COVID-19 Prevention

COVID-19 PANDEMIC

The novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, causes a viral respiratory illness called COVID-19, which can make people sick with flu-like and other symptoms. The virus spreads easily when an infected person sneezes, coughs, or speaks, sending tiny droplets into the air. These droplets can be inhaled or land in the nose, mouth, or eyes of someone nearby and cause illness. COVID-19 is also considered airborne, meaning small particles of infectious virus remain suspended in the air and can infect people hours after the sick person has left the area.

Some of the symptoms of COVID-19 are cough, fever, shortness of breath, and new loss of taste or smell. Some people with mild cases may have no symptoms at all yet still can spread the virus. Avoiding crowded indoor spaces, improving indoor ventilation, staying at least six (6) feet away from people outside of your household, covering your nose and mouth with a face covering, and washing hands often with soap and water can help stop COVID-19 from spreading in the workplace.

COVID-19 PREVENTION PROGRAM

Therma is committed to protecting our employees and preventing the spread of COVID-19 at our workplace. We developed this program to reduce our workers’ risk of catching and spreading this virus. We encourage employees to share information about potential COVID-19 hazards at our workplace and assist in evaluating these hazards. We will investigate all workplace illnesses and correct hazards that are identified. We stay informed on the virus presence in our community as well as recommendations made by national and local health agencies, including guidance from the California Department of Public Health (CDPH). Therma will regularly review the latest regulations and guidance and will update this plan as necessary.

This plan was last reviewed on 1/24/2024.

DESIGNATION OF RESPONSIBILITY

The Executive Leadership Team (ELT) has the authority and responsibility for implementing this plan in our workplace. All managers and supervisors are responsible for implementing this plan in their assigned work areas and ensuring employees’ questions are answered in a language they understand.

All employees are required to follow the policies and procedures laid out in this plan, use safe work practices, and assist in maintaining a safe work environment.

IDENTIFICATION AND EVALUATION OF COVID-19 HAZARDS

We consider all persons to be infectious, regardless of symptoms, vaccination status, or negative COVID-19 test and periodically evaluate our workplace and operations to identify tasks that may have exposure to COVID-19. The evaluation includes all interactions, areas, activities, processes, equipment, and materials that could present potential exposure to COVID-19. Assessments include employee interactions with all persons who may be present in the workplace: co-workers, contractors, vendors, customers, and members of the public. Evaluations include:

• Treatment of COVID-19 as an airborne transmissible disease.
• Identification of places and times when people may gather or come in contact with each other for 15 minutes or more, even if they aren’t working. Examples: meetings, trainings, workplace entrances, bathrooms, hallways, aisles, walkways, elevators, break or eating areas, cool-down areas, and waiting rooms.
• Employees’ potential workplace exposure to all persons at the workplace. We will consider how employees and others enter, leave, and travel through the workplace, in addition to addressing stationary work. Examples: co-workers, employees of other businesses, the public, customers or clients, and independent contractors.
• Existing COVID-19 prevention measures and whether we need different or additional control measures.

Employee Participation- We encourage employees to participate in this evaluation. They can contact the Therma Safety Department to share information on potential COVID-19 hazards at our workplace or to assist in evaluating these hazards without fear of retaliation.

Employees may confidentially inform the Therma Safety Department if they have a higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19, such as those with conditions like lung disease, obesity, or cancer.

CORRECTION OF COVID-19 HAZARDS

We will treat all persons, regardless of symptoms, vaccination status, or negative test results, as potentially infectious. We select and implement feasible control measures, following the Hierarchy of Controls, to minimize or eliminate employee exposure to COVID-19. We review orders and guidance on COVID-19 hazards and prevention from the State of California and the local health department, including general information and information specific to our industry, location, and operations. We correct unsafe or unhealthy conditions, work practices, policies, and procedures in a timely manner based on the severity of the hazard.

We inspect periodically to check that controls are effective, to identify unhealthy work conditions or practices, and to ensure compliance with this plan. Any deficiencies are corrected right away, and we update this plan if needed.

Engineering Controls – Equipment and Building Systems to Minimize Exposures

Our engineering controls for COVID-19 include:

• Ventilation- The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Interim guidance for Ventilation, Filtration, and Air Quality in Indoor Environments will be referenced and used for the following:
  • Maximizing outdoor air for ventilation as much as feasible, except when EPA’s Air Quality Index is greater than 100 or when increasing outdoor air would cause harm to employees, such as excessive heat or cold.
  • In buildings with mechanical ventilation, increasing filtration efficiency to Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV)-13 or the highest level compatible with the existing ventilation system.
  • Using HEPA filtration units in indoor areas occupied by employees for extended periods, where existing ventilation is inadequate to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission.

