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Infectious Disease Emergency Response

California’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) regulations require employers to evaluate and control hazards in the workplace, including infectious disease. Yorke Engineering’s in-depth knowledge of hazard controls and the regulatory framework for protecting workers enables employers to identify the optimum plan to protect workers in their workplace. Yorke can help with modification or creation of health and safety plans to address a pandemic event which are tailored to your unique work environment. As industry navigates our global environment, a clear and documented response to emerging public health issues will keep business continuity intact and the workforce safe and productive. Our industrial hygiene team under the direction of a Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) can identify workplace risks and relevant regulations and recommend practical mitigation strategies and solutions.

Services

• Prepare an infectious disease emergency response (IDER) plan;
• Identify control strategies, work modifications, and disinfection protocols;
• Review or create an Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP) per California Code of Regulations (CCR) Title 8, Section 3203;
• Identify appropriate Respiratory Protection and create a Respiratory Protection Plan if needed (8 CCR Section 5144);
• Assess personal protective equipment (PPE) (8 CCR Section 3380);
• Formulate a communication plan to inform employees of potential risks and appropriate responses; and
• Train employees on workplace hazard identification, hazard evaluation, and implemented controls.

COVID-19 Update

Yorke is equipped to deal with COVID-19 and can help with the services above. The creation of IDERs, workplace protocols, staff training, and appropriate controls are particularly important during this time, and our staff is fully functional and ready to help.

Cal/OSHA’s latest guidance requires employers to determine if COVID-19 infection is a hazard in their workplace. If it is a workplace hazard, then employers must implement infection control measures, including applicable and relevant recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): How to Protect Yourself & Others. For most California workplaces, adopting changes to the IIPP is mandatory since COVID-19 is widespread in the community. Yorke can help with IIPP alterations or review alterations made by internal teams.