Section 3. Shared Housing
Agricultural employers can use this checklist to create a COVID-19 assessment and control plan for applying specific preparation, prevention, and management measures. This checklist is based on guidance from the CDC and US DOL (https://bit.ly/covid-ag-cdc-dol). *Disclaimer*: Checklist is for reference only and does not guarantee compliance with state or local regulations.
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Provide basic guidance about COVID-19and steps being taken to prevent transmission in housing areas.
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Keep family members together in housing facilities.
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Prepare dedicated and segregated spaces for sleeping quarters, kitchens, and restrooms for quarantining workers with confirmed or suspected COVID-19.
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Promote enhanced sanitation practices.
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1. Provide disposable gloves, soap for handwashing, and household cleaners to encourage residents and staff implement personal preventive measures.
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2. Develop and implement enhanced sanitation and cleaning plans.
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2.1. Specify frequency of sanitation and cleaning.
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2.2. Identify a person responsible for implementing the plan.
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3. Do not allow sharing of dishes, drinking glasses, cups, or eating utensils.
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4. Handle non-disposable food service items with gloves and wash with hot water and dish soap or in a dishwasher.
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Disinfect living quarters, cooking and eating areas, bathrooms, and laundry facilities.
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1. Ensure there is good airflow in shared rooms:
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1.1. Use and air conditioner or open windows.
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1.2. Clean air conditioner units and change filters according to manufacturer recommendations.
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1.3. Provide air filtration systems in units without air conditioner units.
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2. Routinely clean common areas following CDC cleaning and disinfection guidelines.
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3. Ensure residents regularly clean and sanitize living quarters following CDC cleaning and disinfection guidelines.
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4. Provide supplies for cleaning shared kitchen utensils and appliances.
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5. Continue providing access to laundry facilities, but establish guidelines to ensure social distancing.
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6. Provide storage options for reusable PPE to prevent cross-contamination.
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Maintain social distancing in shared housing.
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1. Encourage social distancing during all housing activities, including cooking, sleeping, and recreation.
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2. Add physical barriers (if possible) between bathroom sinks and in other areas where maintaining 6 feet is not possible.
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3. Remove or space furniture in common areas.
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4. Modify bed configurations to maximize social distancing in sleeping quarters, where feasible:
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4.1. Arrange beds so that residents sleep head-to-toe with at least 6 feet between beds.
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4.2. Add physical barriers between beds when they cannot be 6 feet apart.
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4.3. Minimize or avoid the use of bunkbeds.
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5. Conduct meetings and conversations outdoors, whenever possible, to minimize congregation in close quarters.
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6. Encourage residents to wear cloth face coverings in shared spaces.
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6.1. Advise residents that cloth face coverings should not be placed on young children under age 2, anyone who has trouble breathing, or is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance.
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Conduct daily health checks at shared housing.
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1. Screen residents for symptoms and check temperatures daily.
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2. Offer multiple screening locations or staggered screening times to prevent congregations of large groups.
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3. Protect the confidentiality of those with suspected or confirmed COVID-19.
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Establish a plan for responding to residents with suspected or confirmed COVID-19.
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1. Provide accommodations separate from residents who are not ill.
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2. Consider designating one person who is not at higher risk of severe illness to assist an ill, isolated resident.
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3. Ensure personnel managing sick residents are protected from exposure by providing PPE for use when within 6 feet of individuals who are sick.
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4. Use separate buildings or rooms instead of physical barriers to separate ill residents from well residents.
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5. Consider providing separate food and bathroom areas or access where possible.
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6. Restrict non-essential persons from entering the isolation area.
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7. Provide medical access and telemedicine for emergent illnesses.
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8. Provide safe transportation, if necessary.
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9. For H-2A temporary housing considerations, review DOL explanation of alternative housing arrangements in response to COVID-19.
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