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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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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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At STC, we are committed to providing our clients with everything they need to know about the latest topics in safety. Recently, there has been news circulating about a new OSHA regulation requiring vaccines or weekly covid tests for businesses with more than 100 employees. Here is everything you need to know about preparing your business for the covid vaccine mandate:

What the Covid Vaccine Mandate Means for You

The covid vaccine mandate will only affect businesses that employ 100 or more people. The aim of the mandate is to slow the spread of covid-19 by ensuring that employees are less likely to catch the virus in their workplaces. Essentially, if your business has 100 or more employees, each employee will be required to be fully vaccinated or provide proof of weekly testing.

When Will This Mandate Take Place

Barring a long-lasting injunction, the OSHA regulation states that employers will have to comply with the rule in phases. By December 4, employers will need to develop a compliance plan, offer paid time off for vaccinations and require unvaccinated workers to wear masks. By January 5, all employees must either be fully vaccinated or provide evidence of weekly covid testing.

An Ever-Changing Vaccine Mandate

As the dates for the covid vaccine mandate become closer, there is new information circulating regularly. The future of the covid vaccine mandate is not completely certain at this point, but we are dedicated to providing our clients with the new information as it is released. Keep an eye on our website and our social media pages to ensure you are as updated as possible!

No matter how you choose to prepare your employees for the vaccine mandate, STC is here to help guide you through every step. We offer a wide variety of managed safety services, from onsite safety staffing to safety consulting to help prepare your employees for every situation. Want to learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine in the workplace? Check out our blog today!

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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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As more people are starting to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, many workplaces are beginning to lift mask restrictions and other COVID-19 restrictions for their business. While we are still a long way from returning to normal, many parts of normal life are starting to return to the workplace. Here is everything you need to know about returning to work after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine from the safety experts at STC:

You Can Still Get COVID-19 While Vaccinated

The first, and likely most important, thing to remember after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine is that you can still become infected. While all brands of vaccine in the U.S. have shown promising signs of preventing infections in some people, it’s overall goal is to prevent the user from becoming fatally sick after being infected. Vaccinated people may still contract the virus, but sustain little to no symptoms. This means if you become infected, you may still be able to spread the virus to others that are not vaccinated, so safety measures are necessary. 

Understanding the Signs of COVID-19

If you have just received your first or second dose of the vaccine within the last few days, there will be symptoms associated with the vaccination. Symptoms like headaches, fever, fatigue and nausea are common, but others can certainly still occur. If you experience these symptoms after vaccination, this is a very normal response and there is no reason to fear that you are infected. 

However, symptoms like coughing, shortness of breath, or loss of taste or smell are not consistent with post-vaccination side effects. If you are experiencing one or more of these symptoms, it may be necessary for you to get tested for COVID-19. These symptoms are likely to be milder than in those who are not vaccinated, but it is still important to get tested. 

Lifting Restrictions After the COVID-19 Vaccine

The good news about receiving the COVID-19 vaccine is that if a majority of people in your workplace are vaccinated, certain restrictions may no longer be necessary. The CDC has announced that mask restrictions and social distancing are no longer necessary for those who are fully-vaccinated and past the two-week waiting period. For those who are waiting to receive the vaccine or are choosing not to receive it, these restrictions should still be required of them. 

No matter how you choose to prepare your employees for life post-vaccination, STC is here to help guide you through every step. We offer a wide variety of managed safety services, from onsite safety staffing to safety consulting to help prepare your employees for every situation. Want to learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine in the workplace? Check out our blog today!

 

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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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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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