Tips for Maintaining a Safe & Healthy Workplaces during COVID-19 (ReArch Company)

By Holly LeClair, Health & Safety Manager, ReArch Company

The objective to decrease the spread of COVID-19 is to focus efforts on reducing transmission among employees, maintain healthy business operations, and maintain a healthy work environment.

Here are a few Best Practice Tips:

  • Have a specific plan for your workplace-both a written plan that will be revised as guidelines change and a plan to educate your employees
    • Educate and communicate frequently what your business is doing and going to do once you re-open. Follow VOSHA Training Guidelines for all businesses.
    • Stay updated on the changes to your business sector at VT Agency of Commerce and Community Development (ACCD) and communicate the changes to your staff. The Agency offers a sample written plan and training resources. accd.vermont.gov.
  • Plan ahead
    • What you will need for supplies for your business for hygiene, sanitation and maintaining a healthy environment-hand sanitizers, soaps, cleaning products, masks, required postings, infrared thermometers and ways to provide dividers/screens for staff and the public.
  • Designate your Health & Safety Officer for your workplace who will be responsible for daily screenings, verifying the plan is being followed and meeting the above objective.
  • Pre-plan for the illness if someone at work or a family member tests positive for COVID-19, how will your company respond? Do you have recordkeeping requirements?
  • Go to the source-follow ACCD guidelines in Vermont as well as staying up to date with CDC guidelines. There are a lot of “opinions and interpretations,” go to the source for accurate information.
  • Consider your personal protective options (type of face mask and protection needed) for your business.
  • Review travel guidance outside of Vermont and educate your workforce on restrictions for travel.

As the Health & Safety Manager, Holly promotes and fosters the health and safety culture for ReArch. She focuses on maintaining, improving and implementing our company’s health and safety standards, along with protocols and procedures. She ensures ReArch is compliant with occupational health and safety guidelines and spearheads all training programs for employees and subcontractors to support their health and safety needs. Holly maintains and manages the status of all employee’s health and safety credentials, and is responsible for developing wellness initiatives for the office and field staff.

Holly originally started her safety career in 1995 as a safety officer at a construction company.