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U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 

COVID-19 Workplace Safety

Implementation Plan, Revision 6 

June 1, 2023 
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WORKPLACE SAFETY IMPLEMENTATION PLAN REVISION - SUMMARY OF CHANGES

Date Revision Comments

04/26/2021 Revision 1 • Technical review and edits.

• Changed enhanced cleaning from 7 days to a more general

commitment to follow Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention (CDC) guidance for cleaning which reflects M-21-15

language and the fact that Federal guidance continues to evolve.

07/21/2021 Revision 2 • Technical review and edits.

• Removed references to outdated Federal guidance and

summarized introduction section.

• Updated mask, physical distancing, and travel guidance to reflect

updated Federal guidance.

11/4/21 Revision 3 • Technical review and edits.

• Incorporate changes from the COVID-19 Workplace Safety:

Agency Model Safety Principles dated September 13, 2021 and

additional guidance from the Safer Federal Workforce Task

Force.

12/21/21 Revision 4 • Add clarification that NRC, in implementing Executive Order (EO)

14042, will comply with all relevant court orders and will follow

relevant OMB and Safer Federal Workforce Task Force

guidance.

12/30/22 Revision 5 • Incorporate changes from the Safer Federal Workforce Task

Force Model Agency COVID-19 Safety Principles dated

September 15, 2022, and additional guidance from the Safer

Federal Workforce Task Force to include:

o Ensure compliance with court orders;

o Identify prevention strategies related to CDC COVID-19

Community Levels;

o Update guidance for mask-wearing, physical distancing,

screening testing, travel, post-exposure precautions, and

isolation; and

o Update guidance for agency-hosted meetings, events,

and conferences.

06/01/2023 Revision 6 • Incorporate changes per the Office of Management and

Budget (OMB) and Safer Federal Workforce Task Force

(SFWTF or Task Force) with the ending of the COVID-19

public health emergency including updating COVID-19

safety protocols and workplace safety plans, COVID-19

safety protocols for Federal contractors, and the end of

vaccination requirements for Federal employees and

contractors.

o Updated guidance implementing the revoked

Executive Order 14043 and Executive Order 14042.

o Updated CDC COVID-19 tracking from Community

Levels to Hospital Admission Levels
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Introduction

On January 20, 2021, President Biden issued Executive Order (EO) 13991, Protecting the Federal 

Workforce and Requiring Mask-Wearing. In response to the subsequent Office of Management and

Budget (OMB) Memorandum M-21-15, “COVID-19 Safe Federal Workplace: Agency Model Safety 

Principles” (updated September 15, 2022), the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) developed 

the “NRC COVID-19 Workplace Safety Implementation Plan” (WSIP) to address the Model Safety 

Principles in M-21-15 and as updated by the Safer Federal Workforce Task Force (SFWTF), 

subsequent EO 14042, EO 14043, OMB Memorandum M-21-25, “Integrating Planning for A Safe 

Increased Return of Federal Employees and Contractors to Physical Workplaces with Post-Reentry 

Personnel Policies and Work Environment,” and additional SFWTF guidance. 

On May 9, 2023, President Biden issued an Executive Order on Moving Beyond COVID-19 Vaccination 

Requirements for Federal Workers, which, as of 12:01 AM EST on May 12, 2023, 1) revokes Executive Order 

14042, which required certain parties contracting with the Federal Government to provide COVID-19 

safeguards to their workers; and 2) revokes Executive Order 14043, which required vaccination for 

Federal employees, subject to exceptions as required by law. The WSIP will continue to be revised to reflect 

changes to SFWTF guidance and subsequent changes to agency COVID-19 related activities, as appropriate.

NRC COVID-19 Program Manager

The NRC’s COVID-19 Program Manager (PM) oversees the NRC’s response to the COVID-19 

circumstances at its facilities, including addressing safety issues. The PM regularly reviews compliance 

with, and considers potential revisions to, the NRC COVID-19 workplace safety plans and protocols 

pursuant to guidance from the SFWTF and current CDC guidelines. Additionally, the PM routinely 

evaluates operational needs related to COVID-19 workplace safety.

