Whether you are a small-business owner or a leader within a corporation, ensuring the health & safety of your employees and your company’s compliance with local regulations is your responsibility. This article describes how you can prepare your business to comply with AB-685 on January 1, 2021. No matter your company size, these are the steps to complete in the next 60 days.
1. Understand and define who visits your business each day/week/month
Aside from employees, understand how often contractors, vendors, and/or visitors come to your business, how each group is logged, how interactions and interaction duration are tracked.
2. Implement communication standards for notifying potentially exposed employees, contractors, employers of the contractor, vendor representatives, and visitors
While “blanket” email communication could support notification requirements, it could also create unease among individuals who were not exposed. A targeted communication to those directly exposed to a COVID-19 positive individual during the infectious period is recommended.
In addition, define how your company will notify your local public health department within 48 hours of a COVID-19 outbreak
3. Implement contact tracing policies and/or technology to determine direct exposure to individual(s)
In addition to knowing person-to-person interactions, interaction duration is needed to determine direct exposure during the infectious period of an individual. Knowing this information supports targeted communication to others who need to be notified.
4. Develop & implement a disinfection and safety plan
Ensure your company has and can execute a disinfection and safety plan that follows the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines for mitigating COVID-19 exposure.
5. Update employee benefits policy to reflect COVID-19-related benefits
Determine what, if any, changes are needed to your individual company’s benefits plan and/or insurance coverage (such as workers’ compensation, sick leave). Employees may be entitled to COVID-19-related benefits under applicable federal, state, or local laws.
6. Update record retention policy and ensure technology infrastructure exists
To comply with the legislation, records of the written notifications are required to be kept for a period of at least three years.
7. Ensure those responsible for executing the notification and contact tracing program have the capacity and technology to comply with AB-685 requirements
Managing a business and employees is challenging, let alone managing during this pandemic. As new responsibilities emerge, it is critical that the capacity of individuals charged with implementing new requirements are considered.
Those who don't have a clinical background or a background in infectious disease management can rely on Care Validate's expertise in the field. With Care 360, a digital health platform designed for businesses, companies can simplify AB-685 compliance.
