Updated Workplace Standards

April 8, 2020

Yesterday, Governor Lamont signed his 23rd executive order to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Executive Order No. 7V included a number of updated provisions, manly focusing on new safe workplace standards for essential businesses.

The new order created additional protective measures that every workplace in Connecticut deemed essential – and any other business or nonprofit allowed to remain open – must follow. The Department of Economic and Community Development published the Safe Workplaces Rules for Essential Employers on its website.

Below are a few of the top standards essential workplaces are required to follow. For the full list, click here.

General

  • Essential employees who are able to work from home SHOULD BE WORKING FROM HOME.
  • Eliminate all non-essential workplace travel. 
  • Control access to external visitors including:
    • Prohibiting entry into the facility for non-essential visitors.
    • Interviewing approved visitors about their current health condition and recent travel history.
    • Using hand sanitizer at point of entry to the facility.

Controlling contact between employees and other employees or customers

  • Companies should develop and implement practices for social distancing.  
  • Eliminate in-person meetings.
  • Provide masks wherever close personal contact is unavoidable.
  • Deliver services remotely (e.g. phone, video, or web) where practical.
  • Deliver products through curbside pick-up or delivery when possible. 
  • Workplaces with Multiple Shifts:
    • Where ever possible, utilize nights and weekends to spread out work schedules and provide for social distancing.

Guidelines for essential employees 

  • Employees who are ill should stay home.
  • Make hand sanitizer available to employees who do not have ready access to soap and water.
  • Whether at work or at home, all employees are advised to follow the CDC guidelines for preventing transmission of COVID-19 including:
    • Washing hands frequently for at least 20 seconds, avoiding touching mouth and nose, avoiding close contact with others, cleaning and disinfecting surfaces, using cough and sneeze etiquette, and  staying at home when sick.
    • Employees should not touch their face and should use of Cloth Face Coverings to Help Slow the Spread of COVID-19.

Finally, for essential retailers, we have put out Essential Safe Store Rules which will continue to guide safety in those locations for Employees and Customers.