Revisions to the COVID-19 Prevention Emergency Temporary Standards FAQs (effective May 6, 2022)
COVID-19 ETS What Employers Need to Know About the May 6, 2022 Revisions
What Employers and Workers Need to Know About COVID-19 Isolation and Quarantine Fact Sheet 05-22-22
TRAINING MATERIALS RELATED TO COVID-19
(Updated July 2021)
What is COVID-19
COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by a virus called SARS-CoV-2. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), most people with COVID-19 have mild symptoms, but some people can become severely ill. Although most people with COVID-19 get better within weeks of illness, some people experience post-COVID conditions. Post-COVID conditions are a wide range of new, returning, or ongoing health problems people can experience more than four weeks after first being infected with the virus that causes COVID-19. Older people and those who have certain underlying medical conditions are more likely to get severely ill from COVID-19.
Spread of COVID-19
According to the CDC, COVID-19 is thought to spread mainly through close contact from person to person, including between people who are physically near each other. COVID-19 spreads through the air when an infected person breathes out droplets and very small particles that contain the virus. This occurs when an infected person talks or vocalizes, sneezes, coughs, or exhales. The droplets and particles can be breathed in by other people or land on their eyes, noses, or mouth. In some circumstances, the droplets may contaminate surfaces and be transmitted to persons who touch the surface. People who are closer than six feet from the infected person are most likely to get infected, although the virus can travel more than six feet, especially indoors. COVID-19 is believed to spread in three main ways:
- Breathing in air when close to an infected person who is exhaling small droplets and particles that contain the virus.
- Having these small droplets and particles that contain virus land on the eyes, nose, or mouth, especially through splashes and sprays like a cough or sneeze.
- Touching a contaminated object and then touching the eyes, nose, or mouth, although this is believed to be a less common manner of transmission.
People who are infected but do not show symptoms can spread the virus to others.
Protection Against COVID-19
To protect yourself against getting COVID-19, the CDC recommends all individuals:
- Get a COVID-19 vaccine.
- Wear a proper fitting mask that covers your nose and mouth.
- Stay six feet apart.
- Frequently wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds and use hand sanitizer when you do not have immediate access to a sink. (Hand washing is preferred to the use of hand sanitizers, which do not work if hands are soiled.)
- Do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth.
Vaccination, physical distancing, face covering, and hand hygiene are not 100 percent effective in preventing the spread of COVID-19, so all these measures should be combined to be most effective.
Face Coverings (Masks)
Face coverings[1] serve as a barrier to help prevent the spread of respiratory droplets that can spread COVID-19. According to the CDC, studies show that wearing a well fitted face covering over your nose and mouth reduces the spray of respiratory droplets and helps prevent your droplets from reaching others. Please note, however, that face covering are not respiratory protective equipment. According to the CDC, face coverings may provide some protection to the user, but they are primarily designed to protect people around the user. N95 masks and other respirators are designed to protect the users from airborne disease.
Face coverings must always be used appropriately to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
- Ensure Appropriate Fit: A face covering should fully cover your nose and mouth. It should fit securely under your chin and against the sides of your face so there are no gaps. It should be secured with ties or elastic to prevent slipping You should be able to breathe easily.
- Wear Properly: Keep the face covering on your face; do not put the covering around your neck or up on your forehead. Do not touch the face covering, and, if you do, wash your hands.
- Continue to Follow Social Distancing and Good Hygiene Practices: Although correct use of face coverings can help prevent some exposures, it should not take the place of other prevention strategies.
- Properly Remove After Use: Only touch the strings or ear loops when removing your face covering. Place disposable coverings in the trash. Place cloth face coverings in bag until they can be washed. Wash your hands with soap and water after touching your face covering or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
- Keep Clean: You should be the only person handling your face covering. Wash your hands with soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer immediately before putting on your face covering, after touching or adjusting, and after removing. Disposable face coverings should only be worn once. Cloth face coverings should not be shared with anyone. In general, cloth face coverings should be washed regularly (e.g., daily and whenever soiled) using water and a mild detergent, dried completely in a hot dryer, and stored in a clean container or bag.
- Discard if Damaged: Discard and do not wear any face covering that is stretched out and no longer fits securely, has holes or tears, or is otherwise damaged.
Unvaccinated employees must wear face coverings. Fully vaccinated employees are free to use face coverings if they choose.
Respirators[2] (N95 Masks)
Each Manpower office will maintain a supply of N-95 masks (referred to as a “respirator”) that will be available to unvaccinated employees upon request. Respirators will be provided at no cost to the employee. Manpower encourages and will not retaliate against any employee who asks Manpower to provide a respirator.
If Manpower provides a respirator for your voluntary use, or if you provide your own N95 mask or other respirator, you must take certain precautions to be sure the respirator itself does not present a hazard. You must also read and sign Cal/OSHA’s “Appendix D: Cal/OSHA Form for Voluntary Respirator Use” (copied below) and read the manufacturer’s instructions for the respirator before using it. The manufacturer’s instructions for all respirators provided by Manpower are available from Bill Drennan, Director of Risk Management.
