Employee Guidance for Low Exposure Risk Occupations

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) defines various levels of risk for exposure to pandemic influenza in the workplace.

Low exposure risk occupations are those that do not require contact with people known to be infected with the pandemic virus, nor frequent close contact (within 6 feet) with the public. The low risk occupations apply to office type activities and similar environments that don’t require close contact with the public.

The guidance for low risk does not prohibit employees from wearing surgical masks or respirators, however, masks are not recommended for low exposure risk occupations. Employees can buy their own mask or respirator if they prefer. Low risk employees who would like to wear respirators should consult with a safety and health professional. There are other factors that need to be considered; for example, the employee's job or health status might preclude the use of a respirator.

For workplaces that do not require employees to have frequent contact with the general public, basic personal hygiene practices and social distancing can help protect employees at work. Respirators and surgical masks are not recommended for low exposure risk occupations. Employees who prefer to wear surgical masks should contact their safety and health manager. The Safety and Health Manager will provide relevant information on use and protection factors of a surgical mask, and also will give the employee references for additional information. The Safety and Health Manager will not decide whether or not the employee will wear the mask. If an employee decides to voluntarily wear a surgical mask, the employer will provide a mask. An employee may also bring in their own surgical mask for voluntary use, without explicit permission.

All employees should follow the general hygiene and social distancing practices described below for all workplaces.

• Stay at home when sick.
• Wash your hands frequently with soap and water or with hand sanitizer if there is no soap or water available.  Also, avoid touching your nose, mouth, and eyes.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, or cough and sneeze into your upper sleeve if tissues are not available. Wash your hands or use a hand sanitizer after you cough, sneeze or blow your nose. Avoid close contact with your coworkers and customers (maintain a separation of at least 6 feet).
• Avoid shaking hands and always wash your hands after contact with others. Even if you wear gloves, you should wash your hands upon removal of the gloves in case your hand(s) became contaminated during the removal process.
• Provide visitors with tissues and trash receptacles, and with a place to wash or disinfect their hands.
• Keep work surfaces, telephones, computer equipment and other frequently touched surfaces and office equipment clean.  Be sure that any cleaner used is safe and will not harm any person or office equipment.  Use only disinfectants registered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and follow all directions and safety precautions indicated on the label. More information is available in DHS document Workplace Guidance, Disinfection Guidance for Workplace Surfaces Potentially Contaminated with 2009 H1N1 or Seasonal Influenza.
• Try to avoid using other employees' phones, desks, offices or other work tools and equipment.
• Minimize situations where groups of people are crowded together, such as in a meeting.  Use e-mail, phones and text messages to communicate with each other.  When meetings are necessary, avoid close contact by keeping a separation of at least 6 feet, where possible, and assure that there is proper ventilation in the meeting room.
• Reduce or eliminate unnecessary social interactions by reconsidering all situations that permit or require employees, and visitors to enter the workplace. Workplaces which permit family visitors on site should consider restricting/eliminating that option during an influenza pandemic.  

Also try the following:

• Review employee options that may be available for working from home.
• Review office leave policies, policies for getting paid, transportation issues, and day care concerns.
• Know where supplies for hand hygiene are located.
• Monitor public health communications about pandemic flu recommendations and access the available information.

Components may consider incorporating additional or existing protective measures in their internal guidance if it has been determined through an occupational exposure risk assessment by the Component Occupational Safety and Health Office, in consultation with supervisors, that personnel are at a higher risk due to the nature of required work activities and/or the work environment. Such additional measures and controls should be communicated to employees in the context of the safety and health plan. Employees who wish to use personal protective equipment may do so as long as doing so does not create an adverse safety condition and the employee can still perform assigned duties.

This document provides general guidance only for employees covered by Title 5, United States Code, and does not, and is not intended to create or violate any legal rights.