April 2020

COVID-19 Special Edition NEWSLETTER

Remote Proctoring for MSP and CSD Pilot Exams

We have great news for individuals interested in taking our Master Safety Professional (MSP) and Certified Safety Director (CSD) Pilot
Exams. Due to the unforeseen circumstances surrounding the Coronavirus, NASP and our partners at Scantron, had to temporarily
suspend on-site testing for the MSP and CSD pilot exams. As stay-at-home orders and social distancing requirements are still in effect,
we have gained approval to use Live Online-Proctored (LOP) test administration.
Pete Nemmers
Live online-proctored (LOP) test administration allows candidates to complete their examinations from their own computers via an Editor - NASP/IASP
internet connection at a time and place of their choosing. Testing sessions are available 24/7/365, based on seating availability.
In This Issue
Remote Proctoring for MSP and CSD
Scantron uses its proprietary software, Scantron PASS™, to deliver examinations to candidates. Scantron partners with Examity for the
Pilot Exams
online, real-time monitoring of testing candidates.
Employee Rights Under Families
First Coronavirus Response Act
The candidate’s computer must have webcam capability as well as a microphone and speakers, and the environment should be quiet to
avoid distractions and to ensure that the online proctor can hear everything at the candidate’s location. COVID-19 Survey: How Does Your
Business Compare to Industry Trends?
There are technical requirements, such as an adequate internet connection, to ensure that the proctor can access the candidate’s Where EPA Regulators Will & Won’t
computer and that the session can proceed without internet disruption. Candidates are informed of the computer specifications in Bend During COVID-19 Crisis
advance of the testing session. Hierarchy of Controls for COVID-19

If you would like to read the full informational Recording Workplace Exposures to
packet from Scantron, which includes Test COVID-19
Scheduling, Rescheduling, Cancellation, and Screening Employees for COVID-19
Technical Requirements, click here. CSM Blended Class

1
 April 2020
COVID-19 Special Edition NEWSLETTER
Remote Proctoring for MSP and CSD Pilot Exams

June Pilot Exams

If you are interested in taking the CSD or MSP pilot exams in June, NOW is the time to enroll as many seats filled up during our April registration. To view the qualifications to sit for
the test, click here.

Both the CSD and MSP pilot exams are only $95!
• To register for the MSP exam, click here.
• To register for the CSD exam, click here.

2
 April 2020
COVID-19 Special Edition NEWSLETTER
Employee Rights Under Families First Coronavirus Response Act

The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA or Act) requires certain employers to provide their employees with paid sick leave and expanded family and medical leave for
specified reasons related to COVID-19. These provisions will apply from April 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020.

Paid Leave Entitlements

Generally, employers covered under the Act must provide employees:

Up to two weeks (80 hours, or a part-time employee’s two-week equivalent) of paid sick
leave based on the higher of their regular rate of pay, or the applicable state or Federal
minimum wage, paid at:
• 100% for qualifying reasons #1-3 below, up to $511 daily and $5,110 total;

• 2/3 for qualifying reasons #4 and 6 below, up to $200 daily and $2,000 total; and

• Up to 12 weeks of paid sick leave and expanded family and medical leave paid at 2/3
for qualifying reason #5 below for up to $200 daily and $12,000 total.

A part-time employee is eligible for leave for the number of hours that the employee is
normally scheduled to work over that period.

3
 April 2020
COVID-19 Special Edition NEWSLETTER
Employee Rights Under Families First Coronavirus Response Act

Qualifying Reasons
An employee is entitled to take leave related to COVID-19 if the employee is unable to work, including unable to telework, because the employee:

1. Is subject to a Federal, State, or local quarantine or isolation order related to COVID-19;

2. Has been advised by a health care provider to self-quarantine related to COVID-19;

3. Is experiencing COVID-19 symptoms and is seeking a medical diagnosis;

4. Is caring for an individual subject to an order described in (1) or self-quarantine as described in (2)

5. Is caring for his or her child whose school or place of care is closed (or childcare provider is
unavailable) due to COVID-19 related reasons; or

6. Is experiencing any other substantially-similar condition specified by the U.S. Department of

Health and Human Services.

