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Keeping Your Workplace Safe from the Omicron Covid-19 Variant

As the pandemic progresses into its third year, employers now have to deal with the development of the Omicron Covid-19 variant. Employers must strive to keep their workplaces safe from the Omicron Covid-19 variant, while also keeping their businesses afloat. Here STC offers some tips for preventing the spread of Covid-19.

Encourage Vaccinations to Prevent Omicron Covid-19 Variant

Vaccination is still the best way to prevent the spread of the disease, and employers should really encourage their employees to get vaccinated. Vaccinated employees are less likely to get infected, or should they contract the illness, are less likely to be hospitalized or suffer severe effects of the virus. While OSHA vaccine mandates are still being debated, employers, according to reports, don’t seem to be losing employees over vaccination requirements.

Masks Are Also Good Option

Recommending employees wear face masks is another option workplaces might consider as a way to prevent the spread of the Omicron Covid-19 variant, in particular, and the virus in general. Masks have proven effective in preventing transmission of the virus. Some employers make masks optional, especially for those who have been vaccinated. Others require masks inside or in certain circumstances, especially when community transmission rates are high.

Follow Social Distancing Guidelines and Recommend Testing

As more employees are returning to offices, Covid-19 safety protocols should also include social distancing measures. Social distancing has also proven effective in preventing the transmission of the virus.

Regular testing can also improve safety in the workplace. If you plan on regular testing, you can get help from STC’s onsite medical services. We offer a full range of testing services that comply with state and federal guidelines. Onsite medical services are just a few of the services you can rely on from our team to improve safety in the workplace. Contact us for more information or check out our blog to learn more.

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Update Your Workplace Safety Plans in the New Year with STC

A new year is more than just an update to your calendar. In today’s workplaces, a lot of changes have occurred in the past year. Many employees are heading back to offices or other job sites with safety concerns, and now is a good time to update your safety plans, if they haven’t been updated already. Here’s everything you need to know about updating your safety plans for the new year with STC:

Planning Around the Pandemic

Of course, with the pandemic still looming, how to manage safety when it comes to COVID-19 should be at the forefront of any changes in safety plans. With the new guidance from OSHA on preventing the spread of COVID-19, it’s time to update those safety plans. With the help of STC’s safety consultants, making safety updates is much easier.

OnSite Medical Staffing

We can help you develop policies and plans to prevent the spread of the virus as more employees return to the workplace. Should you, for instance, require employees to be vaccinated or submit to regular testing, as OSHA recommends? We can outline all the best practices for your organization regarding distancing, facemasks, and vaccinations. Moreover, we can provide testing with an experienced team of onsite medical staff.

Keeping Up with Regulations

While COVID-19 is a major concern when it comes to workplace safety, the consultants at STC also know the ins and outs of new safety regulations from major agencies like OSHA, MSHA, ISO, and ANSI, and can show you how to implement these regulations as you update your safety plan. We offer instructor-led training courses to aid you with compliance issues and to refresh your employees’ safety knowledge in thousands of areas such as fleet safety, excavation, and ergonomics.

No matter what industry you’re in, if you’re ready to update your safety plan this year, you can always rely on STC and our extensive network of safety experts to ensure your workplace is the safest around. Our goal is to protect human life in all that we do. Reach out to us at any time. We’re always happy to help! Want to learn more about keeping your workplace safe? Check out our blog today!

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New Guidance from OSHA on Preventing the Spread of COVID-19 

As pandemic safety starts to become an afterthought for many vaccinated individuals, it is still crucial for everyone to work on preventing the spread of COVID-19 in their everyday lives. For those on the job, OSHA has recently released new guidelines for how to stay vigilant about the spread of the virus. Here is everything you need to know about the new guidance from OSHA on preventing the spread of COVID-19 from the safety experts at STC: 

Understand Who is Vaccinated in Your Workplace 

OSHA has stated that, unless noted by local laws, rules, and regulations, most employers no longer need to take steps to protect their fully vaccinated workers who are not otherwise at-risk from COVID-19 exposure. The new guidelines from OSHA are strictly for those that have not been vaccinated. If everyone in your company is vaccinated, these guidelines do not apply. 

