Last updated: September 3, 2020.
This blog post includes contributions from Saba Imran, Program Coordinator for Economic Empowerment at LIRS and Switchboard.
While some of our clients have experienced difficult layoffs or furloughs, others are continuing to serve our communities through their daily work. Essential workers range from child care providers and healthcare professionals to grocery store staff and meatpacking employees. How can we support the wellbeing of clients who must work?
Here is a collection of COVID-19 safety information for employees, including fact sheets, infographics, and links to resources in multiple languages. The information provided here focuses on meatpacking industries, grocery store/food services, and child care, with additional links to general employee rights and COVID-19 safety sources.
Note: Some resources below include state-specific guidance. Our hope is that these resources will provide examples of industry-specific best practices and precautions that you can share with clients and employers, but be sure to regularly check your state government’s COVID-19 resources for up-to-date local guidance.
Meatpacking
Meat and Poultry Processing Workers and Employers
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Aimed at employers but includes detailed guidance on social distancing guidelines and personal protective equipment pertinent to employees as well. Available in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese, and Korean.
Meat and Poultry Processing Employees
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
This flyer includes tips for employees to protect themselves and others from COVID-19 at work and at home. Available in Amharic, Arabic, Burmese, Chinese, English, French, Haitian-Creole, Karen, Korean, Nepali, Portugese, Spanish, Somali, Tigrinya, and Vietnamese.
Meat and Poultry Processing Facilities: Keys Strategies to Prevent COVID-19 Infection Among Employees
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
This tip sheet details important actions that employers can take to keep employees safe and healthy while working at a meat processing plant. Available in Amharic, Arabic, Burmese, Chinese, English, French, Haitian-Creole, Karen, Korean, Nepali, Spanish, Somali, Tigrinya, and Vietnamese.
COVID-19 Quick Tips on Assembly Lines
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
This video outlines ways employers can protest meat processing and assembly line workers from exposure to the coronavirus. This video is also available in Spanish.
Fact Sheet – COVID-19 Health and Safety Guidelines for the Meatpacking Industry
Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry
Guidance on minimizing risk from COVID-19 in meatpacking workplaces. Available in English.
Food Processing – Warehouse Coronavirus (COVID-19) Fact Sheet
Washington State Department of Labor and Industries
Guidance aimed at food processing employers with pertinent information for employees on minimizing risk from COVID-19 in meatpacking workplaces. Available in English.
Note: These safety precautions are particularly important in light of the April 28, 2020 executive order directing the Department of Agriculture “to ensure America’s meat and poultry processors continue operations uninterrupted to the maximum extent possible.”
Grocery Store/Food Services
Best Practices for Retail Food Stores, Restaurants, and Food Pick-up/Delivery Services During the COVID-19 Pandemic
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Includes an infographic and best practices for food handling, employee health, cleaning and sanitizing and personal protective equipment for retail food stores and restaurants. Available in English, Spanish, Korean, Simplified Chinese, Tagalog, and Vietnamese.
What Food and Grocery Pick-up and Delivery Drivers Need to Know about COVID-19
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Information on masks, limiting contact, everyday preventive actions, and cleaning and disinfecting specifically for food or grocery delivery drivers. Available in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese, and Korean.
Food Worker and Establishment Guidance on COVID-19
Washington State Department of Health
Includes prevention recommendations and COVID-19-related food safety questions for food establishment employees. Available in English, Spanish, Russian, Chinese (simplified), Chinese (traditional), and Korean.
Newly added! COVID-19 Guidance for Food Service Providers
City of Austin, TX
This flyer includes tips for restaurants and food service providers to protect their patrons and employees. Arabic, Burmese, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, English, Korean, Spanish, Urdu, and Vietnamese.
Child Care Services
Guidance for Schools and Child Care Programs
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Includes FAQs, cleaning and disinfection recommendations, and guidance for schools and child care programs before and during an outbreak. Available in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese, and Korean.
Child Care Resources & Recommendations
Washington State Department of Health
Guidance for child care facilities, early learning providers, and schools offering care to maintain health and safety standards and social distancing orders. Available in English, Spanish, Russian, Vietnamese, Ukrainian, Korean, Somali, Tagalog, Arabic, Chinese, Punjabi, Cambodian Khmer, Japanese, Amharic, Samoan, and Marshallese.
Childcare Guidance in Response to COVID-19
Iowa Department of Human Services
Information specific to child care workers regarding hygiene, cleanliness, health and social distancing. Available in English and Spanish.
General Guidance & Guidance for Other Industries
COVID-19 General Guidance for All Workers and Employers
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Includes specific information for workers in critical sectors such as healthcare, retail, and environmental services. Available in English and Spanish.
Resources for Businesses and Employers
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Includes cleaning and disinfection recommendations and factsheets for different industries such as airport staff, mass transit workers, and drivers. Available in English, Spanish, Chinese Simplified, Vietnamese, and Korean.
What Workers and Employers Can Do to Manage Workplace Fatigue during COVID-19
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Includes general strategies that workers and employers can use to manage workplace fatigue and work safely. Available in English, Spanish, Chinese Simplified, Vietnamese, Korean, Japanese, German, and Portuguese.
Manufacturing Workers and Employers
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Guidance for manufacturing workers and employers on exposure risk among workers and tips on creating a COVID-19 assessment and control plan. Available in English, Spanish, Chinese Simplified, Vietnamese, and Korean.
Safety Practices for Critical Workers Who Have Been Exposed to COVID-19
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Guidance for essential workers who have experienced a potential exposure of an individual with confirmed or suspected COVID-19. Available in English, Spanish, Chinese Simplified, Vietnamese, and Korean.
Worker and Customer Protection: Guidelines for Non-HealthCare Industries
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
General recommendations for employees in non-healthcare industries that remain open for business during the COVID-19 pandemic. Available in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese, Somali, Arabic, and Nepali.
Know Your Rights During Coronavirus Pandemic
HIAS
Includes information about employment protections, accessing healthcare, stimulus payments and more. Available in English, Arabic, Farsi, French, Russian, Spanish, and Swahili.
