level becomes very high.) ■ Medical transport workers (e.g., ambulance vehicle operators) moving known or suspected COVID-19 patients in enclosed vehicles. ■ Mortuary workers involved in preparing (e.g., for burial or cremation) the bodies of people who are known to have, or suspected of having, COVID-19 at the time of their death. OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION 2 0 Medium Exposure Risk Medium exposure risk jobs include those that require frequent and/or close contact with (i.e., within 6 feet of) people who may be infected with SARS-CoV-2, but who are not known or suspected COVID-19 patients. In areas without ongoing community transmission, workers in this risk group may have frequent contact with travelers who may return from international locations with widespread COVID-19 transmission. In areas where there is ongoing community transmission, workers in this category may have contact with the general public (e.g., schools, high-population-density work environments, some high-volume retail settings). Lower Exposure Risk (Caution) Lower exposure risk (caution) jobs are those that do not require contact with people known to be, or suspected of being, infected with SARS-CoV-2 nor frequent close contact with (i.e., within 6 feet of) the general public. Workers in this category have minimal occupational contact with the public and other coworkers. Jobs Classified at Lower Exposure Risk (Caution): What to Do to Protect Workers For workers who do not have frequent contact with the general public, employers should follow the guidance for “Steps All Employers Can Take to Reduce Workers’ Risk of Exposure to SARS-CoV-2,” on page 7 of this booklet and implement control measures described in this section. Engineering Controls Additional engineering controls are not recommended for workers in the lower exposure risk group. Employers should ensure that engineering controls, if any, used to protect workers from other job hazards continue to function as intended. GUIDANCE ON PREPARING WORKPLACES FOR COVID-19 2 1 Administrative Controls ■ Monitor public health communications about COVID-19 recommendations and ensure that workers have access to that information. Frequently check the CDC COVID-19 website: www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov. ■ Collaborate with workers to designate effective means of communicating important COVID-19 information. Personal Protective Equipment Additional PPE is not recommended for workers in the lower exposure risk group. Workers should continue to use the PPE, if any, that they would ordinarily use for other job tasks. Jobs Classified at Medium Exposure Risk: What to Do to Protect Workers In workplaces where workers have medium exposure risk, employers should follow the guidance for “Steps All Employers Can Take to Reduce Workers’ Risk of Exposure to SARS-CoV-2,” on page 7 of this booklet and implement control measures described in this section. Engineering Controls ■ Install physical barriers, such as clear plastic sneeze guards, where feasible. Administrative Controls ■ Consider offering face masks to ill employees and customers to contain respiratory secretions until they are able leave the workplace (i.e., for medical evaluation/care or to return home). In the event of a shortage of masks, a reusable face shield that can be decontaminated may be an acceptable method of protecting against droplet transmission. See CDC/ NIOSH guidance for optimizing respirator supplies, which discusses the use of surgical masks, at: www.cdc.gov/ coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/respirators-strategy. OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION 2 2 ■ Keep customers informed about symptoms of COVID-19 and ask sick customers to minimize contact with workers until healthy again, such as by posting signs about COVID-19 in stores where sick customers may visit (e.g., pharmacies) or including COVID-19 information in automated messages sent when prescriptions are ready for pick up. ■ Where appropriate, limit customers’ and the public’s access to the worksite, or restrict access to only certain workplace areas. ■ Consider strategies to minimize face-to-face contact (e.g., drivethrough windows, phone-based communication, telework). ■ Communicate the availability of medical screening or other worker health resources (e.g., on-site nurse; telemedicine services). Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) When selecting PPE, consider factors such as function, fit, decontamination ability, disposal, and cost. Sometimes, when PPE will have to be used repeatedly for a long period of time, a more expensive and durable type of PPE may be less expensive overall than disposable PPE. Each employer should select the combination of PPE that protects workers specific to their workplace. Workers with medium exposure risk may need to wear some combination of gloves, a gown, a face mask, and/or a face shield or goggles. PPE ensembles for workers in the medium exposure risk category will vary by work task, the results of the employer’s hazard assessment, and the types of exposures workers have on the job. High exposure risk jobs are those with high potential for exposure to known or suspected sources of COVID-19. Very high exposure risk jobs are those with high potential for exposure to known or suspected sources of COVID-19 during specific