CDFA Distributes Updated Guidance from CDC and OSHA for Meat and Poultry Workers and Employers

On Tuesday, the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) provided county health officers with updated guidance for meat and poultry workers and employers issued by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). According to OSHA and the CDC, personnel are not exposed to the coronavirus (COVID-19) through the meat products they handle, but the work environments may contribute to potential exposure. The lessons learned from recent incidents in meat packing plants in the Midwest have helped to inform the updated guidance, including recommendations for the creation of a COVID-19 assessment and control plan. The CDC and OSHA advise that all facilities developing plans for continuing operations when COVID-19 is discovered in the workforce or community should (1) work directly with appropriate state and local public health officials and occupational safety and health professionals; (2) incorporate relevant aspects of CDC guidance, including this interim guidance and the CDC’s Critical Infrastructure Guidance; and (3) incorporate guidance from other authoritative sources or regulatory bodies as needed.