California Occupational Safety & Health Standards (OSHA) General Industry Safety Orders and how they apply to your work within Avenues SLS
• When you feel sick, and/or have COVID-19 symptoms, PLEASE try to find coverage for your shift, notify your coordinator, and stay home!
• “COVID-19 symptoms” means fever of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, chills, cough, shortness of breath or dificulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, or diarrhea
Guidelines for Employees & IHSS workers
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ALL staff must follow all State & County safety guidelines while they are working
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Staff will also coach people we support to follow all State & County safety guidelines
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When any difficulties or concerns arise with the above guidelines, staff should contact their Coordinator and/or Scott & Lori
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If a person we support, or their roommate, tests positive for COVID, we will support them to shelter in place, in their room using the “picnic basket” support strategy (we will deliver food & drink to the person using paper products only, bag up the garbage and dump it immediately to avoid cross-contamination with other household members)
Avenues SLS Provides:
- (These items are at the office and can be requested)
- Gloves – S, M, L, XL
- Masks – disposable
- Face Shields
- Cloth Masks with plastic around the mouth for ease in lip reading (for coaches who work with specific people that need to see people’s mouths in order to understand).
- Hand Sanitizer
- Gowns
- A limited supply of cough drops, lip balm, bar soap, goggles
- Paper and plastic kitchenware if someone gets COVID (to prevent spread through washing dishes) Guidelines for Employees
Guidelines for Employees & IHSS workers:
• Staff will continue to check the temps of yourself and the person we support using a thermometer whenever you enter the person’s home. The person(s) we support should also be encouraged to test every visitor to their home using a thermometer. If the temp reading is RED (over 100), ask the person to remain outside and distanced, then call your Coord or the office for more instructions
• Staff must let their Coordinator and Avenues SLS know when PPE is needed for you or the person you support at your workplace (this includes the persons home, the community and even in your car)
- ALL Coaches and IHSS staff will wear a mask while supporting people outdoors, in their homes, and/or in a car, train or bus;
- The only exceptions to wearing a mask:
- When you/staff are eating or drinking (you must eat a distance of AT LEAST 6 feet away from other people…across the room or in another room, if possible, is best)
- When you are sleeping (doing an “asleep” overnight)
- While exercising outdoors more than 6 feet apart playing tennis, jogging, etc. (Bring other possible exceptions to the team)
- ALL Coaches and IHSS staff will wear a mask while supporting people outdoors, in their homes, and/or in a car, train or bus;
- The only exceptions to wearing a mask:
- When you/staff are eating or drinking (you must eat a distance of AT LEAST 6 feet away from other people…across the room or in another room, if possible, is best)
- When you are sleeping (doing an “asleep” overnight)
- While exercising outdoors more than 6 feet apart playing tennis, jogging, etc. (Bring other possible exceptions to the team)
- As the virus is MOST likely to be transferred INDOORS:
- Staff should follow social distancing (6 feet or more) whenever possible.
- Staff must wear their masks when providing personal support (including showering). If your mask gets wet during showering or other routines, ask Avenues SLS for a face shield to wear IN ADDITION TO your mask
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When eating or drinking, staff should do this more than 6 feet away from people they support (in another room is best)
Notification (HIPPA Rules Apply) What we must tell you and what we can’t tell you
We can not share who has tested positive – only that someone on the team tested positive and you had (or did not have) contact with that person for 15 minutes or more during the past 14 days. The number of days may change based on stated regs/guidelines.
• If there is a possible secondary exposure – ex. A staff tests positive and we know that staff had close, sustained contact with the person you support and therefore that person has a high chance of exposure – we can tell you so you can decide if you want to be tested or take extra precautions with your social circle
Exposure Levels of Exposure to a person tested positive for COVID-19
Low Risk – less than 15 minutes with a person or more than 6 feet between people – No action needed, no need to report
Minimal Risk – more than 15 minutes of contact or closer than 6 feet apart with PPE – Action needed (test, isolate, watch for symptoms), notify those affected
High Risk – direct contact for prolonged periods of time or more than 15 minutes/ closer than 6 feet without PPE (This shouldn’t be occurring if you are following Avenues SLS safety guidelines, but as mentioned in case someone in your inner circle tests positive) ACTION: Please let Avenues SLS know when you have been exposed to a High-Risk situation.
IN ALL EXPOSURE SITUATIONS, AVENUES SLS WILL FOLLOW CDC
Doctor’s Orders (Varies from doctor to doctor)
- Some doctors require longer time between tests than the required 24 hours
- Some doctors require a different number of days of isolation after testing positive – 7, 10, 14, 15
- Some doctors require a different number of days without symptoms for people sharing a household with a person who tested positive – 7, 10, 14, 15
- Some doctors suggest isolation after travel or meeting up with friends and then testing after 3 or 5 or 7 days
- We encourage you to provide a copy of your doctor’s orders and require a copy of your test results (as per Cal-OSHA guidelines)
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