Justice at Work’s Guidance for the Safety of Essential Workers: Pennsylvania Department of Health Order of April 15, 2020
Are you still working because your workplace is an "essential" business? If so, you are entitled to health and safety protections at work. Employers must take certain actions to ensure the health and safety of its employees, including:
Enhanced cleaning and disinfecting, in accordance with CDC guidance.
If the business finds out it has been exposed to an individual with Covid-19, it must:
Close off the area where the sick employee has been working
Ventilate the area for 24 hours before beginning to clean it
Identify employees who were in close contact with the sick individual
Test employee’s temperatures when they begin their shift
Employees with symptoms should stay home from work
Employee work schedule changes
Stagger employees’ shift start and end times so that they are not in groups
Stagger employees’ break times so that they are not taking breaks in large groups
• Provide enough space for social distancing at work
Provide enough space for employees to have breaks and meals while remaining at least 6 feet apart from one another
Limit the number of employees in common areas
Conduct meetings virtually when possible
Do not require meetings of more than 10 people or within 6 feet of each other
Provide its employees with access to frequent hand washing with soap and water, hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes, and protective masks to be worn at all times
Businesses open to the public must also:
Limit the number of customers and employees in the building at one time
Install shields or barriers in check-out areas to separate cashiers from customers
Require all customers to wear a mask in the building (with limited exceptions)
If you have questions about this guidance or believe your employer is not following it, contact Justice at Work at 215-733-0878. All calls are confidential.