COVID-19 and the Workplace – One Year Later

It has been one year since COVID-19 reared its ugly head in America and we’ve all dealt with the repercussions of this terrible virus. Over twenty-nine million American’s have tested positive for the COVID-19 virus and we recently reached the grim milestone of a half-million dead. American businesses have had to deal with jurisdictional differences with new rules and regulations regarding COVID-19 reporting, claim compensability and prevention. I think we all can agree 2020 was quite a year and 2021 is starting with some of the same challenges.

To help businesses navigate the complex environment COVID-19 has created, ICW Group is offering a four-part webinar certificate series in April. Those who attend all four webinar presentations will receive a COVID-19 Safety Certificate. First up is Navigating Regulations and Requirements. Focusing on the different types of requirements in place today, the first module in the series will look at where we are now. We will provide a brief review of some of the most stringent requirements for COVID-19 reporting, claim compensability, and prevention control in the country. We will review the evolution of COVID-19 knowledge and how our Infectious Disease Preparedness and Response Program (IDPRP) addresses the changing needs of managing this virus for businesses, and discuss the potential impact of the Biden Administration’s request that OSHA provides an emergency order similar to Cal-OSHA’s for all of America.

The second module, COVID-19 Vaccines: Workplace Guidelines, will address the changing COVID-19 environment based on the world-wide rollout of COVID-19 vaccines. The business implications of requiring or recommending vaccines, a review of EEOC interpretations on COVID-19 vaccines and a discussion on how to facilitate employee vaccines will be included in the discussion.

Our third webinar will review the challenges of returning to the workplace in a near-normal time. Titled Controls to Keep Your Workplace Safe, the webinar will discuss what plans should be in place to control future virus spread in the workforce. We will talk about what controls should be in place from an engineering, administrative and PPE standpoint and help attendees address items such as work hardening and reinforcing non-COVID-19 safety protocols as everyone strives to return to normal work after extended layoffs.

Our final presentation, COVID-19 and Your Future Workplace, will address how we tackle workplace safety for the long haul. COVID 19 is not going away and experts believe that it will eventually be like the seasonal flu; requiring updated vaccines and with varying severity. We will talk about planning for future outbreaks, epidemics and pandemics with the IDPRP.

Attend all four webinars and receive a COVID-19 Safety Certificate. You can register here. We hope you join us!

Risk Management Team
Risk Management Team
Safety is, without question, one of the most important investments companies make. Promoting a safe work environment goes a long way in keeping your workers productive and your costs down. ICW Group's Risk Management team provides a variety of resources to help you create and maintain a culture of safety.

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