• Wednesday, the OMA held its second COVID-19 briefing for manufacturers. We were joined by Lt. Gov. Jon Husted, as well as a panel of experts to address key concerns such as protocols to follow should an employee test positive, how to monitor employee health, and complying with Ohio's workplace safety requirements for essential businesses. A recording of today's briefing is available here.
  • We also now have the recording of OMA's first COVID-19 briefing held Monday, March 25. Listen to this one-hour briefing here. It includes valuable information about Ohio's stay-at-home order, as well as best practices to help keep the workplace safe.
  • Husted said the broad language -- which applies to manufacturers and their supply chains -- was based on an informed decision reached after many discussions with the business community and the Department of Homeland Security.
  • Husted reiterated that companies need to read the order and "use good judgement" regarding their "essential business" status. As he has done previously, he noted that letters or certifications from authorities are not needed to remain open -- but he encouraged companies to document their rationale for remaining open, as well as the steps they are taking to comply with Section 18 of Ohio's order to safeguard employee health. The Section 18 standards "are going to be in place for a long while," he said, even after the stay-at-home order has expired.
  • Helpful Tip: An Ohio Manufacturer shared that they use Tempa-Dot to take the employees temperatures. It is a single-use clinical thermometer that is disposable and individually wrapped.