The PM resides in the Office of the Chief Human Capital Officer (OCHCO) under the Human Capital 

and Analytics Branch (HCAB) and is tasked with carrying out workforce health and safety related 

functions. The PM is charged with staying abreast of best practices and Federal guidance to protect 

employees’ health and safety, changes in state and local conditions, operating experience in NRC 

facilities relative to workforce health and safety and making recommendations for changes to NRC 

measures to NRC senior management based upon the compilation of this information.

The PM coordinates all decisions with facility security committees, the Office of General Counsel 

(OGC), and the Office of Administration (ADM) to engage with onsite contractor employees as well as 

ensure health and safety protocols are being applied as appropriate. For privately-owned facilities 

leased by the Federal government, the PM coordinates with the General Services Administration 

(GSA), where appropriate, and the lessor’s designated representative.

Overview and Goals of Workplace Safety Implementation Plan

The NRC’s top priority is the health and safety of its employees, onsite contractor employees, and 

individuals interacting with our workforce, including visitors to NRC facilities. This plan describes the 

considerations and guidance for the NRC to help protect the health and safety of its workforce while 

continuing to conduct its mission.

As directed in Section 2(a) of EO 13991, the NRC is committed to taking action, as appropriate and 

consistent with applicable law, to require compliance with CDC guidelines with respect to wearing 

masks, maintaining physical distance, and other public health measures by: on-duty or on-site 

Federal employees; on-site Federal contractor employees; an all persons in Federal buildings or on 

Federal lands. The principles presented in this plan are aligned to the latest Federal guidance and 
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established public health practices and will be re-assessed and updated as circumstances warrant.

The NRC will communicate any changes to this guidance to the NRC workforce by issuing NRC 

announcements and posting the revision on the designated NRC internal SharePoint site, and to the 

public by posting the revision on the agency external web page, within 3 business days of approval of 

the change. In advance of such notices, the NRC will meet all labor relations obligations, including

notices as appropriate, in compliance with statute and the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). 

NRC employees or contractor employees who are escorting visitors are responsible for ensuring their 

visitor is provided the necessary information regarding NRC requirements and guidance prior to 

entering the facility.

COVID-19 Hospital Admission Levels

On May 11, 2023, the CDC modified its guidance to reflect updated recommendations for responding

to COVID-19 and updated its existing COVID-19 data tracker. CDC shifted its reporting from COVID19 Community Levels (CCLs) to COVID-19 hospital admission levels, which will continue to be 

reported by county. The levels of green, yellow, and orange note low, medium, and high status levels, 

respectively. CDC has set recommendations related to COVID-19 Hospital Admission Levels, which 

measure the impact of COVID-19 illness on healthcare systems and inform the appropriate prevention

strategies to utilize at a given time. The NRC will use this data to determine the level for NRC facilities 

by looking to the level for the county in which the facility is located.

The NRC follows the CDC protocols for COVID-19 Hospital Admission Levels when considering 

changes to protocols for testing and mask wearing. The NRC COVID-19 Program Manager will review

the level for each NRC facility on a weekly basis (typically each Thursday) to determine any changes that

need to be made to agency COVID-19 workplace safety protocols for the week.

Current NRC Protocols Based on COVID-19 Hospital 

Admission Levels

When the COVID-19 Hospital 

Admission Level is LOW in the

county where a Federal 

facility is located

• Mask-wearing: optional and recommended in indoor public 

transportation settings and may be required in other places 

by local or state authorities.

When the COVID-19 Hospital 

Admission Level

is MEDIUM in the county 

where a Federal facility is 

located

• Mask-wearing: optional and recommended in indoor public 

transportation settings and may be required in other places 

by local or state authorities.

• NRC encourages individuals, regardless of vaccination 

status, to consider avoiding crowding and physically 

distancing themselves from others in indoor common 

areas and meeting rooms.

