REMINDER: COVID-19 Common-Sense Guidelines
In response to the recent spike of COVID-19, we would like to reshare the following guidelines based on official recommendations from both the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
Sheet Metal Workers Local 17 is proud to maintain the highest of standards in worksite safety. Right now, the most important tenet to keep our coworkers and communities safe is to stay home when sick, especially while experiencing symptoms of COVID-19.
In addition to the following information and guidelines, please continue to stay informed by visiting the CDC (https://www.cdc.gov) and OSHA (https://www.osha.gov) websites. Together, we can maintain the healthiest workplaces possible.
Prioritize hand hygiene:
- Clean your hands often with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60-95% alcohol or wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Soap and water should be used preferentially if hands are visibly dirty.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Visit the CDC’s coughing and sneezing etiquette and clean hands webpage for more information.
Stay home when sick or exposed to COVID-19:
- If you’re not feeling well or have symptoms of acute respiratory illness, it is recommended that you stay home and not come to work until you are free of fever (100.4° F [37.8° C] or greater using an oral thermometer), signs of a fever, and any other symptoms for at least 24 hours, without the use of fever-reducing or other symptom-altering medicines (e.g. cough suppressants). Please report an illness and subsequent absence from work to your contractor.
- If you’re experiencing symptoms or have been exposed, stay home and get tested for COVID-19 via a rapid antigen or PCR test. Per recent CDC guidelines, you may return to work five days after exposure to COVID-19 if you receive two negative antigen tests over a 48-hour period.
- To learn more about testing for COVID-19 in Massachusetts, please visit mass.gov/GetTested
- Seek medical help if you have a fever, cough, or difficulty breathing. Information on COVID-19 symptoms can be found on the CDC website.
Get your COVID-19 vaccine or booster if you have not already:
- In light of the high contagiousness of the COVID-19 Omicron variant, it’s more important than ever to make sure you are adequately protected. In the event of a breakthrough case, COVID-19 vaccines and boosters have been proven to lower the chance of hospitalization or death.
- Click here to learn more and schedule an appointment for your vaccine or booster.
Thank you for your attention to this important matter.
