Question: What steps should laboratories take to assess and mitigate risk?

Answer passage (source: CDC):
page_title: Frequently Asked Questions about Biosafety and COVID-19
section_headers: Specimen Handling
How should the laboratory perform a risk assessment to identify and mitigate risks?
section_content: All laboratories should perform a site-specific and activity-specific risk
assessment to identify and mitigate risks and determine if enhanced biosafety
precautions are warranted based on situational needs, such as high testing
volumes, and the likelihood to generate infectious droplets and aerosols. Risk
assessments and mitigation measures are dependent on the procedures performed,
identification of the hazards involved in the process and/or procedures, the
competency level of the personnel who perform the procedures, the laboratory
equipment and facility, and the resources available.
The risk assessment should identify all potential scenarios of a particular
activity that could produce a negative outcome. The risk assessment should
prioritize those potential negative outcomes, or risks, based on an evaluation
of the likelihood and consequences of each of those identified risks. The risk
assessment should determine the most appropriate control measures, and how the
system will measure the effectiveness of those control measures.
For additional information, refer to the following:

Laboratory biosafety guidance related to the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV)pdf iconexternal icon
Risk Assessment Best Practicespdf iconexternal icon
World Health Organization Laboratory Biosafety Manual, 3rdpdf iconexternal icon


Reviewer feedback on this answer:
This answer is okay. The question wants to know about what the risks are and this answer talks about how to perform risk assessments. It's at least in the ballpark of being correct
This is a great answer that defines step-by-step the ways laboratories can assess and mitigate risk. The response also provides links to additional websites to get further information about risk assessment.

Reviewer ratings:
Acceptable
Excellent

Answer passage (source: CDC):
page_title: Frequently Asked Questions about Biosafety and COVID-19
section_headers: Specimen Handling
How should laboratory personnel remove biohazardous waste from the laboratory or testing area for decontamination and disposal?
section_content: Handle laboratory waste from testing suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patient
specimens as all other biohazardous waste in the laboratory. Currently, there
is no evidence to suggest that this laboratory waste needs additional
packaging or disinfection procedures.
For additional information, refer to the following:

Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories (BMBL) (5th edition)


Reviewer feedback on this answer:
This answer says how laboratories should deal with medical waste from COVID-19 specimens. It does not, however, answer the question of what steps should labs take to assess and mitigate risk. The answer is incomplete.
This vaguely touches on the question but I don't think it really does a good job of directly answering it. This mostly just talks about laboratory waste which isn't the question

Reviewer ratings:
Could be Improved
Could be Improved

Answer passage (source: CDC):
page_title: General Business Frequently Asked Questions
section_headers: Reducing the Spread of COVID-19 in Workplaces
Should we be screening employees for COVID-19 symptoms (such as temperature checks)? What is the best way to do that?
section_content: Screening employees is an optional strategy that employers may use. There are
several methods that employers can use to protect the employee conducting the
temperature screening. The most protective methods incorporate social
distancing (maintaining a distance of 6 feet from others), or physical
barriers to eliminate or minimize the screener’s exposures due to close
contact with a person who has symptoms during screening. Examples to consider
that incorporate these types of controls for temperature screening include:

Reliance on Social Distancing : Ask employees to take their own temperature either before coming to the workplace or upon arrival at the workplace. Upon their arrival, stand at least 6 feet away from the employee and: 
Ask the employee to confirm that their temperature is less than 100.4o F (38.0o C), and confirm that they are not experiencing coughing or shortness of breath.
Make a visual inspection of the employee for signs of illness, which could include flushed cheeks or fatigue.
Screening staff do not need to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) if they can maintain a distance of 6 feet.


Reliance on Barrier/Partition Controls : During screening, the screener stands behind a physical barrier, such as a glass or plastic window or partition, that can protect the screener’s face and mucous membranes from respiratory droplets that may be produced when the employee sneezes, coughs, or talks. Upon arrival, the screener should wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or, if soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Then: 
Make a visual inspection of the employee for signs of illness, which could include flushed cheeks or fatigue.
Conduct temperature and symptom screening using this protocol: 
Put on disposable gloves.
Check the employee’s temperature, reaching around the partition or through the window. Make sure the screener’s face stays behind the barrier at all times during the screening.
If performing a temperature check on multiple individuals, make sure that you use a clean pair of gloves for each employee and that the thermometer has been thoroughly cleaned in between each check. If disposable or non-contact thermometers are used and you did not have physical contact with an individual, you do not need to change gloves before the next check. If non-contact thermometers are used, clean and disinfect them according to manufacturer’s instructions and facility policies.
Remove and discard PPE (gloves), and wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.



If social distance or barrier controls cannot be implemented during screening,
PPE can be used when the screener is within 6 feet of an employee during
screening. However, reliance on PPE alone is a less effective control and more
difficult to implement given PPE shortages and training requirements.

Reliance on Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) : Upon arrival, the screener should wash their hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol, put on a facemask, eye protection (goggles or disposable face shield that fully covers the front and sides of the face), and a single pair of disposable gloves. A gown could be considered if extensive contact with an employee is anticipated. Then: 
Make a visual inspection of the employee for signs of illness, which could include flushed cheeks or fatigue, and confirm that the employee is not experiencing coughing or shortness of breath.
Take the employee’s temperature. 
If performing a temperature check on multiple individuals, make sure that you use a clean pair of gloves for each employee and that the thermometer has been thoroughly cleaned in between each check. If disposable or non-contact thermometers are used and you did not have physical contact with an individual, you do not need to change gloves before the next check. If non-contact thermometers are used, you should clean and disinfect them according to manufacturer’s instructions and facility policies.
After each screening, remove and discard PPE and wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.




Reviewer feedback on this answer:
This is a good response as far as what steps labs should take to mitigate risk. The response doesn't acknowledge the steps laboratories should take when dealing with risk assessment.
This is only about screening employees and PPE which is vaguely relevant to the question but not really what it's asking. This says nothing specific about laboratories which is in the question

Reviewer ratings:
Acceptable
Could be Improved