The New Normal of Workplace Safety

Just a couple of short months ago, workplace safety was a familiar concept. The potential hazards — exposure to chemicals, proximity to machinery, ladders, and so forth — and the preventive measures implemented by employers were straightforward and well-understood. What does that look like in the COVID-19 era? Social distancing . . . temperature checks . . . obsessive hand washing . . . face masks and shields . . . double and triple shifts to comply with strict capacity requirements. And that bulletin board where the company proudly touted the number of days without a workplace injury? Now it might have a poster showing how long the facility has been COVID-19 free. Not only is it not your father’s factory anymore, it’s not even the one you knew a couple of months ago! And that new reality has spawned a whole new ecosystem. The Cleveland Clinic has published “Return to Work Amid COVID-19: A Cleveland Clinic Guide for Manufacturers,” which can be downloaded from its website. It’s filled with useful information on preparing the workplace so it’s safe to re-open, procedures employees should follow to stay safe, and how employers can communicate effectively about these measures. And it’s from the Cleveland Clinic, so no need for fact-checking on this platform. Seeing a new business opportunity, some companies have steppe...
Source: MDDI - Category: Medical Devices Tags: Business Source Type: news