WNYCOSH COVID-19 Resources

This page is no longer updated regularly. If you have questions about current standards or your workplace, please contact us for assistance.

For information on the response to COVID-19, and what workers can do to protect themselves, their coworkers and families. Resources are available at the bottom of the page. For resources in other languages, scroll down or click on the desired language below.

If you have questions about your workplace, please contact us for assistance.
Information on the NYS Hero Act can be found here.

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Am I at risk?

Older adults and those with underlying medical issues including heart disease, diabetes and lung disease are most at risk from coronavirus. If you are one of these populations, or have contact with others who are, please take precautions to ensure the health of everyone in our community.

Some workers are more at risk of contracting coronavirus: healthcare workers, deathcare workers, laboratory workers, airline workers, border workers, solid and wastewater treatment workers, and those who have close contact with people who travel abroad frequently (especially to highly infected areas).

If you have been exposed or think you may have been exposed to coronavirus, please follow self-quarantine guidelines and contact your local healthcare provider and follow their instructions. Ask them to notify the state or local health department. Guidelines for what to do can be found here. Even if you do not have symptoms, you may be contagious and infect others.

As New York State is reopening, guidances for various industries can be found here. If you have concerns about how your workplace is reopening or the health and safety provisions in your workplace, please contact us.

Information on vaccines in New York State can be found here. You can schedule an appointment here. You may need to continue to social distance, mask and take other precautions at work even if you have been fully vaccinated. The CDC’s recommendations for fully vaccinated people can be found here. OSHA’s current workplace recommendations can be found here.

The NYS Hero Act requires all employers to create a workplace safety plan for COVID-19. More information on what plans should look like can be found here.

What can I do to minimize my risk?

Wear a mask. A surgical mask, a KN95 or N95 provide better protection than cloth masks

Keep your distance from others when possible

Get a vaccine and booster when you are eligible and able to do so

Continue to social distance and mask even after being fully vaccinated

Wash your hands frequently for at least 20 seconds

If you are sick, please stay home and limit contact with others

Avoid contact with sick people

Cover your mouth and nose when you cough and sneeze

Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated (including your phone!)

Avoid touching your face to stop the spread of germs

What should my employer do?

Your employer is responsible for providing proper training, relevant personal protective equipment, and record-keeping of possible exposures and infection. Workplace standards and more information about OSHA requirements for employers can be found here. OSHA’s most recent guidance for workplaces can be found here. A list of best practices for employers from the World Health Organization can be found here. New York State has also issued guidance for employers here. WNYCOSH has released a list of best practices for grocery stores and cashiers here.

Under the NYS Hero Act employers are required to have and implement plans to keep workers safe. More information on plans can be found here. Upcoming free virtual trainings on reopening, safety practices, PPE and more can be found here.

If you believe that your employer is not following workplace safety guidelines or is breaking labor law in some other fashion, the NYS Attorney General has a hotline set up at (212) 416-8700, or you can email at Labor.Bureau@ag.ny.gov.

If you have a question about your workplace, please call WNYCOSH at 716-206-3550.

Guide to Benefits

WNYCOSH's Guide covers state and federal benefits for workers, including unemployment, paid leave, sick leave, OSHA rights, and stimulus checks. This Guide will be updated as new information becomes available.

The Guidebook is currently available in English, Bengali/বাংলা, Burmese/မြန်မာဘာသာ, and Spanish/español.

NYS Unemployment

New York State has made some changes to their unemployment policies. The state page can be found here.

They have waived the 7-day waiting period if you have been laid off due to coronavirus (COVID-19)
You can apply any day of the week online, or through the phone during the hours listed below.
Web service hours are from 7:30 am-7:30 pm Monday thru Thursday, 7:30 am-5 pm on Friday; and 12 am Saturday to 7 pm Sunday.
Phone service hours are from 8:00 am to 7:30 pm Monday thru Friday; and 7:30 am to 8:00 pm Saturday and Sunday.

New York State will now call you to finalize your claim. The call may come from a private or blocked number, so if you have filed a claim, make sure you answer calls from those numbers. If you miss the call, they will call you back. The Department of Labor will verify their identity by providing the date you filed the application and the type of claim.

NOTE: The unemployment extension from the federal government does NOT change the way you file for unemployment in NYS or how you will receive your benefits.

For more on unemployment benefits, please click here for WNYCOSH’s Worker Benefits Guide.

Paid Sick Leave

Both New York State and the federal government have passed new bills to give workers paid sick time during the coronavirus outbreak.

Federal government:

Who does this apply to: The bill passed through Congress applies to companies with fewer than 500 workers. Businesses with fewer than 50 workers may also apply for an exemption from the law, as well as health care facilities (including hospitals and nursing homes).

The bill also covers federal government workers, gig economy workers and self-employed workers.

What does it give workers: Workers who are covered by the bill will receive 10 paid sick leave days. The days apply to those who are sick, taking preventative measures or those who are caring for ill family members. The bill would also give 12 weeks of paid family leave to some workers who are caring for a child or children due to school closings.

Another quick guide can be found here.

NYS Paid Sick Leave:

If you are under a quarantine or isolation order:

Businesses with 10 or fewer employees, or who make less than $1 million a year will provide job protection and paid family leave and disability benefits.
Businesses with 11-99 employees will provide at least 5 paid sick days, as well as paid family leave and disability benefits.
Businesses with 100 or more employees will provide at least 14 paid sick days and job protection.

