COVID 19 Policy

Meals N Wheels is committed to providing a safe and healthy workplace for everyone. Meals N Wheels has developed the following COVID-19 plan, which includes policies and procedures to minimize the risk of transmission of COVID-19, in accordance with OSHA’s COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS).

Meals N Wheels’ goal is to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 in the workplace(s). Managers as well as non-managerial employees and their representatives are all responsible for supporting, complying with, and providing recommendations to further improve this COVID-19 plan.

The COVID-19 Safety Coordinator(s) implements and monitors this COVID-19 plan. The COVID-19 Safety Coordinator(s) has Meals N Wheels’ full support in implementing and monitoring this COVID-19 plan and has authority to ensure compliance with all aspects of this plan.

Meals N Wheels and the COVID-19 Safety Coordinator(s) will work cooperatively with non-managerial employees and their representatives to conduct a workplace-specific hazard assessment and in the development, implementation, and updating of this COVID-19 plan.

Meals N Wheels will provide, and ensure that employees wear, facemasks, or a higher level of respiratory protection. Facemasks must be worn by employees over the nose and mouth when indoors and when occupying a vehicle with another person for work purposes. Policies and procedures for facemasks will be implemented, along with the other provisions required by OSHA’s COVID-19 ETS, as part of a multi-layered infection control approach.

Facemasks provided by Meals N Wheels will be FDA-cleared, authorized by an FDA Emergency Use Authorization, or otherwise offered or distributed as described in an FDA enforcement policy. Meals N Wheels will provide employees with enough facemasks, which must be changed at least once a day, whenever they are soiled or damaged, and more frequently as necessary (e.g., client care reasons).

The following are additional exceptions to Meals N Wheels’ requirements for facemasks:

1. When an employee is alone in a room.

2. While an employee is eating and drinking at the workplace, provided each employee is at least 6 feet away from any other person, or separated from other people by a physical barrier.

3. When employees are wearing respirators in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.134 or paragraph (f) of OSHA’s COVID-19 ETS.

4. When it is important to see a person’s mouth (e.g., communicating with an individual who is deaf or hard of hearing) and the conditions do not permit a facemask that is constructed of clear plastic (or includes a clear plastic window). When this is the case, Meals N Wheels will ensure that each employee wears an alternative, such as a face shield, if the conditions permit.

5. When employees cannot wear facemasks due to a medical necessity, medical condition, or disability as defined in the Americans with Disabilities Act (42 USC 12101 et seq.), or due to religious belief. Exceptions will be provided for a narrow subset of persons with a disability who cannot wear a facemask or cannot safely wear a facemask, because of the disability, as defined with the Americans with Disability Act (42 USC 12101 et seq.), including a person who cannot independently remove the facemask. The remaining portion of the subset who cannot wear a facemask may be exempted on a case-by-case basis as required by the Americans with Disability Act and other applicable laws. When an exception applies, Meals N Wheels will ensure that any such employee wears a face shield, if their condition or disability permits it. Meals N Wheels will provide accommodations for religious beliefs consistent with Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.

Meals N Wheels will ensure that each employee is separated from all other people in the workplace by at least 6 feet when indoors, unless it can be demonstrated that such physical distance is not feasible for a specific activity. Where maintaining 6 feet of physical distance is not feasible, Meals N Wheels will ensure employees are as far apart from other people as possible. Physical distancing will be implemented, along with the other provisions required by OSHA’s COVID-19 ETS, as part of a multi-layered infection control approach.