GeorgiaALIVE Inc., a leadership initiative for a vital economy, shares and highlights best practices for Georgia businesses and Georgia citizens navigating “the new normal.” As some coronavirus restrictions are lifted, the organization is executing an education and public awareness initiative to amplify smart operating practices and safety guidelines for life outside of home from proven sources.

At its core, GeorgiaALIVE serves to augment leadership and innovation emerging from businesses, nonprofits, universities and research organizations. To further momentum, the organization has named new members to its steering committee – a group comprised of business and community leaders playing a critical role in identifying needed resources and providing direct access to support sources. The new members include:

Heath Garrett, Strategic Partners & Media; Attorney, Political Strategist and Former Chief of Staff to Senator Isakson

Deb Bruner, RN, Ph.D., FAAN, Senior Vice President of Research, Emory University

Preparing Georgia for The New Normal: Resources Backed by Science

GeorgiaALIVE’s “New Normal/Work Safety” public awareness effort aims to arm Georgians with necessary information to navigate a post-shelter-in-place environment.

“Daily preventative actions will be critical to maintaining public safety as businesses begin to reopen,” explains GeorgiaALIVE Principal William Sharp, Ph.D. and Associate Professor at Emory University. “A one-size-fits-all approach will not work. With no single standard to ensure workplace and community safety, companies must be diligent about maintaining best practices while taking cues from industry leaders and science. Our goal is to distill the information from credible sources and make it relevant to all Georgians –those opening and those visiting businesses.”

Dr. Sharp spearheads GeorgiaALIVE’s work safety focus. Additionally, two resources bring deep OSHA expertise, having been on the frontlines of planning workplace safety processes for essential businesses in times of crisis, including this pandemic:

Eric J. Conn, Founding Partner at Conn Maciel Carey LLP and Chair of the firm’s national OSHA - Workplace Safety Practice Group

Amanda Walker, Partner at Conn Maciel Carey LLP / OSHA - Workplace Safety Practice Group

GeorgiaALIVE will begin promoting guidance and providing resources informed by groups such as the CDC and OSHA. Planned resources include informational on-premise signage, an infection control and response plan for business adaption and use, answers to frequently asks questions on pandemic-related employment law and workplace safety, and a hotline for businesses to pose work safety concerns.