When the COVID-19 Hospital 

Admission Level is HIGH in 

the county where a Federal 

facility is located

• Mask-wearing: all individuals are required to wear highquality masks or respirators (such as N95s) regardless of 

vaccination status.

• NRC encourages individuals, regardless of vaccination 

status, to consider avoiding crowding and physically 

distancing themselves from others in indoor common 

areas and meeting rooms.
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Vaccination

Consistent with CDC’s guidance, the NRC’s current COVID-19 workplace safety protocols currently do 

not vary based on individuals’ vaccination status or otherwise depend on the provision of vaccination 

information, regardless of the COVID-19 Hospital Admission Level for the county where the Federal

workplace is located.

Vaccination Requirements

Enforcement of the vaccination requirement contained in Executive Order 14043 was paused as of 

January 24, 2022, due to a nationwide preliminary injunction. Due to President Biden’s May 9, 2023,

Executive Order on Moving Beyond COVID-19 Vaccination Requirements for Federal Workers, 

Executive Order 14043 was revoked effective May 12, 2023. NRC may not require vaccination for its

employees and may not take any action to enforce the now-revoked requirements of Executive Order

14043. 

The President’s May 9, 2023, Executive Order 14042 rescinded the COVID-19 safety protocols for 

Federal contractors applicable to the contractor’s or subcontractor’s workplace, effective at 12:01 am 

on May 12, 2023. Federal agency workplace safety protocols for Federal buildings and Federallycontrolled facilities still apply. Contractor employees working onsite in NRC facilities must still follow 

those NRC’s workplace safety protocols. For additional information on those protocols, go to 

https://www.saferfederalworkforce.gov/. 

Vaccination-Related Administrative Leave1

Excused absence should be granted to those employees seeking to get a non-required COVID-19 

vaccine (up to 4 hours) as well as those experiencing any adverse side effects (up to 2 workdays) from 

obtaining a non-required COVID-19 vaccine. Employees may request leave or other paid time off to 

cover any additional absence. Employees are only credited with excused absence for time spent 

getting vaccinated during their tour of duty. Employees are not credited with excused absence or 

overtime work for time spent outside their tour of duty getting vaccinated.

Reasonable transportation costs incurred as a result of obtaining the vaccine from a site preapproved 

by the NRC are handled the same way as local travel or a temporary duty cost reimbursement is 

handled based on NRC policy and the Federal travel regulation.

Employees will also receive excused absence to accompany a family member being vaccinated. For 

this purpose, a “family member” is an individual who meets the definition of that term in OPM’s leave 

regulations (see 5 C.F.R. § 630.201). The agency grants leave-eligible employees up to 4 hours of 

excused absence per dose to accompany a family member (as defined in OPM’s leave regulations, see 

5 CFR 630.201) who is receiving any COVID-19 vaccination dose.

• The agency grants leave-eligible employees up to 4 hours of excused absence per dose – for 

example, up to a total of 12 hours of excused absence for a family member receiving 3 doses.

• If an employee needs to spend less time accompanying a family member who is receiving the 

COVID-19 vaccine, the agency grants only the needed amount of excused absence.

• Employees should obtain advance approval from their supervisor before being permitted to use 

excused absence for COVID-19 vaccination purposes.

• Employees are not credited with excused absence or overtime work for time spent outside their 
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tour of duty helping a family member get vaccinated.

1 The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) states, “Administrative leave (also referred to as “excused absence”) is an 

administratively authorized absence from duty without loss of pay or charge to leave. For consistency with NRC policy, the 

term ‘excused absence’ will be used.”

Vaccination Documentation and Information

Consistent with CDC guidance, COVID-19 workplace safety protocols currently do not vary based on 

vaccination status or otherwise depend on vaccination information. As such, the NRC will not require, 

request, or collect vaccination status information from any individual – including employees, contractor

employees, visitors to agency facilities, or in-person attendees at agency-hosted meetings, events, and 

conferences – for the purposes of implementing agency COVID-19 workplace safety protocols.

