COVID-19 Workplace Guidelines
Prepared by the Campus Community Health and Safety Sub-Committee and approved by the Return to the Hill Committee. Last updated: 1/20/2023
- Physical Contact: Touching an individual who is presumed positive or confirmed positive
- Close Contact: Face-to-face contact within six feet for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period with an individual who is presumed positive or confirmed positive with or without a face covering or mask.
- Proximate Contact: face-to-face contact while social distancing (six foot or more distance) for 30 minutes or more with the individual who is presumed positive or confirmed positive
Exposure to Individual Presumed Positive or Tested Positive
If you have had contact with an individual who has tested positive or is presumed positive, please monitor yourself for symptoms and complete a covid test three to five days after the exposure. Additionally, the CDC recommends wearing a mask while indoors until a negative result is received.
Contact is defined in three ways:
Receiving a Positive Test Result or Experiencing Covid-Related Symptoms
If an individual receives a positive COVID-19 test result or is experiencing any covid-related symptoms, the individual must notify the Associate Vice President for Administration (jglennon@mcdaniel.edu). Your healthcare practitioner will provide instructions on the period of self-isolation that will be required. In most instances, this period will last for five days followed by another period of five days where you must be masked while in the presence of others.
If you are feeling well enough and your work is conducive to it, you may continue to work remotely. If you are unable to work remotely, you may use any sick or vacation leave available to you. If you do not have any sick or vacation leave able, you may apply for unemployment benefits.
- If you are in a private setting and do not have a cloth face covering/mask, always cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or use the inside of your elbow when coughing or sneezing.
- If you used a tissue, immediately throw it into the trash.
- Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
- If soap and water are not available, then clean your hands with hand sanitizer that is at least 60% alcohol.
General Safety Protocols
The college remains committed to thriving in a safe working environment. Members of our community should continue to engage in these safety practices that mitigate the spread of the virus. The practices listed below in alphabetical order.
Coughing/Sneezing Hygiene
Face Coverings
Directions for Use of KN95
- Wash or sanitize your hands immediately before touching your KN95.
- Unfold your mask.
- Place the mask over your face, with the bottom below your chin and the nosepiece up.
- Place the straps of the mask over each of your ears.
- Adjust the metal nose clip using fingers from both hands to mold the clip to the shape of your nose.
- Adjust fit as necessary to reduce air flow around the mask.
- Significant facial hair (more than 3-days growth) adversely effects the ability of the KN95 to form a tight seal around your face and thus reduces the KN95’s effectiveness at protecting you from COVID-19. Therefore, to provide a better fit, parts of your face that come in contact with the KN95 should be free of significant facial hair.
- If you wear glasses and find fogging to be a nuisance, wash the lenses with soapy water and shake off the excess before putting on your mask (wipe off nose piece to minimize skin irritation).
- Wash or sanitize hands after removing the KN95.
|
Type |
KN95 or equivalent |
Disposable Mask |
Medical-Grade Surgical Mask |
N95 Respirator |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
Description |
A commercially manufactured well-fitting mask that helps to contain the respiratory emissions of the wearer. While the KN95 is a specialized mask, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) does not consider a KN95 mask to be a negative-pressure respirator. Therefore, OSHA does not require that users be fit-tested to use the KN95 mask. These masks are extremely effective as they can filter 95% of the virus particles in the air. |
Commercially manufactured mask that helps to contain the respiratory emissions of the wearer. |
Loose-fitting FDA-approved masks to protect the wearer from large droplets and splashes from others; helps to contain the respiratory emissions of the wearer. |
Tight-fitting National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health certified device that provides effective respiratory protection from airborne particles and aerosols; helps to contain the respiratory emissions of the wearer. |
|
Intended Use |
Please review the Community Health Protocols for the most up-to-date information regarding mask usage. |
These masks are reserved for individuals who have task-specific hazards determined by the Office of Risk and Safety. Users have been trained, fit tested as required and approved to use these types of masks. |
||
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Duration of Use |
The KN95 should be discarded when it becomes soiled, no longer covers the mouth and nose, has stretched or damaged ties, or has holes or tears in the fabric. |
Must be changed daily. |
Must be changed daily. |
Must be changed daily. |
|
Care/Storage |
Can be used multiple times before replacing. Store it in a dry brown paper bag away from direct sunlight or excessive heat. Do not attempt to wash. Once it is no longer usable, it can be discarded in the regular trash. If possible, wash or sanitize your hands immediately before and after putting your KN95 on and immediately before and after taking it off when planning to reuse it. |
Must be discarded in trash after one use. |
Must be discarded in trash after one use. |
Must be discarded in trash after one use. |
Handwashing
Frequent handwashing and/or the use of hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol is an important strategy in preventing the spread of disease. Handwashing should be done after one has been in a public place, worked directly with another individual, blowing your nose, sneezing, touching your face, before eating and after eating, have touched an object that is identified as a “high-touch” area such as door knobs, light switches, handrails, etc.
A good handwashing technique includes rubbing hands vigorously together for at least 20 seconds with soap and water addressing the front and back of hand as well as each individual finger.
Cleaning
Personal Cleaning of Common Spaces Following Use: While the Housekeeping staff will continue to clean common spaces in accordance with CDC guidelines, additional care should be taken to wipe down hard surfaces after each use where possible. This includes but is not limited to desks, keyboards, mouse, AV/electrical equipment, chairs, tables, etc. Supplies will be available in each location.
Personal Cleaning of Work Space: While the Housekeeping staff will continue to clean office and workspaces in accordance with CDC guidelines, additional care should be taken to wipe down hard surfaces after each use where possible. This includes but is not limited to desks, keyboards, mouse, AV/electrical equipment, chairs, tables, etc. Supplies will be available in each location.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Additional types of PPE include but are not limited to gloves, face shields, safety goggles, and gowns. The required use of PPE varies based on the task assigned. Typical tasks include patient interaction, cleaning and disinfecting workspaces, sorting mail and packages, and handling cash. Please refer to the COVID-19 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Plan for further information. Questions should be referred to the Office of Risk and Safety.