U.S. Department of Labor  |  October 19, 2020

U.S. Department of Labor Issues Frequently Asked Question and Answer Confirming N95 Respirators Protect Against the Coronavirus

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has published a set of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on how N95 respirators effectively protect wearers from coronavirus exposure. 

OSHA is aware of incorrect claims stating that N95 respirators filter does not capture particles as small as the virus that causes the coronavirus. OSHA’s new FAQ explains why an N95 respirator is effective at protecting users from the virus.

Visit OSHA’s COVID-19 webpage for further information and resources about the coronavirus.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA’s role is to help ensure these conditions for America’s workers by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education, and assistance. For more information, visit www.osha.gov.

The mission of the Department of Labor is to foster, promote and develop the welfare of the wage earners, job seekers and retirees of the United States; improve working conditions; advance opportunities for profitable employment; and assure work-related benefits and rights.

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Media Contacts:

Megan Sweeney, 202-693-4661, sweeney.megan.p@dol.gov

Release Number: 20-1845-NAT

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COVID-19 is spreading from person to person in parts of the United States. Risk of infection with COVID-19 is higher for people who are close contacts of someone known to have COVID-19, for example healthcare workers, or household members. Other people at higher risk for infection are those who live in or have recently been in an area with ongoing spread of COVID-19. Learn more about places with ongoing spread at   https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/ transmission.html#geographic. Have there been cases of COVID-19 in the U.S.? Yes. The first case of COVID-19 in the United States was reported on January 21, 2020. The current count of cases of COVID-19 in the United States is available on CDC’s webpage at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-in-us.html. How does COVID-19 spread? The virus that causes COVID-19 probably emerged from an animal source, but is now spreading from person to person. The virus is thought to spread mainly between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet) through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. It also may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads. Learn what is known about the spread of newly emerged coronaviruses at https://www.cdc.gov/ coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/transmission.html. What are the symptoms of COVID-19? Patients with COVID-19 have had mild to severe respiratory illness with symptoms of • fever • cough • shortness of breath
What are severe complications from this virus? Some patients have pneumonia in both lungs, multi-organ failure and in some cases death. How can I help protect myself? People can help protect themselves from respiratory illness with everyday preventive actions.  
 • Avoid close contact with people who are sick. • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands. • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available. If you are sick, to keep from spreading respiratory illness to others, you should • Stay home when you are sick. • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash. • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces. What should I do if I recently traveled from an area with ongoing spread of COVID-19? If you have traveled from an affected area, there may be  restrictions on your movements for up to 2 weeks. If you develop symptoms during that period (fever, cough, trouble breathing), seek medical advice. Call the office of your health care provider before you go, and tell them about your travel and your symptoms. They will give you instructions on how to get care without exposing other people to your illness. While sick, avoid contact with people, don’t go out and delay any travel to reduce the possibility of spreading illness to others. Is there a vaccine? There is currently no vaccine to protect against COVID-19. The best way to prevent infection is to take everyday preventive actions, like avoiding close contact with people who are sick and washing your hands often. Is there a treatment? There is no specific antiviral treatment for COVID-19. People with COVID-19 can seek medical care to help relieve symptoms. 2019-ncov-factsheet

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This webpage provides information for workers and employers about the evolving coronavirus outbreak first identified in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China. The information includes links to interim guidance and other resources for preventing exposures to, and infections with, 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV).

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Chinese authorities identified the new coronavirus, which has resulted in confirmed human infections in China and exported cases outside of China, including in the United States, Thailand, Japan, and South Korea. China also has reported spread of the virus from infected patients to healthcare workers.

There is no evidence of ongoing transmission of 2019-nCoV in the United States at this time. Without sustained human-to-human transmission, most American workers are not at significant risk of infection. However, workers involved in airline operations (including cabin crewmembers), healthcare (including clinical laboratory personnel), and border protection may have exposure to travelers infected with the virus in China or other affected areas. Business travelers from the United States who visit areas abroad where the virus is spreading may also be at some risk of exposure.