Download this free poster by clicking here.

4
 April 2020
COVID-19 Special Edition NEWSLETTER
COVID-19 Survey: How Does Your Business Compare to Industry Trends?

NASP recently sent out a survey to safety professionals across the country asking for
input on how the Coronavirus has impacted the profession and to gain insight on trends
across all industries. In a short period of time, we produced hundreds of responses, and
have analyzed the results for you, so that you may see how you compare with other
professionals during these challenging times.

Production
An overwhelming amount of responses, 84%, state that either the Coronavirus has not
affected business operations at all, or that there have been minor drops in production.
12% of respondents have stated that production has completely stopped, and that a
limited number of administrative staff continue to work from home. 4% of facilities have
shut their doors completely.

Training
Social distancing requirements have nearly put a halt to all in-person training. 70% of
safety professionals stated that they have stopped conducting classroom training, 50% of
whom moved to online training only, the remaining 20% have shut down training all
together. An additional 20% state that classroom training is still being conducted while following social distancing guidelines with classroom sizes no larger than 10. The remaining
respondents said there have been no effects to their training.

With training either being drastically modified, or cut altogether, training budgets have stayed relatively steady throughout the pandemic; only 18% of respondents said that their
training budgets had been cut.

5
 April 2020
COVID-19 Special Edition NEWSLETTER
COVID-19 Survey: How Does Your Business Compare to Industry Trends?

Preparedness
While many companies do not normally plan for pandemics, a majority of survey respondents, 72%, stated that their facility has done a good job at responding to the situation,
but may have hit a few speed bumps along the way.

Even with exceptional amounts of preparedness, sourcing PPE has been a concern for many professionals. 14% of professionals have not been able to provide equipment as
they can not source it, and an additional 66% have had difficulties keeping an adequate supply of PPE for their employees.

Didn’t get a chance to take our survey? There’s still time! We are keeping the
survey open to grow our response pool. Click here to take the survey.

6
 April 2020
COVID-19 Special Edition NEWSLETTER
Where EPA Regulators Will & Won’t Bend During COVID-19 Crisis

Coronavirus is placing an onus on businesses whose operations are curtailed or are running overtime due to critical demand.

How will the COVID-19 epidemic affect compliance? Will EPA and state agencies forgive a late report of a release, for
example? How much leniency can businesses expect for air, water and waste violations?
Here’s how you can minimize problems and stay a step ahead:

No. 1 rule: Keep agencies in loop

For any accidental release, leak, spill, discharge, excess emissions – let your regulator know ASAP.
Agencies historically grant No Action Assurances to facilities that self-report during emergencies, but it’s not a guarantee in
all cases.

Rule No. 2: Know what you don’t know

Can’t take stormwater samples from an outfall? Lack of staff to inspect hazardous waste storage areas?
The key is to keep track of permit duties you can’t get to now and disclose them later.
Late reports to electronic databases trigger automatic violations. So do your best to report on time – you can always go back
later and correct mistakes.

EPA extends an olive branch

On March 26, EPA announced a temporary, discretionary enforcement policy:
Facilities won’t be fined for routine monitoring or reporting violations.
Caveat: Public water system plants must still comply with contaminant limits and monitoring obligations.
The leniency policy doesn’t cover intentional and therefore criminal violations, or cleanup activities mandated under Superfund or RCRA corrective action enforcement.

7
 April 2020
COVID-19 Special Edition NEWSLETTER
Hierarchy of Controls for COVID-19

The best way to control a hazard is to systematically remove it from the workplace, rather than relying
on workers to reduce their exposure. During an outbreak of infectious disease, when it may not be
possible to eliminate the hazard, the most effective protection measures are listed from most effective
to least effective.

