COVID-19 Training for Businesses in Illinois

To help employers re-open businesses safely and protect the safety and health of employees, Lion News staff is reviewing standards for COVID-19 preparedness, workplace controls, and employee training on a state-by-state basis.

To learn more, view our list of states with COVID-19 programs in place.  

As part of Illinois’ Phase 4 (Revitalization Plan) to reopen the State, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity issued training requirements for all employers in the state looking to reopen. The plan mandates specific subject areas related to COVID-19 that workers must be trained on.

According to a checklist issued by the State of Illinois, workers must be trained on:

• Sources of exposure to the COVID-19 virus;
• Hazards associated with exposure to the virus;
• Best practices to reduce exposure to the virus (such as social distancing, best hygiene practices, and the use face coverings and other PPE);
• Appropriate workplace protocols to prevent and/or reduce likelihood of exposure to the virus (such as disinfecting);
• Symptoms of COVID-19;
• Definition of high-risk populations;
• How to isolate individuals suspected or tested positive for COVID-19;
• How to report possible cases; and
• Illinois Phase IV workplace-specific guidelines.

The checklist also goes over specific policies and best practices that business must adhere to in order to keep employees and customers safe and prevent the spread of COVID-19.

You can read the full checklist here.

COVID-19 Safety Awareness Online Training
This week, Lion launched the COVID-19 Employee Safety Awareness Online Course to help US workplaces re-open safely. As facilities nationwide begin to re-open, it is crucial that employees know how to protect themselves and their co-workers from exposure to COVID-19.

The course prepares employees to:

• Recognize signs, symptoms, and risk factors for COVID-19
• Describe how the COVID-19 disease is transmitted
• Follow recommended hygiene and work protocols to prevent exposure
•  Properly use and care for PPE and face coverings, when required 

Tags: covid-19 training by state, Illinois COVID-19 checklist, Illinois Phase 4, OSH Act, SARS-CoV-2