Manufacturing Facilities:

Key Strategies to Prevent COVID-19 Infection among Employees

CS 316954-B 05/12/2020

Accessible version: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/guidance-manufacturing-workers-employers.html

cdc.gov/coronavirus

Employers should assess their workplace for factors that might increase the risk of spreading COVID-19. Develop a health and 

safety plan using a combination of the following prevention recommendations. Reach out frequently to state and/or local public 

health officials and occupational safety and health professionals to get relevant and up-to-date information concerning COVID-19.

• Educate and train employees on COVID-19 

and how to protect themselves and others at 

home and at work. Cover topics like staying home 

when sick, social distancing, how to wear 

cloth face coverings, and proper hand 

hygiene. Provide materials in an easy to 

understand format and in appropriate 

languages. CDC has posters available 

for download.

• Screen employees for potential COVID-19 

symptoms before they enter the workplace.

Consult with state and local health officials and 

occupational medicine professionals on screening 

procedures. Send employees with symptoms home 

immediately, encourage them to self-isolate at home, 

and provide information on when they can return 

to work.

• Encourage sick employees to stay 

home (including employees who test 

positive but do not have symptoms). 

Develop policies that encourage sick 

employees to stay at home without fear 

of punishment or loss of incentives, 

and make sure employees are aware of 

these policies. Work with occupational 

medicine professionals to develop policies 

for workers who may be at increased risk

related to COVID-19.

• Encourage employees to practice social 

distancing (staying at least 6 feet away from 

others). Stagger break times and shifts. Place 

reminders where employees might gather, including 

work areas, break areas, locker rooms, halls or 

corridors, and entrance and exit areas. Encourage 

employees to avoid carpooling to and from work, 

if possible.

• Keep employees at least 6 feet away 

from each other as much as possible.

Use physical barriers, reduce staffing, or 

modify workstations, work procedures, or 

hours and shifts to increase the distance 

among employees. Add additional clock 

in/out stations, space out chairs in break 

rooms, and add outside tents for breaks.

• Provide cloth face coverings and face shields. 

Make sure face coverings are worn properly 

(snugly over the nose and mouth). Provide 

washable coverings with multiple layers 

of fabric. Replace when wet, dirty, or 

contaminated. Clean face shields after 

each shift if used. Make sure face shields 

extend past the chin and wrap around the 

sides of the face.

• Increase frequency of cleaning and 

disinfection in shared spaces. Clean 

and disinfect tools or other equipment 

at least as often as employees change 

workstations. Disinfect frequently 

touched surfaces in workspaces and break 

rooms at the end of each shift. Clean and 

disinfect shuttle buses or vans if used.

• Provide personal protective equipment (PPE) 

needed for job tasks. Do not substitute face 

coverings for recommended or required PPE such as 

respirators or medical facemasks. Ensure PPE is used 

properly. Train employees on how to put on and take 

off PPE without contaminating themselves. 

• Promote proper hand hygiene. Provide 

access to running water, soap, 

paper towels, and trash cans (notouch trash cans if available). Have 

employees wash hands for at least 20 

seconds. Increase the number of hand 

sanitizer stations (touch-free where 

possible). Provide alcohol-based hand 

sanitizer that contains at least 

60% alcohol. 

• Create an emergency operational plan.

Prepare for increased absences. Plan how 

to continue your essential business 

functions with a reduced workforce. 

Cross-train workers to perform 

critical duties.