COVID – Delta Variety (current as of 13 August)
Yeah, we are all pretty tired of this pandemic. Unfortunately, things are getting bad again—positivity rates are going up, hospitalizations are going up, and the virus is getting to be more common in younger people, especially those who cannot be vaccinated yet (under 12 years old). If everyone who could be vaccinated would get the shot(s), the virus would find fewer hosts and eventually fade, losing its grip on our lives.
In less than two months the Delta variant rose from infecting only a few to being the dominant strain. And it is nasty—1000 times the viral load of the Alpha strain, making it a lot more contagious. So, here are our updated Frequently Asked Questions:
Do I need the vaccine if I have had COVID?
Yes. The vaccines are more effective against other strains, including Delta, than just having had COVID. And, yes, you can get COVID again. Check with your health care provider.
What about side effects, such as heart problems?
Side effects occur with every medication and vaccine. Have you ever read the insert when you get a prescription filled? Side effects need to be listed, but the serious effects are occurring in a very, very small percent. According to the CDC, adding up all the adverse, serious side effects, the percentage is about .0003. Maybe three in a million. Your chance of being killed in an automobile crash is about one in 107. Yet we drive every day.
But people who have had the vaccine have died.
Yes, that is true, but the likelihood of dying after receiving the vaccine is much lower than the chance of dying from COVID if you are not vaccinated. As of early August, the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) has received 6,631 reports of death – roughly 0.0019% of people who received a COVID vaccine. The percentage of these reported deaths that were related to the COVID vaccine is likely even lower, since these reports do not necessarily mean that the vaccine was responsible for their health problem. Even so, compare those 6,631 deaths to the almost 622,000 total deaths from COVID-19.
Can an employer require employees be vaccinated?
In short, yes, with some exceptions. You have to show a business reason for it and allow exceptions for those who cannot be vaccinated for medical or religious reasons. Many employers are requiring proof of vaccination or requiring employees to wear masks and be tested for COVID on a weekly basis.
Why weekly testing?
As we said above, the Delta variant is very contagious. To prevent outbreaks and to contain the virus, weekly testing will identify people with COVID who could be contagious. Then, they will need to quarantine.
As an employer, why should I care if employees are vaccinated. It is their choice.
It is a choice that has health impacts on everyone. Why do we care that people not drive while intoxicated? Because it can, and often does, lead to motor vehicle accidents where someone else gets killed. Your actions, driving under the influence, impacts others. Same with COVID. Remember the impact on your business of the shutdowns last March and April 2020? People who are not vaccinated are more likely to get and to spread COVID. That could have serious financial impacts on your business. Can you afford to have your work force out? A lot of people out at the same time?
Some employees do not care if they get COVID. They assume it will be like the flu and back to work.
It could be flu-like symptoms. It could be worse. You don’t know.
Employers are no longer required to pay employees for missed days due to COVID or having to quarantine. If employees test positive or show symptoms, they will need to use vacation days for their days out.
Those who are unvaccinated and were exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID or who are displaying known symptoms must be instructed to stay home for 14 days or until they receive a negative test result at least three days after exposure.
Does everyone have to quarantine if they had an exposure?
No. If you have been vaccinated, you are not required to quarantine. The current guidelines from OSHA recommend fully vaccinated workers who have had close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19 wear a mask for up to 14 days (unless a COVID test taken at least three days after contact is negative). If you have not been vaccinated, you must quarantine at home.
What does CHESS recommend for COVID protocols now?
We continue to recommend good ventilation and air flow and frequent (weekly) testing for those who are not vaccinated. Those who are not vaccinated should stay at least 6 feet away from others to avoid breathing in particles produced by them.
Masks are required for those working indoors (or outdoors in close proximity to others) who are not vaccinated. Masks are now recommended for those who are fully vaccinated if they work around people who are not vaccinated, as a way to protect the unvaccinated. N95 masks are the most effective, but cloth or disposable masks still provide some protection.
What you can expect from CHESS
Although CHESS staff have all been vaccinated, we will be wearing masks when conducting site visits / walkthroughs and when conducting in-person meetings, such as safety committees. We still request that training be conducted in an area large enough for people to spread out.
It’s Electric
Anyone working with high voltage electricity needs to be protected from shock and electrocution. With electric and hybrid vehicles continuing to gain popularity, more and more are showing up in auto body and mechanical shops. Between manufacturers’ guidelines and OSHA’s regulations, there’s a lot to keep straight. Some of the most common areas of confusion surround selecting the right rubber insulating gloves and figuring out how often they need to be replaced.
First and foremost, follow the manufacturer’s specific guidelines for each vehicle. This is a general summary of information and a few helpful tips.
Why are rubber insulating gloves so important?
These gloves may seem a bit bulky, but they act as the first line of defense against electrical hazards. They protect the user against shock and electrocution when coming into contact with energized electrical parts and equipment. Rubber insulating gloves are required whenever working near high voltage components, such as the battery of an electric or hybrid vehicle.
The problem with these insulating gloves, though, is that they are easily damaged. A pinhole leak renders them ineffective. So keeping them in good condition and checking for any holes before each use is critical.
Selecting gloves
Users will need the appropriate class and size of rubber insulated gloves along with leather protectors – overgloves designed for that purpose.
Class
Use the minimum class required by the manufacturer or, if not otherwise specified, a pair with enough voltage coverage to protect you against the voltage in the battery you’re handling. Class 0 is a safe bet, but Class 00 may offer a little more comfort and dexterity for the user. Look at the voltages for the batteries or electrical systems you’ll be working with when making your selection.
Class 00: protects up to 500 V
Class 0: protects up to 1,500 V
Recertification – to test or not to test
Gloves need testing and recertification to ensure they still work well. Gloves are good for 12 months from their date of issue – the date printed on the gloves. Check this date! Sometimes gloves will sit in a distribution center for long enough that by the time they are received, it’s almost time for them to be replaced. You can usually send these back to the supplier for replacements. Ideally the date you receive them should be within four months of the date printed, that way you still have eight months of use.
Between paying for shipping costs, needing two sets of gloves to avoid ever being without gloves when they are shipped off, and the risk that they won’t pass inspection (remember, even one tiny pinhole can ruin their effectiveness), purchasing new gloves each year may be a better option than having them tested every six months. This gives you up to 12 months of safe use, as opposed to recertification which is only good for 6 months.
Only the rubber gloves need replacement or recertification, not the leather overgloves.
Multi-Plug Adapters
Electrical hazards often get overlooked because of how frequently we deal with electrical devices. In fact, we deal with so many electrical devices that we sometimes run out of places to plug them in. Multi-plug adapters allow us to plug multiple low-amperage devices, such as phone chargers and computers, into one outlet. But which kinds are safe to use?
Relocatable power tap (power strip): uses a flexible cord to plug into an outlet.
- Must be UL listed
- Must be grounded
- Require overcurrent protection
- Approved power strips are allowed for long term use when:
- used with low-amperage equipment
- not permanently mounted
Current tap: plugs directly into an outlet.
- Fall under a different UL listing
- Do not always have OSHA required overcurrent protection.
- Current taps that do not have overcurrent protection are not approved for industrial use!
For more information on current taps and power strips, see the July newsletter from the Minnesota State Fire Marshal.