The coronavirus has pushed many of the workforce to work remotely, however there are many workers whose jobs require them to go in and who may be put at a higher risk of exposure to the disease because of this.

Nurses, doctors, lab and morgue workers are among those who are at the highest risk of exposure.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued voluntary guidelines which outlines steps employers should take to protect the health of their own workers.

Healthcare workers performing aerosol-generating procedures on known or suspected COVID-19 patients, healthcare or lab workers collecting or handling specimens from known or suspected patients, and morgue workers performing autopsies on the bodies of known or suspected patients are in the “Very High Exposure Risk” category of workers.

In the “High Exposure Risk” category are healthcare delivery and support staff who are exposed to known/suspected patients, medical transport workers and mortuary workers who are working with known/suspected patients.

For employers with very high or high exposure risk workers, they should ensure that air-handling systems are installed and maintained in their facilities and place known or suspected patients in an airborne infection isolation rom if available. They should also implement policies that limit exposure, like grouping COVID-19 patients when single rooms are not available and request patients and family members immediately report symptoms on arrival at the healthcare facility so as to reduce the risk of infecting others. Workers should wear gloves, a face shield or goggles, and either a face mask or respirator depending on their job and their tasks.

“Medium Exposure Risk” workers are those that require frequent or close contact with people who may be infected with SARS-CoV-2, but are not known or suspected COVID-19 patients. Workers in this group may frequently encounter travelers or are in contact with the general public like those who work in schools or retail.

To protect workers in this group employers should install barriers like plastic sneeze guards where possible and consider offering face masks to employees or customers who are ill. Where appropriate employers should consider strategies that minimize face-to-face contact between workers and customers. In rare situations workers may need respirators but generally workers at medium risk may need to wear a combination of gloves, a gown, face masks or a face shield.

“Low Exposure Risk” jobs are those which have minimal occupational contact with the public or other co-workers.

Read more here.