There is much more to learn about the transmissibility, severity, and other features associated with 2019-nCoV as the outbreak investigation continues. Based on how other similar viruses spread, infected people may be able to spread the 2019-nCoV through their respiratory secretions, especially when they cough or sneeze. Previous outbreaks of coronavirus have been associated with spread from ill people to others through close contact, such as caring for or living with an infected person.

Employers and workers should consult interim CDC guidance specific to 2019-nCoV, along with existing resources for other coronaviruses, such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), for precautions appropriate for this similar virus.

Control and Prevention

Take steps to prevent worker exposure to 2019-nCov.

• All workers who may be exposed
  • Frequently wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Healthcare workers
  • Until more is known about how the 2019-nCoV spreads, CDC and OSHA recommend using a combination of standard, contact, and airborne precautions (including wearing gowns, gloves, NIOSH-certified disposable N95 or better respirators, and eye/face protection) to protect workers with exposure to the virus.
  • CDC interim infection control recommendations
  • World Health Organization (WHO) interim guidance on infection prevention and control during health care when nCoV infection is suspected
• Clinical laboratory workers
  • CDC interim laboratory biosafety guidelines for handling specimens associated with 2019-nCoV infection
• Airline workers
  • Consult OSHA’s airline worker MERS infection prevention and control recommendations.
• Border protection workers
  • Consult OSHA’s general MERS infection prevention and control recommendations.
• Waste management workers
  • Workers and employers should manage waste contaminated with 2019-nCoV as they would other regulated medical waste. (The 2019-nCoV is not a Category A infectious substance.)
  • Use appropriate engineering and administrative controls, safe work practices, and PPE, such as puncture-resistant gloves and face/eye protection, to prevent worker exposure to medical waste, including sharps and other items that can cause injuries or exposures to infectious materials.
  • Consult the regulated medical waste information in CDC’s guidelines for environmental infection control in healthcare facilities, CDC’s interim infection prevention and control recommendations for hospitalized patients with MERS, and OSHA’s general MERS infection prevention and control recommendations.
• U.S. business travelers
  • CDC Travel Notice: Novel Coronavirus in China

• Standards
• Workers’ Rights

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The storm might be over but that doesn’t mean the danger is.  Take steps to protect yourself and your loved ones during your cleanup after a hurricane, flood, or other natural disaster.  Follow these cleanup tips and monitor your radio or television for up-to-date emergency information.

• General Safety Tips

Get the right safety gear

• Hard hats
• Goggles
• N95 masks (or a respirator with a higher protection level)
• Heavy work gloves
• Waterproof boots with steel toe and insole (not just steel shank)
• Earplugs or protective headphones (if you’re working with noisy equipment)
• At least two fire extinguishers (each with a UL rating of at least 10A)

If sewage is involved, make sure to wear the following during your cleanup:

• Rubber boots
• Rubber gloves
• Goggles

Use teams to move heavy/bulky objects

• Have teams of at least two people work together to move heavy or bulky objects.
• Avoid lifting any material that weighs more than 50 pounds (per person)

Pace yourself

            Cleaning up your home can be a big job.  Be sure to take care of yourself:

• Rest when you need to.
• Decide which cleanup tasks are most important, and focus on those first. That way, you’re less likely to be overwhelmed.
• Get help lifting heavy or bulky objects. If you lift too much on your own, you could hurt yourself.
• Try to work with other people, so you aren’t alone.
• Get support from family members, friends, counselors or therapists.

Take precaution when using a chainsaw

• When using a chain saw, always follow manufacturer’s instructions. Make sure to wear appropriate protective gear, and be sure that bystanders are a safe distance away.
• Avoid contact with power lines and take extra care in cutting trees or branches that are bent or caught under something else.
• Use extreme caution to avoid electrical shock when using an electric chain saw.
• For tips on safely operating a chain saw, see Preventing Chain Saw Injuries During Tree Removal After a Disaster.

