Source: USDA FSIS, 5/8/20

On May 1, 2020, FSIS received its first shipment of 30,000 cloth face coverings from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the agency immediately made these available to FSIS employees in the field. On May 5, 2020, FSIS received an additional 50,000 cloth face coverings and on May 6, 2020, FSIS received 320,000 paper masks. FSIS now has enough masks and face coverings on hand to keep agency inspection personnel supplied for the next few months.

FSIS also received 5,000 face shields that have been made available to agency in-plant personnel. The agency is working to procure an additional allotment with a goal of having two face shields for every FSIS in-plant personnel.

FSIS employees are required to wear face coverings, to wear them properly, and have been given instructions on how to do so. If plants are requiring and providing face coverings to their employees, the expectation is that establishments provide face coverings for FSIS inspectors, just like hair nets and beard nets.

The face coverings that FSIS has provided are in line with recommendations and guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guidance for meat and poultry workers states that face shields can provide additional protection from both potential process-related splashes and potential person-to-person droplet spread. FSIS has instructed its field personnel to wear these face shields over face coverings to minimize contamination of facemasks and cloth face coverings.

FSIS has also secured ongoing shipments of hand sanitizer through the end of May. The agency will receive 2,000 one-gallon containers of liquid hand sanitizer every week. FSIS is shipping the sanitizer to establishments for use by agency in-plant personnel.

As a reminder, the face coverings, face shields, and hand sanitizer are not a replacement or a substitute for all of the actions the CDC recommends for protection, such as social distancing. This must be implemented to the fullest extent possible in plants. The CDC also recommends frequent hand hygiene, prioritizing handwashing and using hand sanitizer in addition to handwashing or when a sink is unavailable.

For more information on USDA’s FAQs and resources on coronavirus (COVID-19), visit: https://www.usda.gov/coronavirus