As the COVID-19 outbreak took hold in the United States, businesses of all types began to close their doors. However, chemical distributors maintained operations as an essential industry. These companies are a crucial component of many supply chains throughout America, and the products we supply have directly contributed to fighting this pandemic.
While chemical distributors have continued their critical work, the workplace itself has looked different for all of us. Many employees have shifted to working from home for the last several months. Jobs that can’t be performed remotely have been adjusted, with new physical barriers, policies, and procedures in place to ensure social distancing. As chemical distributors and other businesses around the country begin to ramp up onsite operations and return to more normal routines, there are precautions that we must all take if we are to resume operations in a safe yet effective manner.
Earlier this year, we published a Return-to-Work guide to help our members begin returning to normal work schedules. In this guide, you can find resources like the recommendations set by the U.S. Center for Disease Control, U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and the U.S. Department of Labor, among others.
In addition to resources from government sources, chemical distributors will find specific information relevant to them. The Return-to-Work guide also includes a list of surfaces throughout work sites that need to be disinfected to ensure the facility has been properly cleaned. Additionally, pre-prepared workplace safety signage templates that you can use to communicate expectations for employees along with any new workplace-specific policies and precautions taken to ensure their protection can be found alongside the guide on the NACD Coronavirus Resource Center page.
Of course, these general guidelines are helpful for any facility undertaking the process of returning to work, but each company’s situation varies based on their size and geographic location. For example, some larger companies may choose to cycle employees throughout the week to reduce the total number of workers inside a facility. Additionally, COVID-19 testing strategies should ultimately be tailored to address the needs of your facility. This is why we recommend that companies should also refer to the policies set in place by their city and state for additional guidance, and they should adjust their procedures accordingly.
If you have questions or are looking for resources you don’t yet see in our Resource Center, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me for more information at jdetiveaux@acd-chem.com.
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