Help Employees Identify Opportunities to Get Vaccinated 

There are many reasons a person may choose to not get vaccinated, but for those that are waiting for an easily-accessible vaccine option, it is important to help them identify those opportunities. There are a number of great resources available for each state, and in many instances, each county, on how to easily get vaccinated. Ask around to see how workers are getting vaccinated in your area and share that information with every employee. Vaccinations are key for preventing the spread of COVID-19 and keeping all of your employees safe. 

Guidelines for Preventing the Spread of COVID-19 

For employers who are actively working to keep their unvaccinated employees safe, the usual guidelines apply. Wearing face coverings, social distancing and practicing good personal hygiene are key to ensuring that employees are safe. To keep your workplace safe, it is best practice to provide employees with face masks, opportunities for social distancing and sick days if they do become infected with the virus. Many companies are also providing each of their employees the incentive of paid time off so that they are able to get their vaccinations in a timely manner. 

No matter how you are preventing the spread of COVID-19 in your workplace, it is crucial to stay vigilant to the new guidelines released by OSHA and the CDC. STC is always here to help keep your workplace safe. Our managed safety services, onsite cna services and safety consulting services are designed to make safety simple. Want to learn more about STC? Check out our blog today! 

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STC’s COVID-19 Vaccine Guide for Your Workplace

As the COVID-19 vaccine slowly rolls out across the country, many people have the opportunity to make their work lives and personal lives much safer. We have worked hard to gather all of the details you need to ensure that you are able to keep your family, coworkers and clients safe through this time. Here’s everything you need to know about the COVID-19 vaccine from STC:

Who Can Get the COVID-19 Vaccine?

The vaccine is in short supply and only being given to those in the 1A or 1B groups. As of right now, the only people eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine are healthcare workers, people over the age of 65 and people 16+ with underlying health conditions. As more vaccines become available, many other groups will become eligible to receive their covid vaccine as well.

How Does the Vaccine Work?

Currently, there are two different vaccines available, both being reported to be 95% effective. These vaccines are not meant to prevent you, or those around you, from getting the virus. Essentially, the vaccine is meant to provoke an immune response, so that your body is better able to fend off the virus if you come into contact with someone who has already been infected.

Is the COVID-19 Vaccine Safe?

Yes, the vaccine has gone through all of the phases of testing and regulatory approvals it needed before entering the market. While this process was sped up due to the severity of the virus, this does not mean that important steps were missed along the way. The vaccines do not contain the live virus, meaning that you cannot contract or spread COVID-19 from the vaccine.

Where Can I Get the Vaccine?

It is expected that people will be able to receive vaccinations for free from their doctors, local pharmacies, hospitals and other medical professionals soon. If you are in groups 1A or 1B, you can go ahead and register for your first dose of the vaccine now, but your wait time will depend on local availability. Depending on which vaccine you receive, there may be a 21-28 day waiting period before you can receive your second, and final, dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

No matter how you choose to keep your workplace safe from COVID-19, it is crucial that every employee understands when and where they can receive their vaccine. STC is always here to help keep your workplace safe. Our managed safety services, onsite cna services and safety consulting services are designed to make safety simple. Want to learn more about STC? Check out our blog today!

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The Guide to Returning to Work After the COVID-19 Pandemic

As things slowly start to look up in terms of the COVID-19 pandemic, it will still be a long time before things can return to normal. There are quite a few safety precautions that will stay in play long after the pandemic has ended, and many that are not going away any time soon. Here is everything you need to know about returning to work after the COVID-19 pandemic from STC:

Safety Should Always Be Priority

Whether you have received the coronavirus vaccine or not, COVID-19 safety should always play a major role in how you operate at work. Many others still have not received their vaccines, and even when they do, they can still contract and spread the virus. While health implications are far less severe, many companies, including OSHA, will still require mask-wearing in the future.