Engineering Controls
Engineering controls involve isolating employees from work-related hazards. In workplaces where they
are appropriate, these types of controls reduce exposure to hazards without relying on worker behavior
and can be the most cost-effective solution to implement. Engineering controls for infectious disease
include:
• Installing high-efficiency air filters

• Increasing ventilation rates in the work environment

• Installing physical barriers, such as clear plastic sneeze guards where feasible

• Installing a drive-through window for customer service

• Specialized negative pressure ventilation in some settings, such as for aerosol generating procedures

8
 April 2020
COVID-19 Special Edition NEWSLETTER
Hierarchy of Controls for COVID-19

Administrative Controls and Safe Work Practices

Administrative controls require action by the worker or employer. Typically, administrative controls are changes in work policy or procedures to reduce or minimize exposure
to a hazard. Examples of administrative controls for infectious disease include:
• Encouraging sick workers to stay at home • Provide tissues, no-touch trash cans, hand soap, alcohol-based hand
rubs containing at least 60% alcohol, disinfectants, and disposable
• Replacing face-to-face meetings with virtual communications and telework if feasible towels for workers to clean their work surfaces
• Establishing alternating days or extra shifts that reduce the total number of employees in • Requiring regular hand washing or using of alcohol-based hand rubs.
a facility at a given time Workers should always wash hands when they are visibly soiled and
after removing any PPE
• Discontinuing nonessential travel to locations with ongoing infectious disease outbreaks

• Developing emergency communications plans, including a forum for answering workers’

concerns and internet-based communications, if feasible

• Providing workers with up-to-date education and training on risk factors and protective
behaviors (e.g., cough etiquette and care of PPE)

• Training workers who need to use protecting clothing and equipment how to put it on,
use/wear it, and take it off correctly, including in the context of their current and
potential duties.

9
 April 2020
COVID-19 Special Edition NEWSLETTER
Hierarchy of Controls for COVID-19

Personal Protective Equipment

While engineering and administrative controls are considered more effective in minimizing exposure to
infectious diseases, PPE may also be needed to prevent certain exposures. While correctly using PPE can help
prevent some exposures, it should not take the place of other prevention strategies. Examples of PPE include:
• Gloves

• Goggles

• Face shields

• Face masks

• Respiratory protection, when appropriate

Keeping Personal Protective Equipment clean and disinfected during an infectious disease outbreak is no easy
task. Click here to view, download, and print, NASP’s infographic on how to keep PPE disinfected during this
COVID-19 pandemic.

10
 April 2020
COVID-19 Special Edition NEWSLETTER
Recording Workplace Exposures to COVID-19

OSHA recordkeeping requirements at 29 CFR Part 1904 mandate covered employers record certain work-related injuries and illnesses on their OSHA 300 log.

COVID-19 can be a recordable illness if a worker is infected as a result of performing their

work-related duties. However, employers are only responsible for recording cases of
COVID-19 if all of the following are met:
• The case is a confirmed case of COVID-19 (see CDC information on persons under
investigation and presumptive positive and laboratory-confirmed cases of COVID-19);

• The case is work-related, as defined by 29 CFR 1904.5; and

• The case involves one or more of the general recording criteria set forth in 29 CFR 1904.7
(e.g. medical treatment beyond first-aid, days away from work).

11
 April 2020
COVID-19 Special Edition NEWSLETTER
Screening Employees for COVID-19

To help protect the public against the spread of COVID-19, some states, and many employers have implemented employee screening procedures to reduce the spread of
COVID-19 to the workforce. The following information can act as a guide for employers who may wish to screen employees each day before work:
• All employees who are able to work from home should be working from home at this time.

