COVID-19 Safe Workplace Training Supplement
Federal Guidance Supplement
Updated: September 25, 2023
COVID-19 guidance rapidly evolves in response to virus variants and new scientific evidence. Please review this Federal Guidance Supplement to our COVID-19 Safe Workplace Training for the latest CDC and OSHA guidance related to the topics discussed in the course. Then, return to the State Resources.
Everyone must follow all safe work practices required by federal, state, or local law or workplace policy.
How to Protect Yourself and Others
The federal COVID-19 public health emergency declaration ended on May 11, 2023.
While COVID-19 is no longer a nationwide public health emergency, the pandemic is ongoing. At the community level, the prevalence of COVID-19 changes constantly and can still be high enough to increase the risk of infection for everyone in the community.
The CDC recommends that everyone follow a set of sustainable practices to protect themselves and others, including:
- Staying Up to Date with COVID-19 Vaccines
- Improving Ventilation
- Getting Tested for COVID-19 If Needed
- Following Recommendations for What to Do If You Have Been Exposed
- Staying Home If You Have Suspected or Confirmed COVID-19
- Seeking Treatment If You Have COVID-19 and Are at High Risk of Getting Very Sick
- Avoiding Contact with People Who Have Suspected or Confirmed COVID-19
If the levels of hospital admissions in your community is elevated (medium or high), or if you or the people around you are at increased risk of serious illness, the CDC recommends:
- Wearing Masks or Respirators
- Avoiding Crowded Areas and Keeping Distance between Yourself and Others
You can find the latest guidance on COVID-19 prevention at the CDC website.
Everyone must follow all safe work practices required by federal, state, or local law or workplace policy.
COVID-19 Vaccines and CDC Recommendations
This information supplements our COVID-19 Safe Workplace Training on vaccination.
Vaccination is key in protecting everyone in the workplace from COVID-19. COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective at preventing severe illness, hospitalizations, and death. Current CDC recommendations and information about the different vaccines that have been available over time are below.
Current CDC Vaccine Recommendations
The CDC recommends the 2023–2024 updated COVID-19 vaccines.
Everyone aged 5 years and older should get 1 dose of the updated Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to protect against serious illness from COVID-19.
People who are moderately or severely immunocompromised may get additional doses of updated COVID-19 vaccine.
Children aged 6 months–4 years need multiple doses of COVID-19 vaccines to be up to date, including at least 1 dose of updated COVID-19 vaccine.
COVID-19 Vaccines: 2023-2024 Updated, Bivalent, and Original
2023-2024 updated COVID-19 Vaccines
As of September 12, 2023, the 2023–2024 updated Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines were recommended by CDC for use in the United States.
The 2023–2024 updated COVID-19 vaccines more closely target the XBB lineage of the Omicron variant and could restore protection against severe COVID-19 that may have decreased over time. The CDC anticipates the updated vaccines will be better at fighting currently circulating variants.
Novavax’s updated COVID-19 vaccine is currently under review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for emergency use authorization (EUA) in individuals aged 12 and older.
2022-2023 Bivalent Vaccines
As of September 11, 2023, the bivalent Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines are no longer available for use in the United States.
The 2022–2023 bivalent vaccines were designed to protect against both the original virus that causes COVID-19 and the Omicron variants BA.4 and BA.5. Two COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers, Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, had developed bivalent COVID-19 vaccines.
Original Vaccines
As of April 18, 2023, the original Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines are no longer available for use in the United States.
As of May 6, 2023, J&J/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine is no longer available for use in the United States.
Previous COVID-19 vaccines were called “original” because they were designed to protect against the original virus that causes COVID-19.
You can find the latest guidance on COVID-19 vaccines at the CDC website.
Everyone must follow all safe work practices required by federal, state, or local law or workplace policy.
When Are Your Vaccinations Up to Date
This information supplements our COVID-19 Safe Workplace Training for fully vaccinated and up to date workers.
Vaccinated people sometimes get infected with the virus that causes COVID-19. Staying up to date on COVID-19 vaccines significantly lowers the risk of getting very sick, being hospitalized, or dying from COVID-19.
CDC recommends that everyone stay up to date on their COVID-19 vaccines, especially people with weakened immune systems.
As of September 15, 2023, CDC guidance on staying up to date is:
Everyone aged 5 years and older:
You are up to date when you get 1 updated COVID-19 vaccine.