The NRC will continue to preserve vaccination information collection systems and the information 

collected to date from employees in accordance with the Federal Records Act and other records 

requirements. Furthermore, this information will be preserved as COVID-19 workplace safety protocols 

may change in the future, or collection of this information from Federal employees may otherwise need 

to resume.

Mask-Wearing

Individuals may wear a mask if they so choose when COVID-19 Hospital Admission Levels are LOW 

or MEDIUM. When the COVID-19 Hospital Admission Level is HIGH in the county where an NRC 

facility is located, pursuant to EO 13991 and consistent with CDC guidance, the NRC requires 

individuals – including employees, contractor employees, and visitors – who are 2 years or older, to 

wear a high- quality mask or respirator (over mouth and nose) while indoors in an NRC or licensee 

facility, regardless of their vaccination status, in any common areas or shared workspaces. This

includes when Federal employees are interacting with members of the public as part of their official 

responsibilities.

High-quality masks or respirators include respirators that meet U.S. or international standards (e.g., 

N95, KN95, KF94), masks that meet a standard (e.g., ASTM), or “procedure” or “surgical”-style masks. 

The CDC recommends wearing a high-quality mask or respirator that offers the most protection, fits 

well, and that you will wear consistently. The NRC will make available high-quality masks for 

employees when they are required to be worn at an NRC or licensee facility. High-quality masks may 

otherwise be requested through COVID19.Resource@nrc.gov.

When required, high-quality masks or respirators should be worn in any common areas or shared 

workspaces (including open floorplan office spaces, cubicle embankments, and conference rooms). 

High-quality masks or respirators may be removed when an individual is alone in an office with floor-toceiling walls and a closed door, or for a limited time when an individual is eating or drinking and 

maintaining distance from others.

Masked individuals may be asked to lower their masks briefly for identification purposes in compliance 

with agency safety and security requirements.

In certain circumstances, NRC employees working on-site at a licensee facility may be subject to 

different policies as implemented and required by the licensee.

Individuals do not need to wear masks or respirators when outdoors.

The NRC does not require the use of N95 or N100 respirator masks. Individuals choosing to voluntarily 
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wear their own personal N95 or N100 filtering facepieces may do so, provided the respirator masks do 

not have an attachment, vent, or exhalation valve. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s 

(OSHA) Information for Employees Using Respirators When Not Required Under the Standard provides 

additional guidance.

The NRC's Reasonable Accommodation Program addresses requests for reasonable accommodations from 

members of the workforce and official business visitors who have a qualified disability and are unable to comply 

with mask requirements.

Established processes and signage are in place for employees, onsite contractor employees, and 

visitors regarding mask-wearing as determined by assigned COVID-19 Hospital Admission Levels. 

Such signage may vary by facility as needed given local requirements and conditions. The 

The NRC follows the CDC protocols for COVID-19 Hospital Admission Levels when considering 

changes to protocols for testing and mask wearing. The NRC COVID-19 Program Manager will review

the level for each NRC facility on a weekly basis (typically each Thursday) to determine any changes that

need to be made to agency COVID-19 workplace safety protocols for the week. The levels of green, 

yellow, and orange note low, medium, and high-status levels, respectively. 

Mask-Wearing on NRC-Operated Transportation Conveyances

In NRC-operated vans, cars, trucks, and other motor pool passenger vehicles, NRC recommends that 

individuals wear high-quality masks or respirators (such as N95s) when there are multiple occupants.

Testing

Screening Testing

Screening testing is currently suspended at the NRC.

Diagnostic Testing

Diagnostic testing is intended to identify current infection in individuals and is performed on individuals 

who have symptoms consistent with COVID-19 and/or following recent known exposure to SARS-CoV2.

At this time, the NRC will require diagnostic testing consistent with guidance from the CDC and the 

Safer Federal Workforce Task Force. The NRC will reimburse employees for the cost of diagnostic 

testing resulting from a known exposure or in instances wherein a diagnostic test is required to enter a 

facility at which the employee is fulfilling duties related to NRC regulatory responsibilities and activities. 

The Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO) will coordinate reimbursement for diagnostic testing. 