All businesses will provide job protection for the duration of the quarantine order.

If you are quarantined but working from home, you do not qualify for these benefits.

More information can be found here.

Return to Work & Reopening

As New York State begins the process of reopening, employers are considering what changes they will need to make in order to keep employees and consumers safe. The state is requiring all employers to submit a plan to reopen, a template for which can be found here. The plans need to include measures for social distancing, cleaning and what kind of personal protective equipment employees will be provided.

We know that each workplace is different, and that creating this type of plan can be difficult, especially in workplaces that have not traditionally had to focus on detailed health and safety plans for employees. In addition to providing resources that can offer a starting point on how to best keep workplaces free of COVID-19, WNYCOSH is offering a free training series that addresses topics around PPE, cleaning and disinfecting, as well as reopening the workplace. To see all of the trainings that we have scheduled, please go to our COVID-19 Training page. We are also available to answer questions or work with specific workplaces on their return to work plans.

Resources around multiple COVID-19 topics can be found below, including multilingual resources in more than 50 languages. The National COSH has put together a Safe Return to Work Guide, created with input from experts around the country, which can serve as a resource for best practices when reopening. New York State’s guidances for reopening can be found here.

Information on the NYS Hero Act and examples of workplace plans can be found here.

Resources

Erie County Information Hotline (M-F, 9am-9pm): (716) 858-2929 (interpretation available)

New York State Hotline: 1-888-364-3065

To report COVID-19 related workplace violations: (212) 416-8700 or labor.bureau@ag.ny.gov. An online form can be found here.

To report violations anonymously: Call (833) 789-0470 or fill out the online form

New York State Emotional Support Hotline: 1-844-863-9314

National Resources

New York State

Western New York

Healthcare

Other Industry-Specific Guidance

Reopening

Vaccine Resources and Information

CDC FAQ
National COSH Resources
CDC Summary of Coronavirus
CDC Guidance for Employers and Businesses
NIOSH Guidelines for Workplaces
OSHA FAQ on Coronavirus
OSHA Guidance on Preparing Workplaces
Resources for Survivors of Domestic Violence
ILO Resources for Workers
CDC What To Do If Your Are Sick
World Health Organization Resources
World Health Organization Guidance for Employers
Employer Recommendations from the WHO
San Diego County Fact Sheet
AFL-CIO Guide
Minnesota Wash Your Hands Poster (24 Languages)
World Health Organization Coping With Stress
CDC FAQ for Healthcare Workers
NELP Toolkit for Worker Health & Safety During COVID-19
NELP-Unemployment Insurance for Immigrant Workers
Immigrant Workers Rights During COVID-19
ILR FAQ on COVID-19 and the ADA
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
FDA Food Safety Resources
Georgetown University COVID-19 Resources
Labor Occupational Health Program COVID-19 Resources
Resources for the Blind and Visually Impaired Community
CDC Guidance for Long-Term Care Facilities
National COSH Safe Return to Work Toolkit
CDC Guidance for Businesses
AFL-CIO Organizing Around Safety and Health Toolkit
CDC Essential Worker Vaccine Toolkit
Vaccine Side Effects Poster
National Resource Center for Refugees, Immigrant and Migrants (NRC-RIM) Resources (Multilingual)
CDC Multi-Lingual Resources
FDA Multi-Lingual Vaccine Resources
Updated OSHA Guidance for Employers

NYS Hero Act Information
NYS Vaccine Eligibility Checker
NYS COVID Vaccine Information
NYS FAQ
NYS Guide to Disinfecting Facilities
NYS Guide for Employers
New York City Resource Page
NYS Unemployment
WNYCOSH Recommendations for Grocery Stores and Cashiers
NYS AFL-CIO Breakdown of Relief Programs
NYS County Health Dept. List
Erie County Health Department
Erie County FAQ
New York State Fact Sheet
NYS List of Effective Cleaning Products
NYS Guidance for Food Manufacturing/Food Retailers
NYC Stop the Spread Poster
Cornell University Food Industry Resources
New York State Healthcare Provider Resource Page
ILR FAQ on COVID-19 and the ADA
NYS Business Reopening Plan Template
Mental Health Resources

NYS Hero Act Information
Erie County Vaccine Information
Erie County Health Department
Erie County FAQ
WNYCOSH Recommendations for Grocery Stores and Cashiers
WNYCOSH Revised Guidance for Grocery Stores
New York Immigration Coalition Resources
Safe Gardening Practices
Erie County Mental Health Resources

CDC FAQ for Healthcare Workers
New York State Healthcare Provider Resource Page
National Nurses United
Communication Workers of America
American Federation of Teachers
SEIU 1199
CDC Guidance for Long-Term Care Facilities
OSHA COVID Emergency Temporary Standard for Healthcare Workers

NYS Guidance for Cleaning in Retail Stores
NYS Guidance for Food Manufacturing and Food Retail Stores
CDC Guidance for Long-Term Care Facilities
WHO Food Safety Guidance
List of Approved Cleaning Chemicals in NYS
NYS Guidance for Cleaning Public Transportation
NYS Guidance for Cleaning Non-Healthcare Settings
Infection Control in Textile Factories
Association of Flight Attendants
FDA Food Safety Resources
Labor Occupational Health Program COVID-19 Resources
CDC Guidance for Businesses
CDC Guidance for Meat and Poultry Processing

Guidances for specific industries will be added and updated as they become available. If you have specific questions about your workplace, please contact WNYCOSH at (716) 206-3550.