Back to Work
Can I come back to work?
The campus is utilizing a phased approach to returning to campus work and activities. The university is currently in Phase II. In order to return to work, your department or school must submit a Restart Plan for review and approval. Communicate with your HR partner to see where your department or school is at in the process.
Check this website to see progress the campus has made in a number of areas. You’ll find important information from on the process at the links below:
Only employees who have supervisor approval to work on campus should be doing so. No other employees should return to campus, even after the stay-at-home order is lifted unless they get prior approval or receive notice from the university, their supervisor, department chair, or dean to return. Please be assured that any changes to access to campus will be communicated along with the university’s planned approach for how to return.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
What is the purpose of wearing a Cloth Face Covering?
A face covering is recommended for the general public to reduce the spread of infectious particles into the air when the wearer speaks, coughs, or sneezes. By donning a cloth face covering, you reduce the risk of infecting others. Likewise, when others wear a cloth face covering, they reduce the risk of infecting you.
NOTE: Wearing a cloth face covering does not eliminate the need for physical distancing and hand-washing.
What PPE is available?
Face coverings, gloves, and eye protection are among the PPE supplies available at ppe.uscbookstore.com. Appropriate PPE is determined based on an employee’s risk of exposure while carrying out their normal work activities. Your risk will be assessed as part of your Restart Plan. See the COVID-19 Risk Matrix for PPE Guide Sheet to find out the risk levels and PPE recommendations.
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant disruptions in the PPE supply chain. The availability of some PPE is limited, so USC seeks to order large consistent quantities in order to maximize our buying power. The distribution to the USC community, however, must still be carefully planned to ensure that the appropriate types of PPE are matched to an employee’s levels of risk and exposure.
How can I get PPE?
You may purchase PPE via the ppe.uscbookstore.com portal after the following steps are completed:
- Your department has submitted its startup plan via USC Project Restart and you are listed as an authorized purchaser in the plan.
- The department’s startup plan is reviewed and approved.
- EH&S confirms your authorization via the USC Bookstore PPE Portal.
- You are notified by the USC Bookstore that you may begin purchasing PPE.
Please review the USC Centralized PPE Procurement and Distribution SOP for details.
How do I become an authorized purchaser?
Contact your HR Partner to list you as an authorized purchaser in your department’s startup plan. Have the HR Partner notify EH&S of the addition, as well.
Can I buy PPE myself?
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant disruption in the PPE supply chain. As a result, many unscrupulous and non-traditional vendors selling inferior, unapproved PPE have entered the marketplace. USC has created a centralized program that only procures PPE from approved supply chains and vendors. Purchasing PPE through the USC Bookstore ensures that you are getting genuine and appropriate PPE for your department’s needs.
NOTE: If you have procured PPE from a trusted vendor prior to COVID-19, you may continue to purchase materials that are needed from the vendor.
Do I need to wear gloves at work?
Most workers do not need to wear gloves. In fact, if not used properly, gloves may put employees at higher risk of exposure and are not recommended for general protective use for the following reasons:
- Gloves often create a false sense of security. People are more likely to touch contaminated surfaces because they feel the gloves protect them from the virus. Risk of infection increases if the contaminated glove contacts the face.
- When wearing gloves, people are less inclined to wash their hands. This is counterproductive and puts others at higher risk. It is important to wash hands frequently because it is the first defense against any virus.
- If gloves become contaminated and are not removed properly, the risk of an exposure increases dramatically. Review the video on How to Safely Remove Gloves.
To determine if gloves are necessary for your work, contact EHS@usc.edu to request a risk assessment.
Are Lab Coat services still available?
Medico suspended service to USC campuses to all but a few areas during the Safer at Home Order since most buildings (research and general purpose) were on lockdown. As labs and research buildings now come online, laundry service for lab coats will be needed. Medico is re-activating laundry service to locations when requested. Contact the following Medico Customer Relationship Managers for assistance:
- Frank Rosario, Customer Relations Manager/Medico – (800) 464-6334 ext 279 or frank.rosario@medicolinen.com
- Teresa Lin, Customer Relations Manager/Medico – (800) 464-6334 ext 278 or teresal@medicolinen.com
Building Guidance
What should my building do to reduce risk of exposure?
There are some behavioral tenets as outlined in USC’s “Safer at Home” County-mandated Building Sign that can be used to guide procedures for returning to work at USC:
- Stay home if you are feeling sick or show any symptoms.
- Maintain physical distancing.
- Wear a face covering.
- Practice good hand hygiene.
Consult the COVID-19 Guidelines for Use of Buildings and Open Spaces document for more information.
How do I maintain physical distance in an office setting?
Alternate workspaces in order to maintain physical distance and utilize alternating shifts or remote work, if possible. If necessary, place markers or colored tape on the floor to identify separation of spaces, particularly in common areas, where multiple people may need to access at the same time.
Consult the COVID-19 Guidelines for Offices and Common/Shared Spaces document for more information.
Can I use our shared kitchen or breakroom?
Individual department or school Restart plans will determine whether kitchens and breakrooms will remain open. If your plan calls for these areas to remain accessible:
- Wear face coverings.
- Restrict number of people allowed in the room at one time to maintain 6’ physical distance.
- Hang signage to block off every other chair or to limit one person per table.
