Page 33 - Insurance Times September 2020
P. 33
PANDEMICS &
PRIVACY:
MANAGING
CYBER RISKS
CONNECTED TO
COVID-19
A s businesses in all 50 states reopen or consider OSHA has released guidance for preparing workplaces for
reopening, they are facing another challenge:
the return of employees during the pandemic.
how to reopen safely. What safely reopening
entails will vary from business to business. As the
COVID-19 pandemic continues to be a significant concern, In keeping with OSHA requirements for maintaining a safe
workplace, a recent trend among businesses is to monitor
employers are looking for ways to keep up operations while the health of employees. In a number of instances,
keeping employees safe. employees entering the workplace are being monitored as
they arrive for work. Wellness checks, temperature checks,
Fortunately, guidelines do exist to help with at least part of and observation of an employee's use of PPE and adherence
those safety measures. The Centers for Disease Control and to physical distance guidelines are measures that many
Prevention (CDC) provides businesses with industry-specific employers consider to be essential.
guidelines or various industries, as has the American
Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA). Such guidelines help However, the balance between maintaining safety and
companies further maintain compliance with the maintaining employee privacy is a delicate one. As with any
Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) procedure that falls outside of standard operations, such
personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements. Also, measures could be placing companies at increased risk of
privacy issues, not to mention cyber risks.
About the author Where the risks lie
Danielle Roth Depending on the industry, companies may not be aware
Claims Manager, of the privacy risks associated with complying with OSHA
Cyber, AXA XL guidelines in the time of COVID-19. As employers strive to
reduce employees' exposure to COVID-19, the way in which
The Insurance Times, September 2020 29
