COVID-19 pandemic: Washington L&I releases guidance for janitorial workers, employers

Tumwater, WA — In an effort to protect janitorial workers “on the front lines of helping the public” contain the spread of COVID-19, the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries has created a series of safety tip sheets.

Because the respiratory illness can be spread via tiny droplets when infected individuals cough or sneeze, the tip sheets recommend workers:

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Refrain from touching their eyes, nose and mouth, and wash their hands frequently.
• Stay home when sick.
• Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue, then discard the tissue in the garbage.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

Washington L&I advises employers to inform janitorial staff if a job will involve working in a location where an infected individual has been; display posters that promote staying home when sick, proper hand hygiene, and cough and sneeze etiquette; and ensure frequent, daily cleaning and disinfecting of high-touch surfaces such as faucets, doorknobs, handrails and light switches.