- Do not share food, dishes, drinking glasses, cups, or eating utensils.
- Handle used, non-disposable food service items with gloves and wash with dish soap and hot water. Wash hands after handling used food service items.
- Wipe area before and after eating.
- Keep a clean kitchen or breakroom.
- Pedal-activated or hands-free faucets are recommended at kitchen sinks, but not required. Users may use their forearms or disposable paper towels to operate faucet handles.
Additionally, the CDC offers thorough guidance on creating a safe and healthy workplace to protect workers.
How are building spaces being cleaned at USC?
FMS has implemented an enhanced cleaning schedule, cleaning certain shared spaces up to three times per day. However, you may choose to assist in reducing the risk of exposure by cleaning and disinfecting your personal work areas more frequently. Some examples to clean are personal keyboards, mice, monitors, desktops, remotes, cell phones, chair arms, and copiers.
Consult the Enhanced Cleaning Guidelines During COVID-19 tear sheet for additional information.
What disinfectants are effective against SARS CoV-2?
Use EPA-approved cleaning products against SARS-CoV-2 such as Lysol and Clorox wipes. Follow the manufacturer’s instruction for all cleaning and disinfection products, including the concentration, application method, contact time and personal protective equipment recommendations.
How can my department get Cleaning Supplies (i.e., Clorox wipes)?
It is extremely difficult to procure cleaning supplies currently in mediums that are user-friendly. EH&S is working with our campus partners to make cleaning supplies (e.g., sanitizing wipes) available through ppe.uscbookstore.com.
How do I get hand sanitizer?
Hand sanitizer dispensers are strategically located throughout USC. These locations include one station at every entry/exit, floor at elevator, and classroom. Procurement is working to source stands, dispensers, and refill packs. There are a total of 2,305 stations at UPC and 580 stations at HSC.
Am I at risk by using a shared restroom?
Though the virus that causes COVID-19 has been found in fecal matter, there have not been any confirmed reports of the virus spreading from feces to a person. The CDC considers public restroom use low risk when practicing physical distancing and appropriate hand washing.
The most important practices in restrooms to reduce your risk of exposure are: (1) wear your face covering; (2) wash your hands thoroughly, drying them with paper towels; and (3) avoid crowding sinks and stalls.
Consult the Guidelines for Safe Use of Restrooms During COVID-19 tear sheet for additional information.
How often will the restroom get cleaned in my building?
FMS will clean restroom touch points including light switches, doorknobs, handles, and fixtures three times per day.
What is the maximum occupancy for the restroom in my building?
Restroom occupancy should be reduced to ensure physical distancing. Use the campus-approved courtesy spacer signs to block off every other stall and ensure that physical distancing is always maintained (e.g., when washing hands, entering/exiting).
Can I get sick from aerosols?
Recent studies say there may be contamination when aerosols are dispersed when the toilet is flushed. To mitigate this risk, wash your hands thoroughly after you flush in the event the aerosols have created any contamination in the stall area. As a reminder, the CDC considers public restroom use low risk when practicing physical distancing and appropriate hand washing.
Can I get infected from the HVAC system in my building?
There are currently no verified cases of transmission of COVID-19 from droplets traveling over large distances, including through air conditioning systems. However, additional measures are being taken on building systems to maximize the amount of outside air flow to each space. For additional information, consult the USC Project Restart FAQs on the topic.
Should I utilize a partition for customer-facing services?
Yes, schools or departments who have frequent interaction with the public should utilize engineering controls, such as Plexiglass screens, spatial barriers of at least six feet, or other physical barriers if feasible. There are no university-approved commercial vendors at this time. However, the following sources are available.
- Iovine and Young Academy to fabricate plexiglass/plastic partitions, but not on a large scale – contact Jacob Patapoff (patapoff@usc.edu).
- Graphic Spider (www.graphicspider.com) (310) 997-0185, a vendor contracted by Auxiliary Services.
NOTE: Share any design concept with EH&S prior to initiating work.
Events
When will events be allowed again?
There are currently no events allowed in Phase II. In Phase III, gathering sizes will be limited for both indoor and outdoor events. In Phase IV, the campus will return to normal events and gathering sizes with physical distancing per public health guidance. Both phases are subject to change per LA County/City orders.
Further public health and hygiene practices will be released closer to entering into subsequent phases.
Signage
What types of signs are available?
There are several types of signs that can be utilized in a variety of campus spaces. These include:
- Floor Spacers for spacing out lines 6 feet apart
- Elevator Exterior Sign
- General Courtesy Signs for common areas, classrooms, study areas, etc.
- Courtesy Spacer for restroom stalls, shared tables, meeting rooms, etc.
- Small Spaces for restroom exteriors, elevator interiors, break rooms, kitchens, etc.
Can I just post my own signs?
The signs are designed to promote behaviors scientifically proven to limit the spread of COVID-19 and use language that encourages USC to create a culture of awareness and shared expectations. In addition, there are other considerations, such as ADA and emergency evacuation routes, which require appropriate planning.
For custom signage, contact Jon Soffa, Campus Architect.
How do I obtain approved COVID-19 campus signage?
Campus will be installing semi-permanent signage in all campus spaces (e.g., restrooms, elevators, office buildings, classrooms, lecture halls, etc.). Current approved signage can be downloaded from the USC Communications website.