT IS THE RISK TO U.S. WORKERS? The risk from COVID-19 to U.S. depends on characteristics of the virus, including how well it spreads between people; the severity of resulting illness; and the medical or other measures available to control the impact of the virus relative to the success of these measures. HOW DOES COVID-19 SPREAD? COVID-19, like other coronaviruses, can spread between people. Infected people can spread COVID-19 through their respiratory secretions, especially when they cough or sneeze. According to the CDC, spread from person-to-person is most likely among close contacts (about six feet). Person-to-person spread is thought to occur mainly via respiratory droplets, which are produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes, similar to influenza. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby, or possibly be inhaled into the lungs. The virus is also believed to spread by people touching a surface or object and then touching one’s mouth, nose, or possibly the eyes. WORKERS WHO MAY HAVE EXPOSURE RISK Despite the low risk of exposure in most job sectors, some workers in the U.S. may have exposure to infectious people, including travelers who contracted COVID-19 abroad. Workers with increased exposure risk include those involved in: ➢ Healthcare (including pre-hospital and medical transport workers, healthcare providers, clinical laboratory personnel, and support staff). ➢ Death care (including coroners, medical examiners, and funeral directors). ➢ Airline operations ➢ Waste management ➢ Travel domestically or abroad, to other infected areas IDENTIFYING POTENTIAL SOURCES OF EXPOSURE Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards, including those for personal protective equipment (PPE, 1910.132) and respiratory protection (1910.134), require employers to assess the hazards to which their workers may be exposed. In assessing potential hazards, we will consider: ➢ Whether or not their workers may encounter someone infected with COVID-19 in the course of their duties.