The Coronavirus continues to make its way across the state. As many of us are trying to keep an eye on the impact, it is an excellent time to think through potential risks for you and your organization. We owe it to our customers, employees, and communities to ensure health and safety in our business practices.

Here are five steps you can do this week:

1. Determine supply chain disruption risks

• Review/develop your supply chain disruption checklist
• Contact your key suppliers to learn of potential risks, particularly from parts made in China.
• Request that suppliers are promptly and proactively communicating any future risks.
• Begin to identify a plan B if necessary for supplying, should your supply chain get disrupted

2. Reeducate employees on preventing virus spread

• This is an excellent time to provide wellness education through employee training and awareness campaigns.
• Review and refresh employment leave policies as appropriate.
• Remind employees of local service providers connected to your company or community.
• Monitor travel advisories and take precautions accordingly.
• Consider if your policies are encouraging sick employees to report to work or if there are social distancing options available for some activities.
• Consider the risks of travel
• Consider the use of technology to stay connected

3. Review and revise cleaning schedules for common areas

• Confirm current state of facility cleaning schedules.
• Consider increasing the availability of disinfection supplies.
• Verify that your outside providers are prepared for potential increased demand.
• Review job hazard assessments and timeliness of training activities.

5. Work with local health professionals

• Monitor the situation and seek guidance from local professionals as needed.

6. Prompt communication

• Proactive communication reduces concerns and uncertainties in others.
• Encourage excellent communication with employees.
• Stand out as a supplier by proactively communicating to your customer what you are doing.
• Seek current communication from your supply chain to understand potential obstacles.
• Review the current state of cross-training employees on critical activities and communicate with your leadership team.

If your organization would like to benchmark your preparedness or have questions about best practices or need additional information to develop response plan contact Impact Washington 425.438.1146 and we can help.

Additional Resources

Disruption/Response Planning:

• Impact Washington – Supply Disruption Planning Checklist
• The Center for Disease Control (CDC) provides interim guidance for employers. Recommendations for an Infectious Disease Outbreak Response Plan
• U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) Coronavirus Supply Chain Update

Insurance Questions:

• Questions about insurance coverage – Office of Insurance Coverage, Washington State

Workplace/Employee Recommendations:

• Washington State Department of Health –  Workplace and Employer Recommendations
• Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Key OSHA standards for COVID-19
• U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation: Workplace Tips for Employees

State/County – COVID-19 Information:

• Washington State Department of Health – 2019 Novel Coronavirus Outbreak (COVID-19)
• Governor’s Office Resource List for Washington State Businesses and Workers Impacted by COVID-19 Coronavirus
• Tacoma – Pierce County Health Department – COVID-19 Information for Businesses
• Seattle-King County Public Health- Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
• Thurston County Public Health & Social Services

General COVID-19 Information:

• Center for Disease Control (CDC)  – What you need to know about coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)
• Monitoring Map – Coronavirus COVID-19 Global Cases by Johns Hopkins CSSE