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Posts Tagged: Safety
COVID-19 guidelines change
On Jan. 9, 2024, the California Department of Public Health updated its COVID-19 Isolation Guidance, Testing Guidance, and the State Public Health Officer Order.
The updates impact Cal/OSHA's COVID-19 Prevention Non-Emergency Regulations and the requirements related to isolating positive cases and testing of close contacts. To ensure that we maintain a safe workplace and safe ANR programming, and comply with public health and occupational safety requirements, all ANR employees must still follow these guidelines.
The updated Quarantine, Isolation, and Return to Work Guidelines and Quarantine, Isolation, and Return to Work Summary Chart can be found on the ANR Environmental Health & Safety website.
Based on the changes to the guidelines by Cal/OSHA and CDPH, UC ANR will adjust and implement the new guidelines for COVID-19, as follows:
If you test positive for COVID-19:
- Report your COVID-19 test or symptoms to the UC ANR COVID-19 safety team at https://ucanr.edu/covidscreening
- Stay home if you have COVID-19 symptoms.
- You may return to working in-person when all of the following are true:
- More than 24 hours have passed since the onset of symptoms,
- You have no fever without the use of fever-reducing medications,
- Symptoms are mild and improving.
- If you have symptoms other than fever, you may voluntarily isolate until symptoms improve or until after Day 10. Day 0 is the symptom onset or positive test day.
- If symptoms are severe, if you are at high risk of serious disease, or have questions concerning care, contact your healthcare provider.
- Wear a well-fitting mask around others through Day 10 after the start of symptoms or testing positive. You may remove your mask sooner than 10 days if you have two sequential negative tests at least one day apart.
- A negative test is not required for return to work.
If you had close contact with someone with COVID-19:
- Wear a well-fitting mask or respirator around others (at your worksite, indoors, in vehicles, in the field when working near others, etc.) for at least 10 days after exposure.
- Monitor yourself for COVID-19 symptoms. If you develop new symptoms, testing is recommended.
- If you are at a higher risk of severe disease or if you've had contact with someone at higher risk of severe disease, testing is recommended.
- You may still voluntarily get tested after the exposure.
- If you test positive, follow the guidelines for testing positive.
The definition of “Close Contact” remains the same.
Close Contact definition: Close Contact occurs through proximity and duration of exposure. Someone who shared the same indoor airspace with an infected person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period is considered Close Contact. Spaces that are separated by floor-to-ceiling walls (e.g., offices, suites, rooms, waiting areas, bathrooms, or break or eating areas that are separated by floor-to-ceiling walls) must be considered distinct indoor airspaces.
In large indoor spaces greater than 400,000 cubic feet per floor (such as open-floor-plan offices, arenas or large meeting spaces, warehouses, large retail stores, or manufacturing/processing facilities), close contact is defined as being within 6 feet of the infected person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period during the confirmed case's infectious period.
Exception: if you or the Close Contact were wearing a respirator or an N95 mask at the time of interaction.
For more information on the updated guidelines by Cal/OSHA, visit:
- COVID-19 – What Employers Need to Know - Fact Sheet: https://www.dir.ca.gov/dosh/coronavirus/Non-Emergency-regs-summary.pdf
- COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions: https://www.dir.ca.gov/DOSH/Coronavirus/Covid-19-NE-Reg-FAQs.html
Safety - Winter weather advisory
Dear Colleagues,
Through Wednesday, California is expecting rounds of heavy rain, mountain snow, high winds, with potential for flooding, downed trees/debris and power outages. Please stay safe.
If you live near a river, levee or area prone to flooding, gather your essentials so you'll be ready to evacuate at a moment's notice. You'll have some peace of mind if you have gathered items in advance to be away from your home if evacuation orders are given by authorities. Also, prepare for power outages by having electronic devices charged, vehicles fueled, and the ability to prepare food and stay warm.