Stay safe in hot weather

• In hot weather, try to stay cool by staying in air-conditioned buildings, taking breaks in shaded areas or in cool rooms, drink water and nonalcoholic fluids often, and wearing light and loose-fitting clothing.
• Do outdoor activities during cooler hours.
• For more information on protecting yourself against heat-related illness, see the CDC Extreme Heat Web site.
• Mold

Prevent mold growth

• Clean up and dry your home quickly after the storm or flood ends-within 24 t0 48 hours if possible.
• Air out your house by opening doors and windows. Use fans to dry wet areas. Position fans to blow air out doors or windows.
• Throw away anything that you can’t clean or dry quickly (such as mattresses, carpeting, carpet padding, rugs, upholstered furniture, cosmetics, stuffed animals, baby toys, pillows, foam-rubber items, books, wall coverings, and paper products).
• Remove and discard drywall and insulation that has been contaminated with sewage or flood waters.
• Thoroughly clean all wet items and surfaces with hot water and laundry or dish detergent. For example, you’ll want to clean any flooring, concrete, molding, wood and metal furniture, countertops, appliances, sinks and other plumbing fixtures.
• Fix any leaks in roofs, walls, or plumbing as soon as you can.

Clean up mold with mix of bleach and water

• Never use bleach in a closed space. Open windows and doors first.
• Put on personal protective equipment to protect your eyes, nose, mouth, and skin. Wear goggles, an N-95 respirator, and protective gloves.
• To make your cleaner, mix 1 cup of household bleach with 1 gallon of water.
• Clean everything with mold on it.
• See Mold After a Disaster, CDC Flood Web site, and Homeowner’s and Renter’s Guide to Mold Cleanup After Disasters or more information on safely reentering flooded homes, cleaning up flood or storm water, worker safety issues and mold cleanup issues.

• Hygiene & Preventing Diseases

Disinfect toys

Remember that anything that’s had contact with floodwater could carry germs.  To keep your kids safe make sure their toys are clean:

• Make a cleaning fluid by mixing 1 cup of bleach in 5 gallons of water.
• Wash off toys carefully with your cleaner.
• Let the toys air dry.

You may not be able to kill germs on some toys – like stuffed animals and baby toys.  Throw out toys you can’t clean.

Wash up with soap and water

• Wash up with soap and water once you’re done cleaning.
• If there is a boil-water advisory in effect:
• Use water that has been boiled for 1 minute (allow the water to cool before washing); or
• Use water that’s been disinfected for personal hygiene:
• When using 5-6% unscented liquid household chlorine bleach – add a little less than 1/8 teaspoon (8 drops or about 0.5 milliliters) per 1 gallon of clear water. Stir well and let it stand for 30 minutes before using.  If the water is cloudy, add a little less than ¼ teaspoon (16 drops or about 1 milliliter) per 1 gallon of water.
• When using 8.25% unscented liquid household chlorine bleach – add a little less than 1/8 teaspoon (6 drops or about 0.5 milliliters) per 1 gallon on clear water. Stir well, and let it stand for 30 minutes before using.  If the water is cloudy, add 12 drops (or about 1 milliliter) per 1 gallon of water.

• If you have any open cuts or sores that were exposed to floodwater, wash them with soap and water and apply an antibiotic ointment to prevent an infection.
• Seek immediate medical attention if you become injured or sick.
• Wash all clothes worn during the cleanup in hot water and detergent. These clothes should be washed separately from uncontaminated clothes and linens.
• For more tips on washing your hands, see Clean Hands Save Lives: Emergency Situations.

Be careful with floodwater – it can contain dangerous bacteria

• Floodwater can contain dangerous bacteria from overflowing sewage and agricultural and industrial waste. While skin contact with floodwater doesn’t pose a serious health risk by itself, eating or drinking anything contaminated with floodwater can cause diseases.
• If you have any open cuts or sores that will be exposed to floodwater, keep them as clean as possible by washing them with soap and applying an antibiotic ointment to discourage infection. (See also Clean Hands Save Lives: Emergency Situations)
• To reduce cold-related risks when standing or working in water which is cooler than 75 degrees F (24 degrees C), wear insulated clothes and insulated rubber boots, take frequent breaks out of the water, and change into dry clothing when possible.
• See also Food, Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Information for Use Before and After a Disaster or Emergency and Reentering Your Flooded Home.

