CORONAVIRUS COVID-19: Risk Mitigation Guidelines
By Brian E. Nemetz and Benjamin Jelin, Ph.D, CIH, CSP
As concern spreads
Regarding Coronavirus disease 2019 a.k.a. COVID-19, facility owners and operators across most industries are in need of guidance as to how to handle this unprecedented situation. The most commonly requested information includes recommendations to mitigate the risk of exposure related to their properties in the event that a person with a presumptive or confirmed Coronavirus COVID-19 case enters their facility. Public health authorities and academic researchers are still characterizing the transmission of the Coronavirus COVID-19 virus, including determining when those who are infected are infectious (e.g. shedding virus) and whether or how long those viruses are viable (e.g. capable of infection) on surfaces. Environmental viability reportedly lasts from hours to days; one literature review estimated that similar human viruses may be viable under certain circumstances up to 9 days. Facility owners and operators should emphasize preventative hygienic practices by occupants and visitors to their facilities, including, but not limited to:
- Encouragement to stay home when you are sick or exposed to someone who is sick, practice proper sneeze and cough etiquette and use proper hand hygiene procedures.
- Encourage those who have sick family members or employees who may have been exposed to contact their supervisor/HR representative and conduct a risk assessment of their potential exposure. For COVID-19, the period of quarantine is 14 days from the last date of exposure, because 14 days is the longest incubation period seen for similar coronaviruses.
- Separate sick occupants from healthy employees if identified.
- Employ social distancing wherever possible.
- Perform routine environmental cleaning by utilizing EPA-registered antimicrobial/viricidal solution on high probability touch points (e.g. door knobs, sink handles, desks, etc.) that have been cleaned. Remember that antimicrobial/viricidal solutions are registered to be applied to clean surfaces and specific types of surfaces.
- Limit non-essential employee travel and follow the recommendations by public health authorities.
If your facility is impacted by exposure
To a presumed-infectious person or a confirmed infectious person, immediately isolate the area and keep closed off as long as possible before cleaning. Contact a Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) or other infection control specialist who can assist you with the preparation of site-specific cleaning protocols to mitigate the risk of transmission from the potential infectious virus.
There is no environmental test to sample the air or surfaces for the SARS-CoV-2 which causes Coronavirus COVID-19 disease. Proper cleaning and disinfection followed by proxy measurements can determine if surfaces have been cleaned as per industry standards. This is why hiring a knowledgeable consultant and experienced contractor to conduct the cleaning and prevention is key. Engaging with a CIH, Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM) and Council-certified Environmental Infection Control Consultant (CEICC) and Indoor Environmentalist/Consultant (CIE/CIEC) can help you mitigate your risk to workplace related infections, including:
- Response Assessment
- Employee Awareness Training
- Infectious Disease and Pandemic Response Planning
- Focused Cleaning Plan and Procedures
- Cleaning Verification Services
- Risk Communication Strategies
- Review of Clients/Contractors Protocols
This is an evolving situation and recommendations may change over time. Please stay up to date on the recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO). DISCLAIMER: This article was based off the information available on March 12, 2020.
Brian E. Nemetz
Mr. Nemetz has over 15 years of experience as an Industrial Hygienist. As a Technical Director, he is responsible for conducting industrial hygiene, asbestos, indoor air quality, sound level, Legionella, and mold investigations, as well as overseeing multi-phase remediation projects for commercial, industrial, governmental, and construction companies and organizations. Mr. Nemetz has been involved in many aspects of industrial hygiene since 1998. He has conducted numerous comprehensive industrial hygiene audits, sampling and evaluations, and reviewed work processes. Mr. Nemetz has also developed and conducted numerous and various indoor air quality investigations in relation to mold growth, health complaints, water intrusions, and various airborne particulates. Other responsibilities have included developing and implementing remediation projects for mold growth and asbestos. Mr. Nemetz continues to attend professional development and continuing education seminars concerning health, safety, and environ-mental regulatory compliance.
Benjamin Jelin, Ph.D, CIH, CSP
Dr. Jelin is a Project Manager for Partner Engineering and Science, Inc. (Partner), with a specialization in Industrial Hygiene and Environmental Consulting Services across a variety of industries and industry sectors, with a focus on occupational safety/health and limiting client liability. He has shown to be an efficient and effective manager of projects throughout the United States by maintaining and ensuring project scheduling, monitoring daily operations, assuring technician and contractor compliance, communicating regularly with clients, regulators and the public (if necessary), and developing and reviewing written products for clients. He is familiar with both regulatory and consensus standards and guidelines that will help protect workers and the public from hazards, while also limiting client liability. Dr. Jelin prides himself on being able to take on a variety of difficult projects and being able to provide clients with an expert opinion and consultation. His experience includes client consultation in a wide variety of areas some of which include asbestos hazard identification, abatement protocol development (including Negative Exposure Assessments (NEA)), on-site abatement oversight and clearance services; Exposure assessment for health and safety compliance for lead, asbestos, and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs); Indoor Air Quality investigations; Lead Based Paint and Lead Hazard identification; and Fungal/Microbial/Moisture contamination.
