By: Christopher Sirota, CPCU
Although the COVID-19 crisis continues to persist in some countries and cities, some buildings will be re-opened for certain businesses and schools as lockdowns are gradually lifted.
A CNET article reported on various expected developments that may follow in places where lockdowns are lifted. The article listed the following example locations that will reopen or already have reopened:
- The largest shopping mall company in the U.S., Simon, plans to open in more than 20 states by May 16th.
- Schools in Denmark, Beijing, and Shanghai have reopened. California is considering reopening in July.
- Georgia is lifting lockdown rules for "gyms, tattoo parlors, [and] hair salons […]."
In anticipation of such re-openings and return to buildings and other spaces, there have been various guidelines released by both government agencies and non-government entities.
The following are some examples of websites with suggested guidelines:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published Guidance For Cleaning And Disinfecting Public Spaces, Workplaces, Businesses, Schools, And Homes (4/28/2020)
- The Federal Emergency Management Agency published Planning Considerations for Organizations in Reconstituting Operations
- The National Safety Council has published "SAFER: Safe Actions for Employee Returns, […] a comprehensive initiative to guide employers through the process of safely resuming traditional work and operations now and in a post-quarantine environment."
- Commercial real estate services company Cushman & Wakefield has released Recovery Readiness: A How-To Guide For Reopening Your Workplace (4/22/2020) which includes guidelines specific to retail and warehouses
- In the Seattle, Washington area, the venture capitalist company Madrona reportedly worked with various groups including "Seattle Venture Community, Leading Tech, Retail and Aerospace Companies in the Region and the Seattle Metropolitan and Bellevue Chambers of Commerce" to develop a toolkit called Safe Work Plan for Back to Work."
Related ISO Emerging Issues Post: Plumbing Concerns When Buildings Re-open Post-COVID-19 (5/4/2020)
Related Verisk Visualize article: Getting ready for a restart: Managing business risks in a COVID-19 world (4/27/2020)
For individualized technical advice and guidance on risk management and loss control, please contact Thad Nosal, Director, Engineering and Safety Service at Thaddeus.Nosal@verisk.com. ISO's Engineering and Safety Service (E&S™) is the leading provider of technical, legislative, and regulatory information for risk management and loss control.