Keeping Up With Safety Guidelines

While many companies have continually updated their safety guidelines throughout the pandemic, these guidelines will continue to change in the near future. Experts are still unsure of how the virus will continue to mutate and spread through the general population. The risk of contracting and spreading the virus will continue to pose a risk. We recommend keeping up with the latest information from the WHO, OSHA and CDC to update your guidelines accordingly.

Continuing COVID-19 Safety Precautions

As businesses reopen and many people are returning to work, it is still important to maintain COVID-19 safety precautions. Even if every employee has received their vaccine, there will be a risk of spreading the virus to someone who has not. This virus is not going away when the majority of the population has been vaccinated, and it will continue to affect our everyday lives. Things such as COVID monitors, sanitation and handwashing will still be necessary.

No matter how you choose to protect yourself, your business and your employees from the coronavirus, STC is always here to help you make it simple. We offer a wide range of managed safety services such as onsite CNA staffing, safety-consulting services and instructor-led training. Want to learn more about dealing with COVID-19 at work? Check out our blog today!

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The Top OSHA Violations Regarding COVID-19 Onsite

As the pandemic continues to spread rapidly around the world, so do the COVID-19 safety precautions intended to keep businesses, and their employees, safe. With the sudden rush of new onsite procedures, many companies have also found themselves with new OSHA violations they have never needed to think about before. Here are the top OSHA violations regarding COVID-19 onsite from your safety partners at STC:

Medical Evaluations and Fit Testing

The most frequently cited OSHA violations during COVID-19 inspections deal with respiratory protection, specifically the lack of medical evaluations and fit testing. Employers are required to provide an employee with a medical evaluation before fit testing them for a respirator. Each time a new respirator is used, the employee must be fit-check prior to using the respirator.

Respiratory Protection Program

The second most violated OSHA regulation dealing with COVID-19 is related to respiratory protection programs. Employers are required to establish, implement or update a respiratory protection program with worksite-specific procedures. They must also provide workers with the mandatory information from Appendix D (Information for Employees Using Respirators When Not Required Under Standard). Failure to comply will result in citations from OSHA.

Training OSHA Violations

Finally, the third most cited OSHA violations all deal with training and information. If an employer did not annually provide effective training and basic information as described in Appendix D, they may receive a citation. Employers are required to ensure that their employees are able to demonstrate knowledge of a wide variety of COVID-19 workplace safety topics. It is crucial that each employee is able to understand this information to practice it on the job.

If your company is like so many others that are struggling to stay up-to-date on the new OSHA regulations regarding COVID-19, STC is here to help you make it simple. We specialize in providing companies in a wide variety of industries with managed safety services, instructor-led trainings and safety consulting services. Want to learn more about how STC can help your business? Check out our blog today!

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OSHA Regulations that Employers Should Be Aware of During the Coronavirus Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused businesses of all kinds to start taking extra precautions to care for the safety of their employees and customers. Safety organizations like OSHA, the CDC and WHO have implemented regulations for businesses that rely on in-person employees to keep their business running. Here are the OSHA regulations you should know from STC:

Understand the Risk Factor Your Job Presents

The new OSHA regulations classify every job type as either low, medium or high exposure risk, depending on a variety of factors. Lower exposure risk jobs do not require contact with the general public or those possibly infected with the virus, while medium risk jobs require it frequently. High-risk jobs have a high potential for exposure to people with the virus, such as healthcare workers, medical transport workers and mortuary workers involved with preparing.

How COVID-19 Exposure Can Affect Your Business

There are a great number of ways in which COVID-19 exposure can affect your business and employees. This is a virus that can cause widespread, extensive outbreaks that will likely affect more than one employee without taking special precautions. Absenteeism is the most likely outcome, with one or many employees needing to take sick leave due to the virus. The virus affects people of all kinds, so many businesses will also notice a change in consumer demand.

