Your Essential Work Safety Checklist for COVID-19 Safety

The coronavirus pandemic arrived like a thunderclap: sudden, loud, and rattling. And since it crashed into our lives last March, it’s taken over every individual aspect of our lives.

Even so, as the pandemic persists, we’ve realized that life (and business) must carry on. In practical terms, that means finding safe solutions and smarter work arrangements that allow your business to remain open without sacrificing safety.

And while you’ve spent time training and educating your workers, you still need practical, of-the-moment resources that your team can use day-to-day. In those moments, a work safety checklist is your best friend. So, we’ve compiled a few different work safety checklists to guide you through key COVID-19 safety moments. That way, you can stay compliant and work with confidence.

Reopening Checklist

Want to open for business? In COVID lockdowns, that often means re-opening, and re-opening requires rethinking many of the basic safety protocols you once took for granted.

You have a few options to craft a re-opening checklist, but one of the best methods is to go to the source. The CDC offers extensive COVID-19 safety resources, including its COVID-19 guidance for businesses and employers page. If you’re crafting your own re-opening checklist, we recommend plucking your items straight from the web page.

Examples of early re-opening items from the page include things like:

• Conduct a workplace hazard assessment
• Identify where workers might be exposed to COVID-19 at work
• Provide social distancing guidance
• Modify your workplace to aid social distancing
• Change your work schedules to allow social distancing
• Rewrite your schedule to allow time for deep cleaning between shifts
• Determine PPE requirements for each worker
• Select and provide PPE
• Train workers in PPE use

Keep in mind that your re-opening checklist will also depend on the unique requirements of your industry, so make sure to look for industry-specific guidance to supplement your checklist.

On-Site Checklist

Once employees are on-site, you’re going to need an additional work safety checklist to guide them.

First, distribute a checklist for safety on arrival, something workers can use before they even leave the house for work. Ask employees:

• Do you have a face covering that complies with CDC mask recommendations?
• Do you have hand sanitizer that complies with CDC recommendations?
• Are you showing any symptoms of COVID-19? If so, stay home and call in sick!
• Is anyone in your household showing symptoms of COVID-19? If so, call in sick and self-isolate for at least 14 days.

On arrival, workers should have an additional work safety checklist to help them prepare for the job. This includes things like checking your PPE, wearing and using PPE, using disinfectants, and social distancing recommendations.

Stay Safe During the Pandemic

We know that these are incredibly challenging times for employers. But we also know that employer leadership is more important than ever during COVID-19. Your employees turn to you for cues, and a work safety checklist is one of the easiest ways to set expectations.

Need more tips to navigate the pandemic? Make sure to check out our blog for more essential posts on the latest news and advice related to the coronavirus and the workplace.