- Ensure Appropriate Fit: A respirator should fully cover your nose and mouth. It should fit securely under your chin and against the sides of your face so there are no gaps. It should be secured to prevent slipping. You should be able to breathe easily.
- Put on Properly:
- Cup the respirator
- Hold the respirator under your chin with the nosepiece up, and then place on your face, covering your mouth and nose.
- Place the strap over your head, so it rests at the top back of your head. If the respirator has a second strap, place the bottom strap around your neck, below your ears. Do not crisscross straps.
- Place your fingertips from both hands at the top of the metal nose clip (if present). Slide fingertips down both sides of the metal strip to mold the nose clip to the shape of your nose.
- Wear Properly: Keep the respirator on your face; do not put the respirator around your neck or up on your forehead. Do not allow facial hair, hair, jewelry, glasses, clothing, or anything else to prevent proper placement or come between your face and the respirator.
- Check the Seal: Each time you wear a respirator, you must perform a seal check according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Be aware that facial hair interferes with a seal and may make a respirator less effective. A seal check can generally be performed as follows:
- Place both hands completely over the respirator and take a quick breath in to check whether the respirator seals tightly to the face. With both hands over the respirator, exhale. If you feel leakage, there is not a proper seal.
- If air leaks around the nose, readjust the nosepiece. If air leaks at the mask edges, re-adjust the straps along the sides of your head until a proper seal is achieved.
- If you cannot achieve a proper seal, do not wear the respirator.
- Properly Remove After Use: Only touch the strings or ear loops when removing your respirator – do not touch the front of the mask. Wash your hands with soap and water after removing. If the respirator needs to be reused because of supply shortages, store it in a clean container or bag between uses. If the respirator does not need to be reused, discard it in the trash after removing.
- Keep Clean: You should be the only person handling your respirator. Wash your hands with soap and water immediately before putting on your respirator, after touching or adjusting, and after removing; use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available. Do not touch your respirator while wearing, and if you do, wash your hands.
- Discard if Damaged: Inspect your respirator for damage before each use. If it does not maintain its structural and functional integrity, do not use it. If it appears the filter material is physically damaged, soiled, or damp, do not use it. Discard any respirator that is damaged.
- Continue to Follow Social Distancing and Good Hygiene Practices: Although correct use of respirators can help prevent some exposures, it should not take the place of other prevention strategies.
Appendix D to California Code of Regulations,
Title 8, § 5114: Cal/OSHA Form for Voluntary Respirator Use
Information for Employees Using Respirators When Not Required Under the Standard
Respirators are an effective method of protection against designated hazards when properly selected and worn. Respirator use is encouraged, even when exposures are below the exposure limit, to provide an additional level of comfort and protection for workers. However, if a respirator is used improperly or not kept clean, the respirator itself can become a hazard to the worker. Sometimes, workers may wear respirators to avoid exposures to hazards, even if the amount of hazardous substance does not exceed the limits set by OSHA standards. When LBBK provides respirators for your voluntary use, or if you provide your own respirator, you need to take certain precautions to be sure that the respirator itself does not present a hazard.
You should do the following:
- Read and heed all instructions provided by the manufacturer on use, maintenance, cleaning and care, and warnings regarding the respirator’s limitations.
- Choose respirators certified for use to protect against the contaminant of concern. NIOSH, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, certifies respirators. A label or statement of certification should appear on the respirator or respirator packaging. It will tell you what the respirator is designed for and how much it will protect you.
- Do not wear your respirator into atmospheres containing contaminants for which your respirator is not designed to protect against. For example, a respirator designed to filter dust particles will not protect you against gases, vapors, or very small solid particles of fumes or smoke.
- Keep track of your respirator so you do not mistakenly use someone else’s respirator.
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If you have any questions or concerns, or if you believe you need additional equipment or materials to safely perform your job, you must immediately contact Heather Whitley-Quinn, VP of Human Resources, or Bill Drennan, Director of Risk Management.
*Note: These training materials are based on information, guidance, and recommendations from the CDC and the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) as of July 2021. Manpower makes no representations regarding the accuracy of the information. Employees should regularly check for updates about COVID-19 on the CDC and Cal/OSHA websites, as information about the virus and guidance is constantly changing. Employees should also consult with their medical provider. Information about COVID-19 is available at the following links:
- https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/about-covid-19.html
- https://www.dir.ca.gov/covid/
[1] “Face covering” means a surgical mask, a medical procedure mask, a respirator worn voluntarily, or a tightly woven fabric or non-woven material of at least two layers. A face covering has no visible holes or openings and must cover the nose and mouth. A face covering does not include a scarf, ski mask, balaclava, bandana, turtleneck, collar, or single layer of fabric.