Potential Hazards

Be careful when entering damaged buildings

• Stay away from any damaged buildings or structures until a building inspector or other government authority has had a chance to examine it and certify that it’s safe.
• Wait until daylight to return to buildings so it’s easier to see and avoid any hazards – especially if the power is out.
• Leave your home or other building if you hear any shifting or strange noises – this could mean it’s about to fall.
• If you smell gas or suspect a leak, leave your/building and contact emergency authorities right away! Don’t turn on the lights, light matches, smoke, or do anything that can cause a spark. Don’t return to the building until you’re told it’s safe to do so.
• Keep children and pets away from the affected area until cleanup has been completed.

Prevent carbon monoxide poisoning

• Never use generators, pressure washers, or other gasoline, propane, natural gas, or charcoal-burning devices inside your home, basement, garage, or camper – or even outside near an open window, door, or vent. Carbon monoxide – an odorless, colorless gas from these sources that can cause sudden illness and death – can build up indoors and poison the people and animals inside.
• For more information, see Carbon Monoxide Poisoning After a Disaster.

Be aware of any electrical hazards

• If electrical circuits and electrical equipment have gotten wet or are in or near water, turn off the power at the main breaker or fuse on the service panel. If you must enter standing water to access at the main power switch, then call an electrician to turn it off.
• Never turn power on or off or use an electrical tool or appliance while standing in water.

• Do not connect generators to your home’s electrical circuits without the approved, automatic-interrupt devices. If a generator is on line when electrical service is restored, it can become a major fire hazard and it may endanger line workers helping to restore power in your area.
• For more information, see Protect Yourself and Others from Electrical Hazards After a Disaster.

Be careful with dangerous materials

• Call the fire department to inspect or remove chemicals, propane tanks, and other dangerous materials.
• Wear protective clothing and gear (for example, a respirator if needed) when handling hazardous materials.
• Wash skin that may have come in contact with hazardous materials.
• Wear insulated gloves and use caution if you have to remove a car battery. Avoid any acid that may have leaked from a car battery.
• For information about possible dangers posed by chemicals, see the Chemical Emergencies page.
• For information about possible dangers posed by pollution from large farms and agricultural facilities, see the CDC Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) website.

Content source: National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH)/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC)

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IAM DL-70 located in Wichita KS was the site for a Spirit Aerosystems sponsored Outreach 501 training program held, August 27-31, 2018 for a joint labor /management group. Upon completion of the 501Trainer session, participants will be authorized to conduct 10 & 30-hour OSHA Outreach programs.

            This type of training is another example of how a joint labor/management training program can be a pro-active approach to quality safety training for workers and managers.

            Participating instructors demonstrated an outstanding professional ability to deliver quality educational training for the membership guided by Program Lead, Tom Frazee. 

I.A.M. C.R.E.S.T. Staff Program Lead: Tom Frazee

I.A.M C.R.E.S.T. Associate Instructor‘s: Bill Hoobler, Gayle Kelly, Mike Clark, Pat Goble, and Assistant Director, Steve Fowee        

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Hurricane season peaks in September, and wildfires are still burning throughout the Pacific Northwest and from California to Colorado. OSHA urges employers to be prepared to keep their workers safe during extreme weather events. The agency’s Emergency Preparedness and Response webpage provides information on protecting workers before and after hurricanes, wildfires, tornadoes, floods, and other natural disasters strike.

Resource, OSHA.gov/emergency

When a hurricane approaches, people tend to prepare based on previous experience, but that is not always accurate.

Here are some examples:

“I live outside of the cone, so I am safe from feeling the effects.”
The cone has nothing to do with impacts, only the average track error of the past five years. 2017’s Irma went up Florida’s west coast, but its wind field grew in size and pushed storm surge onto Florida’s east coast.

