OSHA Guidance – COVID-19
General Guidance for All Workers and Employers
Both OSHA and CDC regularly update their webpages with reopening guidance relevant to the business community. We encourage you to regularly check for updated guidance at:
- https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/covid-19/
- https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/organizations/businesses-employers.html
OSHA has also released general guidance for preparing workplaces for COVID-19:
For all workers, regardless of specific exposure risks, it is always a good practice to:
- Frequently wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. When soap and running water are unavailable, use an alcohol-based hand rub with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands that are visibly soiled.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
- Practice good respiratory etiquette, including covering coughs and sneezes.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Stay home if sick.
- Recognize personal risk factors. According to U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), certain people, including older adults and those with underlying conditions such as heart or lung disease or diabetes, are at higher risk for developing more serious complications from COVID-19.
Industry-Specific Guidance Documents
In addition to the general guidance above, OSHA frequently issues specific guidance tailored to specific industries. To date, OSHA has released specific guidance for the following industries:
- Stockroom and Loading Dock Workers (Spanish)
- Social Distancing at Work (Spanish)
- Nursing Home and Long Term Care Facility Workers (Spanish)
- Retail Pharmacies (Spanish)
- Rideshare, Taxi, and Car Service Workers (Spanish)
- Dental Practitioners (Spanish)
- Restaurants & Beverage Vendors Offering Takeout or Curbside Pickup (Spanish)
- Construction Workforce (Spanish)
- Manufacturing Industry Workforce (Spanish)
- Package Delivery Workforce (Spanish)
- Retail Workers (Spanish)
- Prevent Worker Exposure to Coronavirus (COVID-19) (Spanish)
Finger Lakes Features: New York Forward Loan Fund (NYFLF)
The New York Forward Loan Fund (NYFLF) is a new economic recovery loan program aimed at supporting New York State small businesses, nonprofits and small landlords as they reopen after the COVID-19 outbreak and NYS on PAUSE. The NYFLF targets the state’s small businesses with 20 or fewer full-time equivalent (FTE) employees (90% of all businesses), nonprofits and small landlords that have seen a loss of rental income. The NYFLF is specifically timed to support businesses and organizations as they proceed to reopen and have upfront expenses to comply with guidelines (e.g., inventory, marketing, refitting for new social distancing guidelines) under the New York Forward Plan.
Pre-applications for the New York Forward Loan Fund are now open. Priority will be given to industries and regions that have been reopened. This is not a first-come, first-served loan program. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis as regions and industries reopen.
For small businesses and nonprofits that are in industries and regions that have not yet reopened, you are encouraged to prepare your pre-application in advance by taking advantage of the application preparation resources available here.
NYFLF is providing working capital loans so that small businesses, nonprofits and small landlords have access to credit as they reopen. These loans are available to small businesses, nonprofits, and small landlords that did not receive a loan from either the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) or SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) for COVID-19 in 2020. The loans are not forgivable in part or whole. The loans will need to be paid back over a 5-year term with interest.
The working capital loans are timed to support businesses and organizations as they proceed to reopen and have upfront expenses to comply with guidelines (e.g., inventory, marketing, refitting for new social distancing guidelines) under the New York Forward Plan.
For more info: https://esd.ny.gov/nyforwardloans-info
