Organizations need to assemble a team to review existing Health and Safety Plan ( HASP ) and Respiratory Protection Program ( RPP ) policies and procedures to identify opportunities to reduce , reuse , or repurpose PPE and develop contingency / crisis plans for COVID-19 . Such a team might include ( where available ) environmental health officers , safety officers , industrial hygienists , logistics officers , infection prevention and occupational health practitioners , facility managers , operations chiefs , medical officers , and workforce representatives . This effort must include worker training to ensure proper implementation of preservation strategies .
To ensure uniform application of modified practices , processes , and procedures , all workers must be trained . Recommended elements of training programs include :
• NIEHS Training Guidance and Resources ;
• Reasons for changes from standard practice and for implementing contingency and crisis practices during COVID-19 related PPE shortages ;
• New PPE guidance ( from FDA , CDC , DOJ , OSHA ) related to COVID-19 ;
• Proper methods to conduct new or changed work practices ( e . g ., staffing , social distancing , source control , symptom screening , hand hygiene , cleaning and disinfecting , accessibility options under ADA );
• Methods to install or utilize any barrier controls ( e . g . patient masking , plastic shields );
• Proper hand hygiene , including the need to wash hands when visibly soiled and after removing PPE ;
• Proper donning and doffing of PPE to minimize self-infection ;
• Proper wear and use of PPE ;
• Limitations of any PPE ;
• How to maintain , store , and dispose of PPE .
July 13 , 2020 Update – Page 4 of 4