Outbreak Protocol

Guidelines to for a Safe Return to the WorkplaceOutbreak Protocol

Multiple COVID-19 Infections and COVID-19 Outbreaks

An outbreak is defined as three or more COVID-19 cases in the same work area within a 14-day period (exposed workplace).  For purposes of this section, a work area will be defined as the same building.

This section of Plan will stay in effect until there are no new COVID-19 cases detected at the work area for a 14-day period.

 

COVID-19 testing

  • We will provide COVID-19 testing to all employees in our exposed workplace except for employees who were not present during the period of an outbreak identified by a local health department or the relevant 14-day period. COVID-19 testing will be provided at no cost to employees during employees' working hours.
  • COVID-19 testing consists of the following:
    • All employees in our exposed workplace will be immediately tested and then tested again one week later. Negative COVID-19 test results of employees with COVID-19 exposure will not impact the duration of any quarantine period required by, or orders issued by, the local health department.
    • After the first two COVID-19 tests, we will continue to provide COVID-19 testing of employees who remain at the workplace at least once per week, or more frequently if recommended by the local health department, until there are no new COVID-19 cases detected in our workplace for a 14-day period.
    • We will provide additional testing when deemed necessary by Cal/OSHA.

 

Exclusion of COVID-19 cases

We will ensure COVID-19 cases and employees who had COVID-19 exposure are excluded from the workplace in accordance with our CPP Exclusion of COVID-19 Cases and Return to Work Criteria requirements, and local health officer orders if applicable.

 

Investigation of workplace COVID-19 illness

We will immediately investigate and determine possible workplace-related factors that contributed to the COVID-19 outbreak in accordance with our Plan's Investigating and Responding to COVID-19 Cases.

COVID-19 investigation, review and hazard correction

In addition to our Plan Identification and Evaluation of COVID-19 Hazards and Correction of COVID-19 Hazards, we will immediately perform a review of potentially relevant COVID-19 policies, procedures, and controls and implement changes as needed to prevent further spread of COVID-19.

The investigation and review will be documented and include:

    • Our COVID-19 testing policies.
    • Insufficient outdoor air.
    • Insufficient air filtration.
    • Lack of physical distancing.
  • Updating the review:
    • Every thirty days that the outbreak continues.
    • In response to new information or to new or previously unrecognized COVID-19 hazards.
    • When otherwise necessary.
  • Implementing changes to reduce the transmission of COVID-19 based on the investigation and review. We will consider:
    • Moving indoor tasks outdoors or having them performed remotely.
    • Increasing outdoor air supply when work is done indoors.
    • Improving air filtration.
    • Increasing physical distancing as much as possible.

 

Notifications to the local health department

  • Immediately, but no longer than 48 hours after learning of three or more COVID-19 cases in our workplace, we will contact the local health department for guidance on preventing the further spread of COVID-19 within the workplace.
  • We will provide to the local health department the total number of COVID-19 cases and for each COVID-19 case, the name, contact information, occupation, workplace location, business address, the hospitalization and/or fatality status, and North American Industry Classification System code of the workplace of the COVID-19 case, and any other information requested by the local health department. We will continue to give notice to the local health department of any subsequent COVID-19 cases at our workplace.

Major COVID-19 Outbreaks

A Major Outbreak occurs when we have 20 or more COVID-19 cases in the same work area within a 30-day period.

 

This section of the Plan will stay in effect until there are no new COVID-19 cases detected in our workplace for a 14-day period.

 

COVID-19 testing

We will provide twice a week COVID-19 testing, or more frequently if recommended by the local health department, to all employees present at our exposed workplace during the relevant 30-day period(s) and who remain at the workplace. COVID-19 testing will be provided at no cost to employees during employees' working hours.

 

Exclusion of COVID-19 cases

We will ensure COVID-19 cases and employees with COVID-19 exposure are excluded from the workplace in accordance with our CPP Exclusion of COVID-19 Cases and Return to Work Criteria, and any relevant local health department orders.

 

Investigation of workplace COVID-19 illnesses

We will comply with the requirements of our Plan's Investigating and Responding to COVID-19 Cases.

COVID-19 hazard correction

 

In addition to the requirements of our CPP Correction of COVID-19 Hazards, we will take the following actions:

  • In buildings or structures with mechanical ventilation, we will filter recirculated air with Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) 13 or higher efficiency filters if compatible with the ventilation system. If MERV-13 or higher filters are not compatible with the ventilation system, we will use filters with the highest compatible filtering efficiency. We will also evaluate whether portable or mounted High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filtration units, or other air cleaning systems would reduce the risk of transmission and implement their use to the degree feasible.
  • We will evaluate whether to halt some or all operations at our workplace until COVID-19 hazards have been corrected
  • Implement any other control measures deemed necessary by Cal/OSHA.

 

Notifications to the local health department

We will comply with the requirements of our Multiple COVID-19 Infections and COVID-19 Outbreaks-Notifications to the Local Health Department.​


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