All Workers In Pennsylvania Now Required To Wear Face Masks
by Alex Lloyd Gross
Effective April 15 2020, employees of all businesses are required to wear face masks. Especially when dealing with the public. Especially while handling or dealing with food. This means that if an employee does not feel like wearing a mask, the business owner can be fined. If you think that people will not be going to food stores to and videotape the 19 year old , not wearing the mask, think again. The video will be shared on social media and probably with law enforcement.
It does not matter if the employee is uncomfortable wearing it, a mask must be worn. Masks can be surgical masks or something home made. The full text of the governors order is below. This follows New Jersey where enforcement was just implemented yesterday. Also mandated, is a specific time that elderly and at risk people can shop away from the general public. Just last week it the wearing of a mask was strongly encouraged in Pa. This makes it required.
- Provide masks for employees to wear during their time at the business, and make it a mandatory requirement while at the work site, except to the extent an employee is using break time to eat or drink, in accordance with the guidance from the Department of Health and the CDC. Employers may approve masks obtained or made by employees in accordance with this guidance;
- Stagger work start and stop times for employees when practical to prevent gatherings of large groups entering or leaving the premises at the same time;
- Provide sufficient space for employees to have breaks and meals while maintaining a social distance of 6 feet, including limiting the number of employees in common areas and setting up seating to have employees facing forward and not across from each other;
- Conduct meetings and training virtually. If a meeting must be held in person, limit the meeting to the fewest number of employees possible, not to exceed 10 employees at one time and maintain a social distance of 6 feet.
- Ensure that the facility has a sufficient number of employees to perform all measures listed effectively and in a manner that ensures the safety of the public and employees;
- Ensure that the facility has a sufficient number of personnel to control access, maintain order, and enforce social distancing of at least 6 feet;
- Prohibit non-essential visitors from entering the premises of the business; and
- Ensure that all employees who do not speak English as their first language are aware of procedures by communicating the procedures, either orally or in writing, in their native or preferred language.
Upon discovery of an exposure to a person who is a probable or confirmed case of COVID-19, businesses are also ordered to implement temperature screenings before employees enter the business prior to the start of work and send any employee home who has an elevated temperature of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. Sick employees should follow CDC-recommended steps. Employees should not return to work until the CDC criteria to discontinue home isolation are met, in consultation with the health care providers and state and local health departments. Employers are encouraged to implement liberal paid time off for employees who are on home isolation.
Upon an exposure, businesses are also ordered to do the following:
- Close off and ventilate areas visited by that individual;
- Wait a minimum of 24 hours, or as long as practical, before beginning cleaning and disinfection;
- Clean and disinfect all spaces, especially commonly used rooms and shared electronic equipment;
- Identify and notify employees who were in close contact with that individual (within about 6 feet for about 10 minutes); and
- Ensure that the business has a sufficient number of employees to perform these protocols effectively and immediately.