Birmingham safety expert publishes business guide for COVID-19

Governor Kay Ivey announced new safety guidelines for COVID-19 prevention in a press conference today. The order, Safer at Home, eases some restrictions and keeps other safety measures in place for later review.

The relaxed guidelines allow retail stores to open at reduced capacity and eases some restrictions on elective procedures for hospitals and doctors. The measures bring some level of relief to small
business owners wishing to reopen but many others, such as restaurants, salons, and churches saw no changes in the new measures.

As plans to reopen have been in progress for weeks, Birmingham safety expert Tim Rogers has published a handbook called "Returning to Work Guide in a COVID-19 World" designed to help business follow a set of best practices as they reopen.

“It appears that COVID–19 is going to be with us for a while,” says Rogers. “To prevent the spread of this disease, it is important for businesses and communities to continue to be proactive and adopt practices that will protect and keep us all safe.”

The guide contains practical advice from Rogers, a safety specialist for Valent Group, on a variety of topics ranging from pre-opening communications, cleaning the work environment, to new rules for office restroom usage. The guide also contains advice on the use of personal protection equipment, such as masks and gloves.

Although the state guidelines do not specify personal protection devices the city of Birmingham passed a measure today requiring masks in public with a $500 fine for noncompliance.