Employees and contractor employees who are known to have been exposed to COVID-19 and are 

onsite at an agency workplace or interacting with members of the public in person as part of their 

official responsibilities must be tested for current infection with a viral test at least 5 full days after their 

last known exposure (ideally, on or after day 6).

Official Travel

There are no Government-wide limits on official travel (i.e., travel conducted under an official travel 

authorization), regardless of an individual’s vaccination status.

Individuals traveling on official NRC business:

• Should be advised that the CDC recommends individuals make sure they are up to date with 

COVID-19 vaccines before travel;
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• Should consider being tested for current infection with a viral test as close to the time of 

departure as possible (no more than 3 days) before travel;

• Should adhere strictly to CDC guidance for domestic and international travel before, during, and 

after official travel (see Travel FAQs); 

• Should consider checking their destination before traveling, and must wear a high-quality mask 

or respirator (such as an N95) while on-duty and around others indoors at their destination, if

the county where their destination is located is HIGH COVID-19 Hospital Admission Level;

• Should make sure they understand and follow all travel restrictions put in place by State, Tribal, 

local, and territorial governments; and

• Should prepare to be flexible during their travel, as restrictions, policies, and circumstances may 

change during travel.

Official Travel After Known Exposure to COVID-19 or Positive COVID-19 Test

Criteria for 

COVID-19 Cases

Can I Be Approved 

for Official Travel?

Is Mask-Wearing 

Required?

Is Public Transportation 

Permissible Once 

Official Travel Is 

Approved?

Is PostExposure 

Testing 

Required?

If individual had a 

known exposure to 

COVID-19 and is 

asymptomatic.

The day of 

exposure is Day 0 

for the purpose of 

applying the 

guidance in this 

row.

Yes Yes

High-quality masks or 

respirators must be 

worn the entire time 

when on-duty and 

around others 

indoors for the full 

duration of travel 

falling within the 10 

full days after their 

last known exposure.

Yes

Use of public 

transportation is 

permissible while on 

official travel provided 

individual is able to wear 

a high-quality mask or 

respirator when around 

others indoors for the full 

duration of their travel 

within the 10 full days 

after their last known 

exposure.

Yes

Testing should 

occur after 5 full 

days following 

their last known 

exposure (ideally, 

on or after day 6) 

which may fall 

during period of 

official travel

Results of postexposure 

diagnostic test 

are not required 

to undertake 

official travel,

including return 

travel.

If individual had a 

known exposure to 

COVID-19 and is 

symptomatic.

The first day of 

symptoms is Day 0 

for the purpose of 

applying the 

guidance in this 

row.

Yes

Individuals who 

have symptoms of 

COVID-19, including 

those waiting for an 

initial diagnostic viral 

test result, may 

travel only after 5 full 

days from the onset 

of symptoms.

Yes

Wear a high-quality 

mask or respirator 

while on-duty and 

around others 

indoors for the full 

duration of travel that 

falls within the period 

you are otherwise 

required to wear a 

high-quality mask or 

respirator after 

ending isolation.

Yes

Use of public 

transportation is 

permissible while on 

official travel provided the 

individual is able to wear 

a high-quality mask or 

respirator when around 

others indoors for the full 

duration of travel that falls 

within the period you are 

otherwise required to 

wear a high-quality mask

or respirator after ending 

isolation.

No
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Official Travel After Known Exposure to COVID-19 or Positive COVID-19 Test

Criteria for 

COVID-19 Cases

Can I Be Approved 

for Official Travel?

Is Mask-Wearing 

Required?

Is Public Transportation 

Permissible Once

Official Travel Is 

Approved?

Is PostExposure

Testing 

Required?

If individual tests 

positive for COVID19.

The date of 

symptom onset (or, 

if asymptomatic, 

the date of test 

specimen 

collection) is Day 0 

for the purpose of 

applying this 

guidance.

Yes

Travel may begin 

only after 5 full days 

from Day 0, and only 

if the individual has 

been fever-free for 

24 hours without the 

use of feverreducing medication, 

and their other 

symptoms, if any, 

are improving.

