Supporting Our Policyholders

Protecting workers from coronavirus

Social distancing and good hygiene are key to preventing further spread of COVID-19. That presents challenges for businesses, but we must all do our part to adapt and keep our communities safe.

• Remote work – If at all possible, allow employees to work from home.
• Social distancing – If remote work is not possible, employees should practice strict social distancing. This means not being within six feet of each other, shaking hands, sharing work tools or materials, or gathering in groups.
• Cleaning and disinfecting – Perform routine environmental cleaning of all frequently touched surfaces in the workplace, such as workstations, countertops and doorknobs.
• Hand washing – Instruct employees to clean their hands often with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60-95% alcohol or wash their hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
• Signage at work – Place posters that encourage staying home when sick, cough and sneeze etiquette and hand hygiene at the entrance to your workplace and in other areas where they are likely to be seen.
• OSHA standards – Read about OSHA standards related to personal protective equipment, respiratory protection and assessing hazards.

Workers should not be in the workplace if they:

• Are sick or “under the weather,” with or without a fever.
• Have traveled to a location, domestically or internationally, with known community spread.
• Have a sick family member at home with COVID-19 or similar symptoms.

Workers' comp claims
and COVID-19

Certain types of employment or circumstances specific to your business may carry a higher risk of COVID-19 exposure than others. If an employee is believed to have the coronavirus, take all necessary health and safety precautions, and if you suspect the COVID-19 exposure is work related, report the claim to Texas Mutual immediately.

Texas Mutual will investigate each COVID-19 claim on a case-by-case basis. Our team of claim specialists will investigate the facts of each case and evaluate whether an employee’s illness related to COVID-19 occurred during the course and scope of employment. As with any claimed occupational disease, the medical evidence will be important to the compensability determination. For more detailed information about what to do if you suspect an employee has been exposed, read our FAQ on workers’ compensation and coronavirus.

Workers with an increased exposure risk include those involved in:

• Health care
• Death care (including coroners, medical examiners and funeral directors)
• Airline operations
• Waste management
• Travel to areas where the virus is spreading

If you must require your employees to work from home and an injury happens in their home environment, we will investigate and evaluate it just as we would a claim in the workplace.