Children aged 6 months—4 years:
You are up to date when you get all recommended doses, including at least 1 dose of updated COVID-19 vaccine.
Children aged 6 months—5 years who got the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine:
You are up to date when you get 2 Moderna COVID-19 vaccine doses, including at least 1 updated COVID-19 vaccine dose.
People who got the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine:
You are up to date when you get the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine doses approved for your age group or when you get 1 updated COVID-19 vaccine.
People who got the Johnson & Johnson/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine:
You are up to date when you get 1 updated COVID-19 vaccine.
You can find the CDC’s latest guidance on staying up to date with vaccines here.
Everyone must follow all safe work practices required by law or workplace policy, regardless of vaccination status.
Unvaccinated and At-Risk Workers
This information supplements our COVID-19 Safe Workplace Training on recommended safe work practices for unvaccinated and at-risk workers.
Unvaccinated Workers
If you are not vaccinated and up to date, you should follow a combination of safe work practices to reduce the risk of getting and spreading COVID-19.
At-Risk Workers
Even if you are vaccinated and up to date, you may not be protected from COVID-19 if you have a condition or are taking medications that weaken your immune system. The CDC advises that you consult with your healthcare provider regarding what precautions are right for you.
Protections for Unvaccinated and At-Risk Workers
If you are not vaccinated and up to date or if you are otherwise at-risk, OSHA- and CDC-recommended strategies you may use to reduce your risk include:
Get a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as you can if you have not already done so. Once you are vaccinated and up to date, you may be able to start doing some things you had stopped doing because of the pandemic.
Wear a mask that covers your nose and mouth in indoor public spaces to help protect yourself and others.
Avoid crowds and poorly ventilated indoor spaces and improve ventilation. Being in crowds like restaurants, bars, fitness centers, or movie theatres puts you at higher risk for COVID-19. Avoid indoor spaces that do not offer fresh air from the outdoors as much as possible.
Wash your hands often with soap and water. Use hand sanitizer if soap and water aren’t available.
- Test if you have symptoms, have been exposed, or are going to an indoor gathering.
You can find the latest guidance on what unvaccinated and at-risk workers can do to protect themselves and others from the CDC and OSHA.
Everyone must follow all safe work practices required by law or workplace policy, regardless of vaccination status.
Respirator and Face Mask Fit & Types
This information supplements our COVID-19 Safe Workplace Training on respirator and face mask fits and types.
The CDC continues to study how masks and respirators help to slow the spread of COVID-19.
The CDC provides guidance on different types of masks and respirators you can use to protect yourself and others from getting and spreading COVID-19.
How to Store & Wash Masks
This information supplements our COVID-19 Safe Workplace Training on how to store and wash masks.
Storing Your Mask
Clean Masks
You can store your mask temporarily to reuse later. Remove your mask correctly and wash your hands after touching a used mask. Keep it in a dry, breathable bag (like a paper or mesh fabric bag) to keep it clean between uses. When reusing your mask, keep the same side facing out.
If you are taking off your mask to eat or drink outside of your home, you can place it somewhere safe to keep it clean, such as your pocket, purse, or paper bag.
Make sure to wash or sanitize your hands after removing your mask. After eating, put the mask back on with the same side facing out. Be sure to wash or sanitize your hands again after putting your mask back on.
Wet or Dirty Mask
You should replace a wet or soiled mask with a clean mask. A wet mask is less effective and can make it hard to breathe.
Store a wet reusable mask in a plastic bag until you are able to put can put it in the laundry. To keep a reusable mask clean between uses, you can temporarily store it in a dry paper or mesh fabric bag. When reusing the mask, keep the same side facing out. Be sure to remove and put on the mask correctly.
Washing Your Mask
Disposable masks must be thrown away after each use. Damaged reusable masks should also be discarded.
Reusable masks should be washed daily – ideally after each work shift – and wet and dirty masks as soon as possible to prevent mold. To wash your mask effectively, follow these steps:
Include your mask with your regular laundry.
Use regular laundry detergent.
Use the appropriate settings according to the fabric label.
Dry your mask completely in a warm or hot dryer.
You can find the latest guidance on how to store and wash masks at the CDC website.
Ventilation
This information supplements our COVID-19 Safe Workplace Training.
Ensuring adequate ventilation throughout the work environment can help limit the spread of COVID-19.
