How To: Get Back to Work

Name: COVID-19
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Last Updated on: 04/27/20
This guidance is not intended to replace policy or direction specific to your local government or institution. It has been written in alignment with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and public health recommendations. If you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, please follow the CDC guidelines.

Here is a five-layered approach for employers and building managers as they consider how to safely reopen their establishments and get America back to work.

Hazard elimination: Keeping employees home. This tactic works for some, but not others, and won’t lead to full economic recovery.
Personnel substitution: Initially bringing back key employees who need to be physically present to get and keep the business running.
Engineering controls: Healthy-building strategies including increasing outside air flow, using portable air purifiers, and swapping existing filters in air circulating systems for ones that can capture smaller particles.
Administrative controls: De-densify buildings by having portions of the workforce come in on alternate days or staggering shifts within a day. This includes spreading workers out in space and limiting use of conference rooms for large gatherings.
Use of personal protective equipment (PPE): Cloth face coverings, respirators, and other gear in common areas and situations where other controls don’t achieve the required level of safety.