Yes

Wear a high-quality 

mask or respirator 

while on-duty and 

around others 

indoors for the full 

duration of travel that 

falls within the period 

you are otherwise 

required to wear a 

high-quality mask or 

respirator after 

ending isolation.

Yes

Use of public 

transportation is 

permissible while on 

official travel provided the 

individual is able to wear 

a high-quality mask or 

respirator when around 

others indoors for the full 

duration of travel that falls 

within the period you are 

otherwise required to 

wear a high-quality mask

or respirator after ending 

isolation.

No

If symptoms recur 

or worsen 5 days 

after the first day of 

being symptomatic 

or initial positive 

diagnostic viral test.

No

Individual should not 

undertake further 

official travel 

including under any 

previously approved 

travel authorization; 

enter a Federal 

facility or interact 

with members of the 

public as part of 

their official 

responsibilities.

Isolation protocols 

(see below) should 

restart at day 0.

No No No

• The cost of testing for current infection with COVID-19, required for official travel, can be claimed in a travel 

voucher as a miscellaneous expense under NRC travel policies.

Meetings, Events, and Conferences

All in-person attendees at any meetings, conferences, or events hosted by NRC must comply with 

relevant COVID-19 safety protocols, including as it relates to any mask-wearing when COVID-19 

Hospital Admission levels are HIGH, pursuant to EO 13991 and consistent with CDC guidance.

Conference room reservations should continue to be made via the Outlook Reservation System. 

Employees at NRC headquarters may reserve modernized, technology-enabled conference rooms 

that are available on each floor across the White Flint campus.
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Symptom Screening

It is recommended that all NRC employees and contractors working onsite at an NRC or licensee 

facility, and all visitors to such facilities, complete the NRC Self-Health Assessment prior to entering the 

NRC facility. The NRC Self-Health Assessment form can be self-conducted and does not need to be

verified by agency personnel. If Federal employees, onsite contractor employees, or visitors have 

symptoms consistent with COVID-19, they should not enter an NRC facility.

Pursuant to EO 13991, NRC requires that any individual, regardless of vaccination status, who 

develops fever, chills, or other new or unexplained symptoms consistent with COVID-19, or who tests 

positive for COVID-19, while onsite during the workday immediately wear a high-quality mask or 

respirator and promptly leave the workplace.

The NRC provides advice and support to supervisors on any related reporting or human resources 

requirements if employees must stay out of the workplace or leave the workplace during the workday 

due to COVID-19 symptoms. 

Post-Exposure Precautions

Pursuant to EO 13991 and consistent with CDC guidance on post-exposure precautions, employees 

and contractor employees who are known to have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, 

regardless of their vaccination status, must:

• Wear a high-quality mask or respirator while indoors at an agency workplace or interacting 

indoors with members of the public in person as part of their official responsibilities as soon as 

possible after notification of exposure and continue to do so for 10 full days from the date they 

were last known to have been exposed;

• Take extra precautions, such as avoiding crowding and physically distancing from others, when 

they know they are around people who are more likely to get very sick from COVID-19 while 

onsite at an agency workplace or interacting with members of the public in person as part of 

their official responsibilities, for 10 full days from the date they were last known to have been 

exposed (for purposes of calculating the 10 full days, day 0 is the day of their last known 

exposure to someone with COVID-19, and day 1 is the first full day after their last known 

exposure); and

• Watch for COVID-19 symptoms for 10 full days from the date they were last known to have 

been exposed (for purposes of calculating the 10 full days, day 0 is the day of their last known 

exposure to someone with COVID-19, and day 1 is the first full day after their last known 

exposure).

Employees and contractor employees who are known to have been exposed to COVID-19 and are 

onsite at an agency workplace or interacting with members of the public in person as part of their 

official responsibilities must be tested for current infection with a viral test at least 5 full days after their 

last known exposure (ideally, on or after day 6).

• If the individual tests negative, then the individual must continue to follow the above precautions 

for 10 full days from the date they were last known to have been exposed. If they test positive, 

or if they at any time develop COVID-19 symptoms, they must follow isolation protocols 

described below.