• For those employees who must report: each employee should have their temperature taken each day, and if they have a fever at or above 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit, that
employee should be sent home. The employee should monitor their symptoms and call a doctor or use telemedicine if their symptoms concern them.
o This employee can return to work when:
• They have had NO fever for at least three (3) days without taking medication to reduce fever during that time; AND
• There is improvement in their respiratory symptoms (cough and shortness of breath) for three (3) days; AND
• At least seven (7) days have passed since their symptoms began.
o If your employee presents with a fever and has recently traveled to an area with community spread of COVID-19, they
are required to stay home for 14 days from the time they were exposed to COVID-19.
• They can return to work after meeting the same qualifications, after their 14-day quarantine, or if a doctor
determines the cause of their fever is not COVID-19 and approves their return.
o It is best to use touchless thermometers (forehead/ temporal artery thermometers) if possible, but if you must use
oral or other types of thermometers, make sure to clean the thermometers thoroughly between each employee, as to
not spread infection.
• Follow the manufacturer’s directions to disinfect the thermometer.
• If no directions are available, rinse the tip of the thermometer in cold water, clean it with alcohol or alcohol swabs,
and then rinse it again.

• If you do not have thermometers on site, have your employees take their temperatures at home. They should stay home if
they have a fever and follow the same protocol.

12
 April 2020
COVID-19 Special Edition NEWSLETTER
Screening Employees for COVID-19

Questionnaire
There is currently a shortage on thermometers. If you cannot find thermometers, and employees do not have one at
home to check their temperature you can screen each incoming employee with a basic questionnaire:
• Do you have symptoms of respiratory infection (fever, cough, shortness of breath)?
o No – proceed to work.
o Yes, but symptoms have a known cause (asthma, COPD, chronic sinusitis, etc.) – proceed to the next question.
o Yes – Employee will be sent home. Employee is required to stay home for at least 7 days from the time they
experienced symptoms AND at least three days after they have no fever (without taking medication to reduce fever)
AND have improvement in their respiratory symptoms (cough, shortness of breath).

• Have you been exposed to someone with confirmed COVID-19 or an impacted area?
o No – proceed to work.
o Yes, and not experiencing symptoms – employee will be required to stay at home for 14 days from the time they
were exposed to confirmed COVID-19 or left the impacted area.
o Yes, and exhibiting symptoms – employee is required to stay home for at least 14 days from the time they were
exposed. Employee can return to work after their quarantine when it has been 7 days from the time they
experienced symptoms AND at least three days after they have no fever (without taking medication to reduce fever)
AND have improvement in their respiratory symptoms (cough, shortness of breath).

• If at any time a doctor confirms the cause of their fever or other symptoms is not COVID-19 and approves them to return to work, then employees can return.

• Please remember to continue to follow preventative measures no matter how many employees are in the office — physical distancing, stay home when sick, use cough and
sneeze etiquette, and practice hand hygiene as often as possible. Clean all high-touch surfaces regularly.

13
 April 2020
COVID-19 Special Edition NEWSLETTER
CSM Blended Class

Due to the unfortunate COVID-19 situation, NASP is now providing an alternative and innovative means for continuing your safety education in a combination format consisting
of online and webinar-based training.

We are excited to introduce NASP’s Certified Safety Manager (CSM) Blended Learning Course. This course, like our classroom version, will include the following:
• 15 modules that cover OSHA’s hardest-hit standards, proper adult training methodologies, methods to implement a safety management system and create a safety culture
that will ultimately lead to less injuries and illnesses in the workplace.

• Three webinars which review each of the 15 modules after student has completed the
various topics on their online course.

• Webinars will be held Monday, Wednesday and Friday and will last approximately 90
minutes based on the length of the Q&A

• 55 question exam to be completed on Friday afternoon, after final webinar.

• FREE resource library, including sample plans, programs, checklists, safety-related

PowerPoints and other training material

14
 April 2020
COVID-19 Special Edition NEWSLETTER
CSM Blended Class

Register for our CSM online course here and use PROMO CODE CSMB2020 and receive 30% off per
student. CSM Course webinars will be held on the following dates:

• April 20-24, 2020 (click here to register). You must pay for the course to register for the webinar.

• May 11-15, 2020 (click here to register). You must pay for the course to register for the webinar.

We will continue to do everything possible to make things as simple and convenient as possible to
continue your safety and health education during these turbulent times.

15
NASP PO Box 3367, Wilmington, NC 28406 - 1-800-922-2219
www.naspweb.com
16