A partial lifting of the coronavirus lockdown is the most likely scenario.  Otherwise the United States (U. S.) risks a financial Depression!  In the future, there will be some relaxation for “non-essential” businesses to slowly return to work – WHEN THEY CAN ENSURE THE SAFETY AND HEALTH OF THEIR EMPLOYEES AND COMMUNITIES FROM COVID-19.  It will be a gradual and safe return to work strategy.

Recognize employees will be afraid to return, as the virus will still be active.   Leaders and business owners MUST ADHERE TO all CDC guidelines and recommendations. You must earn your employees’ trust during this period of uncertainty and fear.  In addition to adherence to CDC guidelines, consider not only your employees BUT THEIR FAMILIES.  Look for ways to help and they will repay you!

As you slowly reopen ask yourself every day:  How can I help my employees and their families?

FIRST – THINGS WILL GET WORSE

Things will get better only after getting worse. The scientists and doctors have warned us we are expecting  a high number of new infections and death in the next few weeks.  A lot more people are going to get sick. You may even know someone who is going to die.

WE ARE  LIKLEY BATTLING COVID-19 UNTIL WE:

1. Find or develop a treatment;
2. Develop, test, manufacture and deliver a vaccine;
3. Build herd immunity (~50% of population infected);
4. The virus mutates to something less destructive;

The vast social distancing across the country and the world has been necessary and has saved lives!  However, the massive economic destruction has caused millions to lose their jobs as commerce and production simply STOPED!  Many large companies can withstand a few weeks without revenue, but NOT several months.  Many thousands of U. S. small and mid-sized firms may NEVER reopen.  Our applications for unemployment are measured in the millions and climbing.

No country can safeguard public health while destroying its overall economic health.

Once the Federal, State and Local governments sign off on a restart strategy – LETS GET TO WORK!

 RECOMMENDED STEPS TO ENSURE THE SAFETY AND HEALTH OF EMPLOYEES AND THE COMMUNITIES FROM COVID-19 DURING A CALIBRATED RETURN TO WORK

Using my 30+ year Environmental, Health and Safety career experience, coupled with competency in Criss Management and Business Continuity, I drafted below recommendations to safely restart businesses and bring our great employees back to work.

I would appreciate all of your recommendations to accomplish the safe restoration of the U. S. economy.

ALL EMPLOYEES

Recommend providing computer-based training {TO ALL EMPLOYEES} on COVID-19 awareness and prevention – See CDC.gov for materials:

• https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/index.html

NON-TOUCH LABOR AND OFFICE PERSONNEL

• Employees whose jobs DO NOT require physical handing of products, should remain sheltered in place and continue to work from home.

TOUCH LABOR EMPLOYEES

SHIFT START UP

• 100% sampling of employees’ temperatures prior to facility entry upon their arrival at work to help reduce risk of COVID-19. Utilize infrared – No-Touch Thermometers.

 

• The CDC has to date NOT issued guidance on employee screenings. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission said companies can take employees’ temperatures or ask if they have symptoms of COVID-19, such as a cough or shortness of breath. Medical professionals and health experts, however, warn temperature checks are an imperfect tool. They say employers must couple the screenings with other measures, such as providing masks, encouraging employees to keep a distance from one another and monitoring workers for other symptoms.
• Consider providing your employees thermometers for home and asking them to check for a fever at home.
• Employees with a temperature above 100 F, to be sent for immediate COVID-19 testing. {Your company will need to revise existing sick leave policies to accommodate those employees being sent for testing and those testing positive for COVID-19. Ensure your policies and practices are consistent with public health recommendations and are consistent with existing state and federal workplace laws.}
• Draft written requirements if an employee tests positive for COVID-19.  Who will need to be quarantined or tested?  Sanitation mechanism and requirements.  Barriers/Isolation of work areas. See- https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/organizations/cleaning-disinfection.html.
• Preventative measures today are critical, including following CDC guidance for disinfecting and cleaning buildings and facilities after an employee tests positive for COVID-19. The guidance includes closing off areas used by the ill employee
• Provide cloth or masks for ALL employees, with training how to properly wear and when to change. Recommend computer-based training where possible.
• Require all employees to wear latex gloves (if the employee can do the job safely while wearing gloves) unless other industrial gloves are being worn.
• Consider improving the engineering controls using the building ventilation system.This may include some or all of the following activities:
  • Increase ventilation rates.
  • Increase the percentage of outdoor air that circulates into the system.
• Significant Increased DAILY sanitation of the facility. Hong Kong Airport is using virus-killing robots to disinfect public areas https://flip.it/rSgEa1

• Provide disinfectant in work areas, so employees can clean high touch surfaces minimum every two hours. Make sure they can practice physical distancing recommendations and follow CDC workplace guidelines. Routinely clean and disinfect all frequently touched surfaces in the workplace, such as workstations, keyboards, telephones, handrails, and doorknobs.
  • If surfaces are dirty, they should be cleaned using a detergent or soap and water prior to disinfection.
  • For disinfection, most common EPA-registered household disinfectants should be effective. A list of products that are EPA-approved for use against the virus that causes COVID-19 is availableherepdf iconexternal icon. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for all cleaning and disinfection products (e.g., concentration, application method and contact time, etc.).

