Safety & Health, Sample Policy – Infectious Disease Policy

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Infectious Disease Policy

Adapted from HR Policy Handbook, Infectious Disease Policy.

Purpose

This policy outlines specific steps that EMPLOYER takes to safeguard employees’ health and well-being during widespread outbreaks of infectious bacterial or viral diseases, while ensuring EMPLOYER’s ability to maintain essential operations and provide necessary services to customers.

Infectious Disease Defined

According to the federal Centers for Disease Control, emerging infectious diseases are new infections resulting from changes or evolution of existing organisms, known infections spreading to new geographic areas or populations, previously unrecognized infections appearing in areas undergoing ecologic transformation, old infections that are reemerging as a result of antimicrobial resistance in known agents, or breakdowns in public health measures. These include influenza, staph infections, and the Ebola and Zika viruses.

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Remote Work Locations

EMPLOYER acknowledges that employees’ access to and use of public services or transportation might be prohibited or curtailed by local, state, or federal authorities during an infectious disease outbreak. Employees also might be unable to access or leave buildings, and disruptions can occur in the delivery of goods or services. EMPLOYER is prepared to continue key “bare bones” operations from a number of remote work locations, including essential employees’ home offices. [Employers can add: EMPLOYER has installed all of the equipment needed for telework operations at these remote work locations.]

Infectious Control Measures

EMPLOYER takes a number of steps to minimize, to the extent practicable, exposure to infectious diseases at the workplace. As appropriate, EMPLOYER recommends measures that employees can take to protect themselves outside the workplace and encourages employees to discuss their specific needs with a physician or other appropriate health or wellness professional.

EMPLOYER expects employees who contract an infectious disease or are exposed to infected family members or other persons to stay home and seek medical attention if needed. EMPLOYER also expects these employees to notify EMPLOYER as soon as possible of their exposure or illness.

EMPLOYER approves the installation or use, wherever possible, of improved equipment or cleaning methods to guard against the spread of infection at the workplace.

EMPLOYER-provided training addresses issues such as the availability of vaccines; symptoms, treatment, and appropriate medical care; steps to take if exposure is suspected; proper use of EMPLOYER-provided personal protection equipment; and proper hygiene in the workplace and at home.