OSHA and CDC Issue Guidance to Help Agriculture Workers during the Coronavirus Pandemic

OSHA on June 2nd issued guidance that includes recommended actions to protect agriculture workers from exposure to the coronavirus.

Prevention and control of coronavirus at agricultural worksites, and in shared worker housing and shared transport vehicles, can present unique challenges. Applying specific disease management and prevention measures can help reduce the risk of transmitting the virus among workers on farms, ranches, and other production worksites.

The guidance recommends that owners and operators:

  • Screen agricultural workers for coronavirus symptoms, manage workers who have symptoms upon arrival at work or who become sick during the day, and address return to work after worker exposure;
  • Use touch-free clocks and automatic doors, install plastic barriers when distances of six feet between individuals are not possible, and rearrange chairs and tables in break areas;
  • Implement cleaning, disinfection, and sanitation protocols;
  • Train workers in a language they understand on the signs and symptoms of coronavirus, proper infection control and social distancing practices, and what to do if they or a coworker experience symptoms;
  • Encourage workers to use cloth face coverings in certain circumstances (e.g., when utilizing shared methods of transportation); and
  • Provide and train workers on proper use of personal protective equipment through videos or in-person visual demonstrations.

The guidance also explains what employers should do to prevent transmission of the virus among workers who share housing and transportation to and from the agricultural worksite.

Share on Socials!

Related Articles

Related Articles

Washington becomes 2nd state to begin developing wildfire smoke worker-safety rules

The number of acres burned by wildfires in Washington state each year is increasing. And smoke from the Western wildfires last month left Washington with some ...
Read More

As coronavirus rebounds, more patients are being hospitalized

Patients suffering from covid-19 are rapidly filling hospitals across the South and West, with Mississippi, Tennessee, Texas, Nevada and Arizona setting records for hospitalizations on July ...
Read More

Blackline Safety Announces Trade-in Program to Arm First Responders with Next-Generation Safety Equipment

When an organization’s job is to respond to fires, explosions or any other disaster that may come along, ensuring their first responders are protected is paramount. ...
Read More