OSHA Regulations for Reducing Virus Exposure

Every employer, regardless of risk factor, should take precautions against COVID-19, as stated by the new OSHA regulations. Start by understanding the sources in your business where and how coronavirus infections may occur. Work to isolate these sources to lower infection risk. All workers should be encouraged to wash hands frequently, social distance and practice respiratory etiquette. Any employee with a sickness of any kind should remain at home.

No matter what precautions will work best for your business, STC is here to help reduce your infection risk through COVID-19 monitors and safety consulting. Our team works hard to protect human life and deliver results that keep your employees and customers safe. Want to learn more about OSHA regulations or Safety Training & Consulting? Check out our blog today!

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Three Ways to Keep Your Workforce Safe and Healthy with COVID Office Safety Tips

As the coronavirus continues to spread rapidly across the country, caring for the safety of your employees is more important than ever. While many employers have their employees working from home, some offices simply do not have that option. To help you prevent your employees from becoming infected on the job, here are a few COVID office safety tips from the safety experts at Safety Training & Compliance:

Ensure Your Employees are Sticking to CDC Guidelines

As health care professionals continue to learn more about COVID-19, the CDC’s COVID-19 guidelines will change in accordance with the new knowledge. It is important to stay up to date with the newest information from the CDC on how to keep your employees safe. This includes, but is not limited to, encouraging social distancing, protective face wear and improving the ventilation system in your office to filter out virus-sized particles.

Conduct Daily Health Checks to Reduce Risk

Ensuring that employees are healthy before entering the building can be the difference between one office infection and 50. At the very least, you can task an employee with monitoring temperatures, but this can put your employees at risk due to improper training. The best way to prevent an infected person from entering the building is hiring a COVID monitor from STC. We employ trained medical professionals that understand the varying symptoms of the virus. They can spot symptoms that a regular employee cannot.

Create an Understanding of Covid Office Safety Tips

One of the most important methods for creating a COVID free office environment is ensuring that your staff has an understanding of the essential COVID office safety tips. A helpful way to educate employees is by creating a protocol for office sickness during the pandemic. Let them know what they should do if they wake up coughing ahead of time, so no one feels the need to come into work regardless of their wellbeing.

The COVID-19 pandemic shows no signs of slowing down soon, so staying prepared is your best chance at keeping your employees, and business, free from the impacts of the virus. We are dedicated to keeping businesses prepared for incidents of all kinds, and we are here to help keep your office safe from COVID-19 as well. Want to learn more about the ways STC can help you create a safer workplace? Check out our blog today!

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The Benefits of Utilizing On Site Medical Staffing During COVID-19

As the coronavirus continues to spread across the world, many companies are finding new ways to keep their employees safe. The construction industry is no exception, and many are starting to explore the advantages of on site medical staffing. STC is here to guide you through the benefits of utilizing our onsite safety services to keep employees safe during COVID-19:

COVID-19 Monitors for Construction

The construction industry, like many others, is likely to take a massive hit in the event of crew members becoming infected with the virus. Preventing this from happening is as simple as utilizing on site medical staffing from certified nursing assistants. Our CNA’s will monitor your staff each day to ensure that temperatures are low, and no visible symptoms are showing.

The Benefits of On Site Medical Staffing

While peace of mind is certainly a great benefit of our on site medical staffing services, there are a large number of other ways it can improve your business. Your crew will feel comfortable entering the worksite each day and if someone shows up sick, it will be caught much earlier than without. With onsite safety services, you can prevent your entire crew from needing sick leave.

Application in Many Other Industries

From office buildings to retail locations, our COVID-19 monitors will work to protect your business and workers from the effects of the virus. One infection can drain your entire workforce due to the contagious nature of the novel coronavirus. The first step to ensuring any business can operate during the pandemic is preventing your employees from getting sick.

While the future of the coronavirus in the United States is uncertain, evidence has shown that every precaution needs to be taken to prevent it from spreading. At STC, we take safety seriously and our dedicated team is here to help your business thrive during the COVID-19 pandemic. Want to learn more about the services STC offers? Check out our blog today!

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