Administrative Controls – Policies, Procedures, and Practices to Minimize Exposure

Our administrative controls for COVID-19 are:

• Wearing a Face Covering: We provide face coverings to all employees, and ensure they are worn by all employees when required by a CDPH regulation or order or if required when returning to work within 10 days of a COVID-19 infection. We will not prevent any employee from wearing a face covering, including voluntary use of a filtering face piece respirator (such as a disposable N95), unless it would create a safety hazard, such as interfering with the safe operation of equipment. Face coverings provided will be a surgical mask, medical procedure mask, or cloth/woven material mask of at least two layers. All face coverings must fit snugly, have no holes or openings, completely cover the nose and mouth, and be secured to the head with ties, ear loops, or elastic bands that go behind the head. Gaiters must be folded over or designed to have two layers of fabric. Clear plastic face coverings for use by deaf/hard-of-hearing employees that meet above requirements are allowed. Face coverings must be clean and undamaged. Face coverings are not respiratory protection against hazardous chemicals or dusts. When employees are required to wear a face covering, the following exceptions will apply:
  1. When an employee is alone in a room or vehicle.
  2. While eating or drinking at the workplace, provided employees are at least six feet apart and outside or filtered air supply to the area has been maximized to the extent feasible.
  3. When employees are required to wear respirators and in accordance with T8CCR Section 5144.
  4. When employees cannot wear face coverings due to a medical or mental health condition or disability.
  5. When a specific task cannot be performed with a face covering. This exception is limited to the time period in which such tasks are being performed.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) – Equipment Worn by Employees to Minimize Exposure

In general, employees will not be required to use respirators at Therma for protection from COVID-19. If a hazard assessment determines respirators are needed, they will be used in accordance with T8CCR Section 5144. Disposable N95 respirators for voluntary use will be provided upon request in specified situations. Any PPE used to protect against COVID-19, such as eye protection, face coverings, respirators, and gloves, is selected based on function, fit, and availability. Employees are trained on proper use, maintenance, and storage of reusable PPE. Job hazard assessments are performed by supervisors to identify any PPE required for a specific job.

INVESTIGATING AND RESPONDING TO COVID-19 CASES IN THE WORKPLACE

Investigating Illness at the Workplace

We investigate all COVID-19 cases in the workplace. Our investigation includes determining the day and time the COVID-19 case was last present at the workplace and when the COVID-19 case tested positive or was diagnosed.

Exclusion from the Workplace

COVID-19 cases will be excluded from the workplace until Return to Work criteria are met. Information on available benefits under legally mandated sick leave, workers’ compensation law, local government requirements, and Therma leave policies will be provided.

Return to Work

Criteria for returning to work after a positive test/diagnosis for COVID-19 are as follows:

• For COVID-19 cases with symptoms, it is a minimum of 24 hours from the day of symptom onset.
• For COVID-19 cases with no symptoms, there is no infectious period for the purpose of isolation or exclusion.

Notification

Following notification of a positive test/diagnosis, we will take appropriate actions, including notifying employees who had a close contact.

REPORTING, RECORDKEEPING, AND ACCESS

Reporting

The Therma Safety Department will report to Therma’s workers’ compensation claims administrator when an employee has tested positive for COVID-19. Cal/OSHA Recording/Reporting - We will record work-related COVID-19 cases that meet specified criteria.

Recordkeeping

Therma maintains records of the steps taken to implement this program and records of all COVID-19 cases. These records will be retained for a specified duration.

Access

This program will be made available at the workplace to employees, authorized employee representatives, and to representatives of Cal/OSHA.

COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS

We ask all employees to confidentially report any symptoms, potential exposures, and possible hazards relating to COVID-19 at the workplace to the Therma Safety Department.

EMPLOYEE TRAINING AND INSTRUCTION

We provide all employees training and instruction on the symptoms of COVID-19 illness and exposure control methods in place at Therma.

APPENDIX A - COVID-19 OUTBREAKS

The following procedures will be followed in addition to our CPP whenever three (3) or more employee COVID-19 cases occur. These procedures can be stopped when one or fewer new COVID-19 cases are detected.

Testing

Therma will make testing available to employees in the exposed work group at no cost during working hours.

APPENDIX B - MAJOR COVID-19 OUTBREAKS

The following procedures will be followed in addition to our CPP and Appendix A whenever 20 or more employee COVID-19 cases occur. These procedures can be stopped when one or fewer new COVID-19 cases are detected.