“It’s never flooded here before.”
It is not easy to picture 60 inches of rain, but it was one of the biggest stories of Harvey. There is no historical record of that amount, so it is difficult to imagine what it will do.

“We got hit last year and it was a one hundred year storm, so I’m in good shape for the next one hundred years.”
All a hundred year storm means is that you have a one percent chance of it happening to you every single year. That is the same as a 25 percent chance of flooding in a typical 30-year mortgage. You can be hit in back-to-back years or even in the same year.

“A very slight wiggle in the track doesn’t matter.”
That could be true over the middle of the ocean, but not for land. Hurricane Irma proved that. Its wiggle of 30 miles along Florida southwest coast meant the difference between getting only a few feet of storm surge versus 9 feet.

“We went through a Cat 4 and nothing bad happened”
Many people in Key West will tell you Irma was a Cat 4 there. The reality is they only got Cat 1 winds. You had to go 20 to 30 miles away to find the Cat 4 winds. The reality is that you have to understand exactly what you went through and that you may not have seen the strongest part of that storm.

How do we line up perception with reality?  The answer lies in social science. A project will soon begin at NOAA’s National Hurricane Center to find ways to better communicate the risk from the hurricane hazards, find out how people are interpreting our products and to make sure everything is actionable. We have to plan for what COULD happen, not what has happened in the past. It is a life and death proposition.

Resources, OSHA.gov

NOAA Weather

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IAM DL-70 located in Wichita KS was the site for a Spirit Aerosystems sponsored Outreach 511 training program held, June 25 -29, 2018 for a joint labor /management group. The Outreach 511 program is a prerequisite for the Outreach 501 Trainer class scheduled for later this year. Upon completion of the 501 session, participants will be authorized to present 10 & 30-hour OSHA Outreach programs.

This type of training is another example of how a joint labor/management training program can be a pro-active approach to quality safety training for workers and managers.

Participating instructors demonstrated an outstanding professional ability to deliver quality educational training for the membership guided by Program Lead, Tom Frazee. 

I.A.M. C.R.E.S.T. Staff Lead: Tom Frazee

I.A.M C.R.E.S.T. Associate Instructor‘s: Bill Hoobler, Gayle Kelly, Kurt Poole, Todd Davies, and Assistant Director, Steve Fowee 

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OSHA is making the NPRM available on its website for informational purposes only until the official version is published in the Federal Register. Until the date of publication, the NPRM can be found at osha.gov. After publication, the NPRM can be accessed through the Federal Register website at www.federalregister.gov.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA’s role is to help ensure these conditions for America’s working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit www.osha.gov.

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According to research by NIOSH and the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE), non-native workers in small construction companies are less likely to receive even the minimum safety and health training required by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

The construction industry has one of the highest rates of work-related deaths in the country. Statistics compiled up to year 2015 by the he Bureau of Labor Statistics show that almost one fifth of work-related deaths occurred among construction workers. Key to reducing such staggering numbers is training. While a critical part of workplace safety and health in all industries, particularly construction.

Small construction companies are defined by NIOSH as having fewer than 50 employees. Previous research by NIOSH and ASSE found that workers in small companies, as well as young workers (age 25 and under) and non-native workers, face an increased risk for illness and injury in construction compared to other workers.

NIOSH investigators analyzed the results of an ASSE survey asking construction companies of different sizes and worker populations about their training practices. Data collected from 268 smaller construction businesses clearly shows that non-native workers in small companies received fewer hours of training, both when joining the company and on a monthly basis in companies with 50 or more employees.

The ASSE and NIOSH research is important as it looked at the work-related safety and health training practices of small and large construction businesses. The research coupled with a survey comprised of 34 questions and used by ASSE in a field of 258, concludes a clear disconnect between small construction businesses verses larger one with 50 or more employee’s.  

For further information go to: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh

                                                     www.asse.org

                                                     OSHA.gov

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