• If the individual that has been known to be exposed to COVID-19 is not working onsite at an 

agency workplace or interacting with members of the public in person as part of their official 

responsibilities within 10 days of the known exposure, they are not required to be tested.
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Isolation and Post-Isolation Precautions

Any individual with probable or confirmed COVID-19, regardless of their vaccination status, must not 

enter a NRC facility or, for NRC employees, interact with members of the public in person as part of 

their official responsibilities, consistent with CDC guidance on isolation and the workplace safety 

protocols set forth by NRC, and monitor their symptoms.

This includes people who have an initial positive diagnostic viral test for COVID-19, regardless of 

whether or not they have symptoms, and people with symptoms of COVID-19, including people who 

are awaiting test results or have not been tested.

Criteria for COVID-19 Cases Facility Access/Testing/ 

Precautions1

Symptom Monitoring

If individual has a known exposure

to COVID-19 and is asymptomatic.

The day of exposure is Day 0 for 

the purpose of applying the 

guidance in this row.

May access an NRC or licensee 

facility and should get tested at least 

5 days after the individual was 

exposed to COVID-19 even if 

symptoms do not develop.

The individual must wear a highquality mask or respirator for 10 full 

days. (See additional post-exposure 

precautions above.)

Watch for COVID-19 

symptoms until 10 days after 

exposure to COVID-19. If 

symptoms develop, refrain 

from accessing an NRC or 

licensee facility and follow the 

precautions in the next row.

If an individual experiences fever 

or chills, or unexplained symptoms

of COVID-19 such as new or 

unexplained onset of cough, 

shortness of breath, or difficulty 

breathing, new or unexplained loss 

of taste or smell, or new or 

unexplained muscle aches -or- if 

symptoms recur from a prior 

COVID-19 diagnosis.

If onsite at an NRC facility, promptly 

put on a high-quality mask or 

respirator, leave the workplace, and 

get tested. If test result is negative, 

individual may continue to access an 

NRC or licensee facility.

If individual tests positive for 

COVID-19.

Individual can enter an NRC or 

licensee facility or interact with 

members of the public after 5 full 

days from the onset of symptoms 

(day 0 being the day of symptom 

onset) once fever-free for 24 hours 

without the use of fever-reducing 

medication and symptoms are 

improving.
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If individual tested positive for 

COVID-19 and are experiencing 

moderate illness (shortness of 

breath or difficulty breathing) or 

severe illness (requiring 

hospitalization) due to COVID-19.

Individual should delay returning to 

an NRC or licensee facility or 

interacting with members of the 

public for a full 10 days. If individual 

has severe illness or a weakened 

immune system, they should consult 

their healthcare provider before 

ending isolation. (See additional 

post-isolation precautions below.)

If individual is unsure if symptoms are 

moderate or severe, or has a weakened 

immune system, they should consult

with their healthcare provider before 

ending isolation.

Post-Isolation Precautions: Individuals should continue to take precautions consistent with CDC guidance for 

at least 10 full days after the onset of symptoms, or after the date of a positive viral test for asymptomatic 

individuals, including: wearing a high-quality mask or respirator when around others; avoid eating and drinking 

around others; environments such as dining facilities, gyms, or other places where they may need to be 

unmasked around others; and being around people who are at risk of getting very sick from COVID-19.

Additional Post-Isolation Information:

• If an individual is unable to wear a mask when around others, such as pursuant to a medical condition or 

disability for which you have received a reasonable accommodation, then you must not enter a Federal, 

NRC or NRC licensee facility or interact with members of the public in person as part of their official 

responsibilities for 10 full days.

• An individual may remove their mask sooner than day 10 if you take 2 viral antigen tests authorized by 

the FDA to detect current COVID-19 infection, starting on day 6. With 2 sequential negative tests 48 

hours apart, you may remove their mask sooner than day 10. If either of the antigen test results are 

positive, you should continue taking antigen tests at least 48 hours apart until they have sequential 

negative results. This may mean you would continue wearing a mask and testing beyond day 10.