COVID-19 viral particles spread more readily indoors because the concentration of viral particles is often higher than outdoors. When possible, introducing outdoor air can help improve ventilation, such as opening windows and using fans.
If you see that a vent is clogged, dirty, or blocked by furniture or equipment, report it immediately to Human Resources or the building manager.
Federal and state guidance evolves as scientists learn more about the COVID-19 virus.
You can find the latest guidance on COVID-19 ventilation in the workplace and ventilation in buildings from the CDC and OSHA.
Hand Sanitizer
This information supplements our COVID-19 Safe Workplace Training on hand sanitizer.
Hand sanitizer is not as effective as washing your hands at removing all types of germs or when your hands are visibly dirty or greasy. If your hands are visibly dirty or greasy, you should always wash your hands with soap and water.
If soap and water are not available, and your hands are not visibly dirty or greasy, you can use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol, and then wash your hands with soap and water as soon as you can.
Follow the steps described in the course to use hand sanitizer effectively.
Cleaning & Disinfection
This information supplements our COVID-19 Safe Workplace Training on cleaning and disinfection.
Cleaning and disinfecting can also reduce the risk of infection in the workplace. Cleaning with products containing soap or detergent reduces germs on surfaces. Disinfecting kills any remaining germs.
If you are involved in cleaning or disinfecting your work area or any other part of the workplace, you should use cleaners and disinfectants safely and effectively.
Safe Use of Product
Always read and follow the product label for instructions on safe use.
The product label will list any necessary safety precautions, such as PPE (e.g., gloves, glasses, or goggles), ventilation (e.g., open windows), and other precautions.
Wash your hands after cleaning or disinfecting and after removing gloves or other protection.
Special considerations should be made for people with asthma. Learn more about reducing your chance of an asthma attack while cleaning and disinfecting.
Clean & Disinfect Effectively
Always read and follow the product label for effective use, including concentration, application, and contact time.
Daily cleaning with products containing soap or detergent is usually sufficient to remove viruses that may be on surfaces.
When disinfection is needed, use products that are effective against COVID-19 from the EPA’s List N. If those products are not available, bleach solutions can be used if appropriate for the surface.
Electronics
Consider placing a wipeable cover on electronics for easier cleaning and disinfecting.
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions and recommendations for cleaning the electronic device.
For electronic surfaces that need to be disinfected, use a product on EPA’s List N that meets the manufacturer’s recommendations. Many products for electronics contain alcohol because it dries quickly.
Soft Surfaces
For soft surfaces, such as carpets, rugs, and drapes, clean the surface using a product containing soap, detergent, or other cleaner appropriate for these items.
Launder clothing, towels, linens, and soft surfaces (if possible), and other similar items. Use the warmest appropriate water setting and dry items completely.
If you need to disinfect, use a product approved for soft surfaces on EPA’s List N.
Vacuum as usual.
Health Monitoring
This information supplements our COVID-19 Safe Workplace Training on health monitoring.
Everyone should monitor their health daily for COVID-19 symptoms, regardless of vaccination status.
Do not come to work if you have any symptoms or test positive for COVID-19. Follow the applicable absence reporting procedures at your workplace.
Notify your supervisor immediately if:
If you are well when you arrive to work but develop COVID-19 symptoms during the workday.
If you were recently exposed to someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19.
Contact your healthcare provider to help make decisions on when to seek testing and medical care.
Workplace Safety Feedback or Concerns
Workers have the right to a safe workplace free from known health and safety hazards. Please contact Human Resources or the COVID-19 contact person for your worksite if you have any COVID-19 workplace safety-related concerns, suggestions, or feedback, or if you have questions about any of the information covered in this training.
Retaliation is strictly prohibited against workers who raise concerns about unsafe working conditions or report COVID-19 infection or exposure.
You may also contact the U.S. Occupational Health and Safety Administration – OSHA – or equivalent state agency about unsafe working conditions.
Workplace & Job-duty Specific Information
Safe work practices may differ depending on job duties and work setting.
If necessary, you will be provided additional education on workplace or job-duty-specific information and training on COVID-19 safe work practices. Managers will also receive instruction on how to implement COVID-19 policies.
Workers who are required to wear personal protective equipment – PPE – will be provided training on proper use and care.
Contact Human Resources or the COVID-19 contact person for your worksite for more information
Everyone must follow all safe work practices required by law or workplace policy.