This is a good time to review your procedures for preparedness, such as the ability to stay informed and to be able to communicate. See Safety Note #203 for winter storm preparedness tips.
Click here to view the Cal-OES weather threat briefing.
A Safety Note series in the category of “Disaster/Emergency Information” is available at https://safety.ucanr.edu/Safety_Notes/- recommended are notes #166-169, #189 and #203.
For current weather alert information, Cal/OSHA recommends the NOAA Weather Alerts page at http://alerts.weather.gov/cap/ca.php?x=1.
David Alamillo
Environmental Health & Safety Specialist
ANR 2nd St Building now open
Power has been restored to the 2nd Street Building in Davis and it is fully operational. If you are planning to work at the ANR Building, you may do so.
2nd Street is closed currently to all traffic for a section of road west of our office, between L St and Cantrill Drive. It is not known how long this closure will remain in effect. However, the ANR Building is accessible from 2nd Street from the east (coming from the Mace Blvd exit off I-80) and from Pena Drive.
Rainy conditions are predicted to continue throughout the week, but hopefully we have gotten through the worst of it.
Stay safe and dry and follow these winter storm preparedness tips: https://ucanr.edu/sites/safety/files/378115.pdf.
Brian Oatman
Director, Risk & Safety Services
CLOSED Jan. 9: ANR 2nd St Building power out
To all UC ANR colleagues:
Recent storms have knocked out power at 2801 2nd Street in Davis and 2nd Street is currently closed to all traffic. PG&E estimates that power will be out at the UC ANR office all day on Monday, Jan. 9, with an estimated restoration time of 11 p.m. on Jan. 9. With changing conditions, the outage could be shorter or longer.
Due to this circumstance, the office will be closed and employees based at 2801 2nd Street in Davis should work remotely. If you cannot work due to power outages or other circumstances, notify your supervisor.
We are monitoring the situation and will provide updates as information is available. Please look for a message on Monday afternoon to confirm status of the office for Tuesday.
Thank you and stay safe.
Brian Oatman
Director, Risk & Safety Services
Winter storms continue; work remotely Jan. 9 and 10 if appropriate
Weather forecasts predict another series of storms to affect most of the state next week, bringing heavy rains and potential for flooding in some areas. Based on this information, for Monday and Tuesday ((Jan. 9 and 10)), we are encouraging supervisors to demonstrate flexibility to allow employees who can work remotely to do so. This can help reduce the number of employees who need to commute to work during the storms, avoiding unsafe road conditions.
Please Take the Following Actions
- Consult with your supervisor to determine if remote work is appropriate for your duties and local conditions.
- Understand that some employees' job duties require them to be on site to serve clientele, maintain operations, or to keep up essential functions. Needs may shift due to changing circumstances.
- Whether you are working on site or remotely, please use the tips and resources below to maintain preparedness and safety in your work activities.
Storm Safety Tips and Resources
- Monitor weather conditions on the National Weather Service website and enter your ZIP code or city to get your local forecast and alerts.
- Be prepared for power outages – keep flashlights handy with extra batteries and keep phones and devices charged.
- Make sure you have adequate food, batteries, pet supplies and medications.
- The state is advising residents to avoid non-essential travel, but if you need to venture out, do not drive, walk, or swim through any flood waters, even if it looks shallow.
- Hazards include fallen trees and power poles, serious flooding, landslides, mud and rocks on the road, or pavement slipping.
- Follow these Winter Storm Preparedness tips: https://ucanr.edu/sites/safety/files/378115.pdf
- Stay Informed. Use local emergency alert systems to stay up to date on conditions. See Safety Note #167 for tips on staying informed for emergencies https://ucanr.edu/sites/safety/files/299075.pdf
Questions
If you have any questions about remote work, contact your supervisor or ANR Human Resources. If you have questions about emergency preparedness or safety, contact ANR Risk & Safety Services. If your ANR location experiences damage or must close due to weather conditions or power outages, please inform Brian Oatman at (530) 304-2054.