Executive Order 20-48 issued by Gov. Tim Walz on April 30, 2020, requires each business in operation during the peacetime emergency to establish a COVID-19 Preparedness Plan. The following blog provides resources for businesses as they implement a plan suited to their workplace.

PLAN REQUIREMENTS

A business’s COVID-19 Preparedness Plan shall establish and explain the necessary policies, practices and conditions necessary to meet the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) guidelines for COVID-19, federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards and Executive Order 20-48, related to worker and customer – if the business has customer-facing operations – exposure to COVID-19.

The plan should have the strong commitment of management and be developed and implemented with the participation of workers. The Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI), in consultation with MDH, has the authority to determine whether a plan is adequate. However, businesses are not required to submit their plan for state approval.

Your COVID-19 Preparedness Plan must include and describe how your business will implement at a minimum the following:

1. infection prevention measures;
2. prompt identification and isolation of sick persons;
3. engineering and administrative controls for social distancing;
4. customer controls and protections for drop-off, pick-up and delivery;
5. housekeeping, including cleaning, disinfecting and decontamination;
6. communications and training for managers and workers necessary to implement the plan; and
7. provision of management and supervision necessary to ensure effective ongoing implementation of the plan.

AVAILABLE TEMPLATES

The MN Department of Labor & Industry and other reputable sources have issued COVID-19 Preparedness Plan templates that businesses can adopt for their own operations. Links to those templates are below:

• The MN DEED / Department of Labor and Industry here
  • A webinar was conducted by Greater Mankato Growth on this topic here.
• The MN Chamber of Commerce here.
• MN Retailers Association here.
  • pdf
• MN Safety Council here & here.
• National Restaurant Association here.
• Mankato Clinic here.
• Target Corporation here.

SCREENING OF EMPLOYEES

In accordance with their COVID-19 Preparedness Plan, employers must screen employees entering the workplace each day. The Minnesota Department of Employment & Economic Development has released tools for employers as they screen their employees upon coming to work including a symptom screener app and no-touch infrared forehead thermometers provided at wholesale prices by Target.