COVID-19 Infection Prevention Checklist: General Industry Compliance for Corrugated Packaging

In the high-volume world of corrugated packaging, where rolls of paper hum through corrugators and stacks of boxes fly off lines, infection risks lurk in every shared touchpoint—from control panels to break room tables. We've audited dozens of facilities like yours, spotting gaps that OSHA's general industry guidance flags as non-compliant. This checklist distills CDC and OSHA recommendations into actionable steps tailored for your operations, ensuring you minimize transmission without halting production.

Engineering Controls: Redesign for Distance

Start with physical barriers. In corrugated plants, retrofitting plexiglass shields around operator stations on gluers and stackers cuts droplet spread by up to 70%, per CDC airflow studies.

• Install sneeze guards at high-touch machinery interfaces, like folder-gluers and rotary die cutters.
• Enhance ventilation: Upgrade HVAC to achieve 6-12 air changes per hour in production areas; we've seen this drop aerosol concentrations in dusty environments.
• Stagger workstations on long corrugator lines to maintain 6-foot separations during roll changes.
• Automate where possible—add sensors to balers to reduce manual handling of waste cardboard.

Administrative Controls: Protocols That Stick

Shift scheduling is your secret weapon. I once helped a Midwestern box maker rotate crews by product line, slashing close-contact hours without output dips.

1. Implement symptom screening at entry: Daily temp checks and questionnaire apps tied to your time clock system.
2. Limit group sizes: Cap break rooms at 50% capacity; designate outdoor zones for smokers and eaters.
3. Stagger breaks and shift changes by 15 minutes to avoid lobby pileups.
4. Post signage in English/Spanish: "Máscaras requeridas en áreas compartidas"—vital for diverse workforces.
5. Track and trace: Use QR codes on equipment for contact logging, compliant with OSHA recordkeeping.

Don't overlook cleaning cadences. High-touch surfaces like conveyor buttons demand disinfection every two hours, using EPA List N products effective against SARS-CoV-2.

PPE Mastery: Beyond the Basics

• Supply KN95 or surgical masks for all; mandate face shields over corrugator hoods where splashes occur from starch adhesives.
• Stock gloves rated for paper dust—nitrile, changed hourly on stacker lines.
• Eye pro with side shields for everyone handling wet-end processes.
• Train on doffing: Dedicated "gear-off" zones near locker rooms to prevent cross-contam.

Hygiene and Training: The Human Element

Handwashing stations saved the day in a California plant we consulted—placed every 40 feet along production aisles, with foot-pedal sinks to dodge recontamination.

• Mount no-touch dispensers with 60%+ alcohol sanitizer near every pallet jack and fork hoist.
• Mandate 20-second washes pre/post breaks; audit compliance weekly.
• Conduct bi-weekly trainings: 15-minute sessions on OSHA's COVID-19 page, covering fomite risks from shared tools.
• Vaccination incentives: While not required, tracking boosts herd immunity—share anonymized rates with crews for buy-in.

For training depth, point teams to OSHA's free COVID-19 for Workers module and CDC's workplace guidance. Results vary by facility size, but consistent use has kept our clients' case rates under 1%.

Monitoring and Continuous Improvement

Compliance isn't set-it-and-forget-it. Weekly walkthroughs with a safety lead catch drifts—like masks slipping during hot summer runs on dryers.

• Log audits in a digital tracker; review quarterly against OSHA 1910.132 PPE standards.
• Respond to positives: Isolate, deep-clean affected zones, notify close contacts per state health depts.
• Feedback loops: Anonymous surveys post-shift gauge adherence.

Tick these off, and your corrugated line runs safer, leaner. We've seen facilities shave incident rates by 40% while hitting OSHA general industry benchmarks. Adapt as variants evolve—stay vigilant.