• If COVID-19 symptoms recur or worsen, individual should not enter an NRC or licensee facility or 

interact with members of the public, restart at day 0, and follow isolation and post isolation protocols.

Contact Tracing

The agency’s COVID-19 Project Manager will collaborate with and support the NRC workforce for 

purposes of contact tracing, to help identify, track, and manage known exposure of COVID-19 cases. 

NRC employees and contractors are encouraged to report to COVID19.Resource@nrc.gov when they 

test positive for COVID-19. Upon request by local public health officials, the COVID-19 Program 

Manager will collaborate with and support the contact tracing programs of such officials as required or 

necessary to help identify, track, and manage known exposures, as appropriate.

The NRC will report situations to specific individuals that were identified to be in close contact with 

individuals who reported testing positive forCOVID-19 through the COVID19 resource mailbox and were in

an NRC facility on the date they met the criteria. 

Confidentiality and Privacy

The NRC has consulted the Senior NRC Official for Privacy on matters related to the handling of 

personally identifiable information. All medical information collected from individuals, including 

vaccination information, test results, and any other information obtained as a result of testing and 

symptom monitoring, will be treated in accordance with applicable laws and policies on confidentiality 

and privacy, and will be accessible only to those with a need to know. The NRC COVID-19 Project 
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Manager continues to protect individual privacy in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act

(ADA), the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) law 

and guidance. The NRC has identified a point of contact for all questions relating to the NRC’s 

treatment of personal medical information in the context of its COVID-19 workplace safety protocols.

Under OSHA’s recordkeeping requirements, if an employee tests positive for COVID-19 infection, the 

case must be recorded on the NRC’s OSHA Illness and Injury Log if each of the following conditions 

are met: (1) the case is a confirmed case of COVID-19; (2) the case is work-related (as defined by 29

C.F.R. § 1904.5); and (3) the case involves one or more relevant recording criteria (set forth in 29 

C.F.R. § 1904.7) (e.g., medical treatment beyond first aid, days away from work). The NRC follows 

state and county reporting requirements and complies with state and county contact tracing efforts.

The NRC takes steps to promote privacy and IT security, while also providing the relevant information 

to NRC officials who need to know in order to implement the safety protocols. The NRC consults, as 

appropriate, with the NRC Records Officer, Chief Information Officer, Senior Official for Privacy, and 

Office of the General Counsel (OGC) to determine appropriate information management protocols.

Workplace Operations

NRC Facilities: For the purposes of this Plan, “NRC facilities” refers to the following:

• NRC Headquarters White Flint Campus, Rockville, MD (Montgomery County, MD)

• Region I, King of Prussia, PA (Montgomery County, PA)

• Region II, Atlanta, GA (Fulton County, GA)

• Region III, Lisle, IL (DuPage County, IL)

• Region IV, Arlington, TX (Tarrant County, TX)

• Technical Training Center (TTC), Chattanooga, TN (Hamilton County, TN)

Facilitating Physical Distancing and Avoiding Crowding

When COVID-19 Hospital Admission Levels are MEDIUM or HIGH, the NRC will post signage encouraging 

individuals, regardless of vaccination status, to consider avoiding crowding and physically distancing 

themselves from others in indoor common areas, meeting rooms, and high-risk settings.

Collective Bargaining Obligations

The NRC has maintained regular and open communication with local NTEU representatives, as 

applicable, since March 2020 regarding the NRC response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Such 

engagement will continue as changes are made to the agency’s Workplace Safety Implementation Plan 

and related safety protocols.

Consistent with the President’s policy to support collective bargaining, the NRC will continue to satisfy 

applicable collective bargaining obligations under 5 U.S.C. Chapter 71 and its Collective Bargaining 

Agreement (CBA) when implementing workplace safety plans, including on a post-implementation basis 

where necessary. The NRC has been, and will continue to, communicate regularly with employee 

representatives on workplace safety matters and to satisfy collective bargaining obligations under the 

law.