Due to the global pandemic, millions of Americans are now unemployed because of COVID-19 and that number is expected to rise for those working in non-essential services like in-service bars and restaurants, and retail stores. The virus is forcing us to look at what is “essential” to our lives and what isn’t. While the definitions may vary, basically, essential services are those that would compromise the health and safety of the population if interrupted or stopped.
Because these services are so important, every avenue must be explored to protect essential service workers. They must be protected because they are valued team members and also because they are providing a valued service to our communities. Investing in workplace safety is a safe investment. In fact, the OSHA found that there is a $4 to $6 return for every dollar invested in safety. If you look at the costs of workers’ compensation and lost time, the cost of workplace injuries adds up - in the United States, workplace injuries cost an estimated $250 billion each year.
Addressing 5 Essential Service Areas During COVID-19
Like its evolving definition, the businesses and amenities that constitute essential services may differ from state to state. In our upcoming series, Scatterling will look at how to protect your workers in five essential service areas, this list includes:
The goal of this series is to focus on key essential services in the US, showing you how to protect your remote workers in these industries that are so important to our communities. Here at Scatterling, we want to empower you with the knowledge and tools needed to make a difference in the safety of the selfless people working in these vital areas.
What Services Are Considered to be Essential Services in the US?
According to the Department of Homeland Security, there are 17 areas that the agency identifies as Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce. Here is the list of those areas with the descriptions being thorough, but not exhaustive:
Healthcare and public health workers
Workers who perform critical clinical research, development, and testing needed for COVID-19 response.
Healthcare providers and caregivers including physicians, dentists, psychologists, mid-level practitioners, nurses and assistants, infection control and quality assurance personnel, pharmacists, physical and occupational therapists, and assistants, social workers, optometrists, speech pathologists, chiropractors, and diagnostic and therapeutic technicians and technologists.
Law enforcement, public safety, and other first responder
Public, private, and voluntary personnel (front line and management) in emergency management, law enforcement, fire and rescue services, emergency medical services, and private security, to include public and private hazardous material responders, air medical service providers (pilots and supporting technicians), corrections, and search and rescue personnel.
911 call center employees and Public Safety Answering Points who can’t perform their duties remotely.
Food and agriculture
Workers supporting groceries, pharmacies, convenience stores, and other retail that sells human food, animal/pet food, and pet supply, and beverage products, including retail customer support service and information technology support staff necessary for online orders, pickup, and delivery.
Energy
Workers supporting the energy sector, regardless of the energy source (including but not limited to nuclear, fossil, hydroelectric, or renewable), a segment of the system, or infrastructure the worker is involved in, or who are needed to monitor, operate, engineer, and maintain the reliability, safety, environmental health, and physical and cybersecurity of the energy system.
Water and wastewater systems
Operational staff at water authorities, community water systems, wastewater treatment facilities.
Transportation and logistics
Employees supporting or enabling transportation functions, including truck drivers, bus drivers, dispatchers, maintenance and repair technicians, warehouse workers, truck stop and rest area workers, Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV) employees, towing/recovery services, roadside assistance workers, inter-modal transportation personnel, and workers who maintain and inspect infrastructure.
Public works and infrastructure support services
Workers who support the operation, inspection, and maintenance of essential public works facilities and operations, including bridges, water and sewer main breaks, fleet maintenance personnel, construction of critical or strategic infrastructure, traffic signal maintenance, emergency location services for buried utilities, maintenance of digital systems infrastructure supporting public works operations, and other emergent issues.
Communications and information technology
Maintenance of communications infrastructure- including privately owned and maintained communication systems- supported by technicians, operators, call -centers, wire line, and wireless providers, cable service providers, satellite operations, Internet Exchange Points, Points of Presence, Network Access Points, back haul and front haul facilities, and manufacturers and distributors of communications equipment.
Workers who support command centers, including, but not limited to Network Operations Command Centers, Broadcast Operations Control Centers, and Security Operations Command Centers.
Other community or government-based operations and essential functions
Workers to ensure continuity of building functions, elections personnel, judicial system workers, news and media workers, clergy, educators, real estate services, and workers supporting essential maintenance, manufacturing, design, operation, inspection, security, and construction for essential products, services, and supply chain and COVID 19 relief efforts.
Critical manufacturing
Workers who are necessary for the manufacturing of metals (including steel and aluminum), industrial minerals, semiconductors, materials and products needed for medical supply chains, and for supply chains associated with transportation, energy, communications, information technology, food and agriculture, chemical manufacturing, nuclear facilities, wood products, commodities used as fuel for power generation facilities, the operation of dams, water and wastewater treatment, processing and reprocessing of solid waste, emergency services, and the defense industrial base.
Hazardous materials
Workers who manage hazardous materials associated with any other essential activity, including but not limited to healthcare waste (medical, pharmaceuticals, medical material production), testing operations (laboratories processing test kits), and energy (nuclear facilities).
Financial services
Workers who are needed to provide, process and maintain systems for processing, verification, and recording of financial transactions and services, including payment, clearing, and settlement; wholesale funding; insurance services; bank financial services; consumer and commercial lending; and capital markets activities).
Workers who are needed to maintain orderly market operations to ensure the continuity of financial transactions and services.
Chemical
Workers supporting the chemical and industrial gas supply chains, including workers at chemical manufacturing plants, workers in laboratories, workers at distribution facilities, workers who transport basic raw chemical materials to the producers of industrial and consumer goods, including hand sanitizers, food and food additives, pharmaceuticals, paintings and coatings, textiles, building materials, plumbing, electrical, and paper products.
Defense industrial base
Workers who support the essential services required to meet national security commitments to the federal government and U.S. Military. These individuals include, but are not limited to, space and aerospace; mechanical and software engineers (various disciplines), manufacturing/production workers; IT support; security staff; security personnel; intelligence support, aircraft, and weapon system mechanics and maintainers; and sanitary workers who maintain the hygienic viability of necessary facilities.
Commercial facilities
Workers who support the supply chain of building materials from production through application/installation, including cabinetry, fixtures, doors, cement, hardware, plumbing, electrical, heating/cooling, refrigeration, appliances, paint/coatings, and employees who provide services that enable repair materials and equipment for essential functions.
Residential/shelter facilities and services
Workers in care services, in support of workers in other essential products and services.
Workers who support food, shelter, and social services, and other necessities of life for needy groups and individuals, including in-need populations and COVID-19 responders (including traveling medical staff).
Workers in animal shelters.
Hygiene products and services
Workers who produce hygiene products.
Workers in laundromats, laundry services, and dry cleaners.
Workers providing personal and household goods repair and maintenance.
Workers providing disinfection services, for all essential facilities and modes of transportation, and supporting the sanitation of all food manufacturing processes and operations from wholesale to retail.
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