[2] “Respirator” means a respiratory protection device approved by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) to protect the wearer from particulate matter, such as an N95 filtering facepiece respirator (i.e., N95 Mask).
March 19, 2020
Dear Manpower Associate,
First of all, we want to say thank you for your continued patience and support of our clients as we navigate the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19). The health and wellbeing or our Associates, Clients, and Staff remain our top priority.
What Are We Doing?
- Closely monitoring and following the guidance and recommendations of the government and health organizations.
- Providing resources as they become available.
- Implementing additional measures by limiting the number of visitors to our offices. We are asking that all applicants apply on-line (vs. coming into our office). If you have a question or need to drop something off at any of our Manpower offices, we ask that you please call first.
What Can You Do?
- Stay Healthy! Prevention is key.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue and then throw away. If one is not available cover your mouth with the inside crook of your arm or sleeve.
- Do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth.
- Practice Social Distancing.
- Immediately notify your Manpower Representative if you have concerns about the safety of your work environment.
- Avoid contact with those who are ill.
- Stay home if you are experiencing symptoms, such as: fever, cough, sore throat or have trouble breathing. Remember to report all absences to your Manpower Representative.
- Follow us on Facebook. Our recruiters can answer questions through the message or chat options (and can be done in real-time!). We’ll post local office updates as necessary.
- Update Contact and/or Pay Information (if needed). This ensures we have the most current information on file for you.
- Make sure your address and emergency contact information is up-to-date.
- If you don’t have direct deposit or a paycard set-up, please contact your Manpower Representative.
- Questions on Unemployment? Please log onto your State’s Unemployment Website or contact them directly.
As always, your Manpower Representative is available should you have any questions.
Thank you for your partnership!
The Manpower Management Team
March 10, 2020
Dear Manpower San Diego Associate:
As you are aware, the Coronavirus (COVID-19) has been front and center in the media and is on the minds of many of our employees. We want to reassure you that your health and wellbeing are our top priority. While the risk level remains low in the U.S., we ask you to take the following preventative measures to help stay healthy.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue and then throw away. If one is not available cover your mouth with the inside crook of your arm or sleeve.
- Do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.
- Avoid contact with those who are ill.
- Notify your supervisor and stay home if you are sick.
- If you have a fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical attention and call in advance.
To help prevent the spread of disease, if you are sick you
will be required to stay home. Please discuss your situation with your Manpower
Representative. If you, or anyone you have come in contact with, is diagnosed with the Coronavirus (COVID-19), please immediately notify your Manpower contact.
With spring break upon us, you may also have personal travel plans. If you are visiting a high-risk area, for the safety of your co-workers, you must contact your Manpower representative before your trip and upon your return – before returning to your assignment. If you have questions, please speak with your Manpower Representative.
Remember to report all absences to your local Manpower Representative. We will continue to monitor and assess the situation and take appropriate precautions to help protect you and limit the potential spread of the virus.
Stay well!
March 10, 2020
Estimado Asociado de Manpower San Diego
Como usted sabe, el Coronavirus (COVID-19) ha estado al frente y al centro en los medios y está en la mente de muchos de nuestros empleados. Queremos asegurarle que su salud y bienestar son nuestra principal prioridad. Mientras el nivel de riesgo sigue siendo bajo en los EE. UU., Le pedimos que tome las siguientes medidas preventivas para ayudar a mantenerse saludable.
- Lávese las manos con frecuencia con agua y jabón, especialmente después de toser o estornudar.
- Cubra su tos o estornudo con un pañuelo desechable y luego bótelo. Si no hay uno disponible, cubra su boca con el hueco interior de su brazo o manga.
- No toque sus ojos, nariz o boca. Los gérmenes se propagan de esa manera.
- Evite el contacto con quienes están enfermos.
- Notifique a su supervisor y quédese en casa si está enfermo.
- Si tiene fiebre, tos y dificultad para respirar, busque atención médica y llame con anticipación.
Para ayudar a prevenir la propagación de la enfermedad, si está enfermo, deberá quedarse en casa. Discuta su situación con su representante de Manpower. Si usted, o cualquier persona con la que haya contactado, sea diagnosticado con el Coronavirus (COVID-19), notifique inmediatamente a su contacto de Manpower.
Con las vacaciones de primavera acercándose, también puede tener planes de viaje personales. Si está visitando un área de alto riesgo, por la seguridad de sus compañeros de trabajo, debe comunicarse con su representante de Manpower antes de su viaje y a su regreso, antes de regresar a su asignación. Si tiene preguntas, hable con su representante de Manpower.
Recuerde informar todas las ausencias a su representante local de Manpower. Continuaremos monitoreando y evaluando la situación y tomaremos las precauciones adecuadas para ayudarlo a protegerlo y limitar la posible propagación del virus.
Atentamente,