 

• Strategic placement of LABELED Biohazard trash cans for gloves and masks.

 

• Mark employee’s work locations on production floors to ensure six or more feet of separation as to impose properly practice social distancing.
• Better spacing in cafeteria or break rooms to allow six feet spacing.
• Hand sanitizers at each entry (interior and exterior) door.  Additional units in large manufacturing locations, spaced so within easy reach of employees.

 

• Develop Pre and post shift sanitation instructions.
• If needed, extension of break periods time to allow all employees more time to ensure 20 secondhand washing.

• SUPPLY NEEDS- {THESE WILL BE HARD TO COME BY – START SOURCING NOW IN ANTICIPATION OF RESTARTING}

  • Infra-red no-touch thermometers
  • Biological Waste Disposal Cans
  • Face Mask
  • Latex gloves
  • Hand sanitizers
  • Cleaning materials
  • Materials to mark floors to ensure six feet of spacing

CONCLUSION

Today, the U. S. is building manufacturing capabilities to properly outfit the brave Health Care personnel with lifesaving personal protective equipment (Gloves, N-95 Respirators, Gowns etc.) In addition, numerous companies such GM, Ford, GE, Tesla and many others are revamping their manufacturing plants to produce needed ventilators.  The Federal Government has set up emergency hospital beds to treat non virus positive patients and increase the number of available critical care beds.  Let’s acknowledge and applaud those companies for shifting manufacturing lines to support the production of new life saving products!

If you capable today, please donate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to our front-line workers, which would assist in addressing a well-documented shortage. Our healthcare workers are in the direst need, but our workers in manufacturing, construction, grocery stores, delivery services and transportation need protection, too. Companies can visit donateppe.org to identify donation drives and to donate based on the needs of local areas.

If you do not need the $1200 check, donate it to the Red Cross or some other relief fund. There are millions in our country that need our helping hands

Most importantly follow the CDC guidelines so you and those you love stay healthy!   In the meantime let’s keep safe distancing, wear mask and gloves when that is not possible and ALL non essential workers stay in your homes  to protect self and others.

I would appreciate all recommendations to accomplish the safe restoration of the U. S. economy.  

{CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS CORONAVIRUS BLOGS}

HOW TO MANAGE CORONAVIRUS HEALTH AND INVESTMENT RISK  – MARCH 2, 2020

 https://wealthbuildingpowers.com/2020/03/02/the-risk-of-coronavirus-to-our-health-and-global-stock-markets/}

WHEN THE U. S. HAS A COUGH THE REST OF THE WORLD CATCHES A COLD – WHAT HAPPENS WHEN CHINA HAS A CORONAVIRUS?  – MARCH 9, 2020

https://wealthbuildingpowers.com/2020/02/24/when-the-u-s-has-a-cough-the-rest-of-the-world-catches-a-cold-what-happens-when-china-has-a-coronavirus/

PANICKING WILL NOT ERADICATE THE CORONAVIRUS PROBLEMS  – MARCH 16, 2020

https://wealthbuildingpowers.com/2020/03/16/panicking-will-not-eradicate-the-coronavirus-problems/

WHEN FEAR RUNS HIGH, THE NEED FOR COURAGE MUST RUN HIGHER!  – MARCH 23, 2020

https://wealthbuildingpowers.com/2020/03/23/when-fear-runs-high-the-need-for-courage-must-run-higher/

THERE IS ONE THING WE CAN ALL DO TO HELP SOME OF OUR TRUE HEROES  MARCH 30, 2020 

https://wealthbuildingpowers.com/2020/03/30/there-is-one-thing-we-can-all-do-to-help-some-of-our-true-heroes/

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ABOUT ME

I am a proud nerd (as my beautiful wife and daughter have told me) investment and finance blogger, with a NC State, Chemical Engineering, University Rutgers, MBA and Harvard University, Advanced Management education.

I left a corporate career because I had a desire for making a difference as a speaker and writer, to help others. I was blessed to be coached and mentored by strong women and men in both my family and professional life.  It is my time to serve and give back.

DISCLAIMER

I started my first business at ~13 years of age (small but brilliantly created plant nursery). I am a successful investor in stocks, options, real estate and happy to share my personal finance and investment lessons learned with you.

However, I am NOT a licensed financial advisor.  Please do not construe my suggestions on this blog, as recommendations for your personal situation.  For individual finance advice please seek your own licensed CPA or fiduciary financial advisors.  

I write this weekly blog to make an impact by reaching an audience and demonstrating the need for financial literacy. I will help you get there.