Is Your Business Ready to Re-Open in Phase Yellow?

As more and more businesses begin to re-open, the Pennsylvania Department of Health wants to remind business owners on the importance of the health and safety measures that must be taken in light of the COVD-19 pandemic. By following these guidelines, your business will not only be able to protect essential workers, but customers as well.

GENERAL WORKPLACE GUIDANCE

• Businesses that have been operating remotely through individual telework of their employees must continue to telework.
• Businesses that must conduct in-person operations and activities, because their employees cannot telework, must adhere strictly to this guidance. In addition, businesses that maintain in-person operations must make their employees and customers aware of the efforts and commitment to protecting their health and safety.
• Discourage non-essential visitors from entering the business premises.
• Communicate these procedures to all employees to ensure that everyone knows how to be safe.
• Conduct business with the public by appointment only, whenever possible.
• If appointment-only service is not feasible, limit the number of people inside the building to no more than 50% of the total maximum occupancy.
• Post given signage.

HOW CAN MY BUSINESS PROTECT ITS EMPLOYEES?

• First and foremost, ensure that employees have access to hand soap, hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes, and face masks. Provide non-medical masks for employees to wear at all times and make it mandatory to wear masks while on the work site.
• Hand sanitizer is available at City Distilling, and face masks are available from Classy Pal. For additional protection equipment, frequently check Pennsylvania's Interchange Directory. 
• Always clean and disinfect high touch areas and shared equipment. Employees should be encouraged to take frequent hand washing breaks, especially after using shared equipment. 
• If possible, conduct all employee meetings or trainings virtually or over the phone. 
• Stagger work hours and breaks for employees to ensure large groups of employees are not gathering or entering and leaving the business at the same time. 
• Ensure employees have a sufficient amount of space apart from one another in common areas.
• If employees experience any symptoms such as fever, cough, or shortness or breath, they should notify their supervisor and stay home.
• Screen employee temperatures before each shift while still practicing social distancing. 
• Send home employees who have a temperature of 100.4°F or higher.

WHAT IF AN EMPLOYEE CONTRACTS OR HAS BEEN EXPOSED TO COVID-19?

• Notify all employees and identify other employees the exposed person has potentially come in contact with.
• Clean and disinfect all offices, bathrooms, common areas (employee break rooms, conference rooms, dining facilities), and shared electronic equipment. 
• Close off areas visited by the employee and open any outside doors and windows to ensure air flow.
• Advise sick employees to follow CDC-recommended steps, including not returning to work until the CDC criteria to discontinue home isolation are met, in consultation with health care providers and state and local health departments. 
• Employers are encouraged to implement liberal paid time off for employees who do not return to work for the reasons set forth above.

HOW CAN MY BUSINESS PROTECT ITS CUSTOMERS?

• Consider online ordering and delivery or pick-up options if applicable.
• Encourage customers to make appointments for any meetings or services that they may need.
• When customers need to access the business in-person: 
• Require all customers to wear masks while on the premises (Individuals who cannot wear a mask due to a medical condition and children under the age of 2 may enter the premises without face coverings as per CDC guidelines. They are not required to provide documentation).
• Modify the hours of business so that there is enough time to clean and restock.
• Designate certain hours for high-risk and elderly customers at least once a week.
• Install shields or barriers at registers.
• Always clean shopping carts and hand baskets between customers.

SECTOR-SPECIFIC GUIDANCE

Restaurants

• Restaurants and Bars Limited to Carry-Out and Delivery Only.

Retail

• Encourage customers to use online ordering by providing delivery or pick-up options.
• In businesses with multiple check-out lanes, limit use to every other register.
• After every hour, rotate customers and employees to the previously closed registers and clean the previously open registers and the surrounding areas.

Construction

• All active job sites must comply with masking, social distancing, and other safety measures to limit the spread of COVID-19. Minimize the sharing of tools and regularly disinfect high-touch areas.
• Limit the number of workers on each site
• Each active jobsite must have:
• A Pandemic Safety Officer who has obtained a COVID-19 workplace training certificate.
• A written COVID-19 safety plan
• For more information, visit the City of Philadelphia's Resuming Construction Requirements 

ALL INDOOR RECREATION, ENTERTAINMENT, HEALTH & WELLNESS FACILITIES AND PERSONAL CARE SERVICES WILL REMAIN CLOSED. 

For more information, visit the Pennsylvania Department of Health's full list of regulations.