Gap approves employee virus prevention plan

BIG STONE GAP — Council voted Tuesday to adopt a COVID-19 prevention plan for employees.
The COVID-19 and Infectious Disease Prevention Plan was developed by the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry.

The document states that employees should self-self monitor for signs and symptoms such as fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headaches, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting or diarrhea. It also states that these symptoms could appear two to 14 days after exposure to the virus.

Employees experiencing symptoms should stay home and notify their supervisor. The employee may be authorized to work remotely on a case-by-case basis.

Contractors, organizations or temporary employees with known or suspected cases of COVID-19 shall not report to work or be allowed to remain on the job site until cleared to return.

Employees who are required to interact with customers, contractors or the general public must immediately use supplies to clean and disinfect areas where there is potential exposure. Supplies will be provided.

Employees who are suspected or known to have COVID-19 may return to work at least 10 days after symptoms appeared and 72 hours fever-free without the aid of fever-reducing medication and after improvement in respiratory symptoms.

The plan lays out protection measures based on exposure risk. For example, “low exposure risk jobs” do not require contact with people known or suspected of being infected with COVID-19 nor having frequent contact with the public. Protection measures include promotion of frequent and thorough hand washing, staying home if ill and discouraging the use of other’s phones, desk, offices and work equipment.
“Medium exposure risk jobs” require frequent and/or close contact with people who may be infected with but are not known or suspected to have COVID-19. Prevention measures include face mask for all employees and customers, physical barriers such as sneeze guards where feasible, minimizing face-to-face contact and limiting the public’s access to worksites.

“High exposure risk jobs” are jobs with high potential for exposure to known and suspected sources of COVID-19. These can include law enforcement moving known and suspected COVID-19 patients in enclosed vehicles. Protection measures include the use of personal protective equipment, face coverings, employee self-monitoring and possible isolation.

Employees will be trained on COVID-19 signs and symptoms, self-monitoring for signs and symptoms, employer responsibilities and return-to-work policy and cleaning and disinfecting.

The document states that employees failing to abide by the requirements may receive disciplinary action in conformance with the employee handbook.

The plan is designed to be in place until Jan. 15, 2021, but may be continued by the town based on federal, state and local guidelines.