Purpose and Scope 

This Safety Plan has been developed to ensure the health and safety of all people in the workplace and to prevent the transmission of COVID-19.  This plan aims to eliminate, reduce and or control COVID-19 related hazards.  It applies to everyone entering Highdeal (118 – 19055 Airport Way, Pitt Meadows).  This Safety plan covers the general measures for Highdeal and the common areas (e.g. washrooms, meeting areas). 

COVID-19 Safety Plan 

1. Assess the risks at the workplace  

The COVID 19 virus causes infections of the nose, throat and lungs. The virus is most commonly transmitted by an infected person through: 

• Respiratory droplets generated when they cough or sneeze 
• Close personal contact, such as touching or shaking hands 
• Touching objects or surfaces with the virus on it, then touching your mouth, nose or eyes  

A risk assessment supports the development of Safe Work Procedures, which mitigate the risk level of the potential exposure.   

2. Implement Measures (Controls) To Reduce Risk  

To reduce the risk of the virus spreading, the following protocols may need to be implemented to protect against the risk of COVID-19.   

The protocols below are required for all staff entering Highdeal:  

Elimination Measures in Place for maintaining physical distance:  

• Every effort made to have employees who are able to, work from home as much as possible.  
• Limit in-person interactions to essential people, including meetings, training, inspections, interviews, etc. Utilize technology to virtually complete work. 

• Identifying and establishing a maximum number of people for common areas such as meeting areas, washrooms, etc.  
• Arrange for external contractors and services to be completed when staff are not at the location as much as possible. 
• Refrain from handshaking, hugging and other close contact with people. 
• Re-arrange furniture to allow for physical distancing. 

Engineering Measures – Barriers and partitions  

• When in a meeting area, or other group setting, ensure you maintain a distance of 6ft or more from others. 

Administration Measures – Rules & Guidelines 

• Staff have been informed to not come to work when sick. 

• Encouraging staff to regularly wash their hands through signage (post signage on hand hygiene in common areas such as break room, washrooms, etc.). 
• Encouraging and posting signage on how to cover coughs and sneezes. 
• Passive screening for visitors (signage posted outside of the building asking those with COVID-19 symptoms to not enter). 
• Encouraging staff to wipe down equipment after use. 
• Encouraging staff to move aside and yield if they see another worker or visitor walking in their direction. 

• Allow communal doors to remain open throughout the workday to reduce contact with door handles. (unless members of the public start becoming an issue) 
• Post “employee only area” signage on employee only areas. 
• Instruct workers to use their own equipment, such as pens, staplers, headsets, and computers 
• Encouraging hygiene practices that address the needs of the workplace that includes washing or sanitizing hands after coming into contact with public items   
• Display signage to inform staff and the public about the distancing measures, revised processes and any reduced capacities. 

• Display signage on external doors reminding staff and the public not to enter if they are experiencing any COVID-like symptoms 
• Display signage in kitchen, bathrooms, etc. on proper handwashing procedures. 
• In cases where hallways, stairs and pathways between workstations result in other staff encroaching on the 2-meter distance, encourage staff to distance as much as possible, not gather in hallways, stairs and communal pathways, and transit the area quickly. 
• Ensure staff remind people to keep moving if they start to congregate in one spot 
• Visits to the workplace should be prearranged, staggered, and safety protocols should be communicated before entry into the workplace (e.g., email and/or signage posted to entrance). Keep a record of visitors to the workplace. 

• Encourage workers to take breaks at their own desk (after cleaning) or outside. 
• If face to face meetings are unavoidable, consider holding them outdoors and maintain appropriate physical distance at all times. 
• If meetings must occur indoors, limit face to face participation to only those absolutely required to be physically present.  Meeting Host will ensure proper cleaning and disinfecting before and after meeting room use. 
• Before entering any shared space such as office, wash hands or use hand sanitizer. 
• Ensure kitchen is always well stocked with liquid soap, paper towels, toilet paper and where appropriate, hand sanitizer with a minimum of 60% alcohol. 

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) 

If elimination, engineering, and administration measures are not effective or enough to control the risk, personal protective equipment maybe considered. Personal protective equipment may include non-medical masks, gloves, eye protective or an apron or disposable coverall.   

Cleaning Protocols 

• Staff are to clean their equipment (desk, keyboard, mouse, phone, etc.) at least twice daily.  

• Prop open doors that cannot be opened by sensor to reduce the need to touch door handles. 
• Provide hand sanitizing stations at all facility entryways for everyone to use. 
• Employees should wipe down shared areas in the Kitchen and bathrooms (counters, handles and control switches) after each use 
• Ensure any materials, equipment and tools are commonly touch are cleaned before and after use/touching. 

3. Developing Plans, Practices and Procedures 

The following policies and guidelines are in place in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19:  

• Workers and visitors who is showing symptoms of COVID-19 are to remain home and seek the medical advice of their physician.  
• Workers and visitors who have arrived from outside of Canada must self-isolate for 14 days.  
• Workers and visitors directed by Public Health to self-isolate are to follow that advice and to remain at home. 
• Workers who are working from home are to adhere to the Interim Telecommuting Guide & Remote Access Policy. 

4. Communication and Training of Plans 

Signage is posted outside of the facility indicating who is restricted from entering the premises, including visitors and workers with symptoms. Additional signage promoting physical distancing will be posted throughout the facility.  The washrooms and Kitchens will have signs on handwashing.   

5. Monitoring the Workplace and Updating Plans as Necessary 

Things may change as we gradually re-open and increase our business roles.  If need be, changes will be made to the Safety Plan and staff will be informed.  Workers can raise safety concerns with their supervisors and through a joint health and safety committees. 

Managers/Supervisors will complete the Managers/Supervisors Worksite Practices Review/Inspection Checklist (or equivalent) every 2 weeks to assist in and to document monitoring. 

6. Assess and Address Risks from Resuming Operations  

Staff affected by changes made to work processes will be trained and informed of the new procedures.  

Staff concerns will be reviewed and addressed according to health and safety hierarchy.  

SAFETY PLANS REVIEW 

This Safety Plan will be reviewed when new information or changes need to be made.