Bonkers Builders’ COVID-19 Workplace Safety Plan

Developed by the CEO

1. Keeping Workers Safe From Exposure to COVID-19

Actions: Informing Workers

• We will hold regular staff meetings that will cover current COVID-19 developments.
• We will encourage workers to educate themselves by following Public Health and Ministry of Health guidelines on websites and accredited social media sites and in publications.
• We will share pertinent information such as handwashing procedures, symptoms to watch for, screening questions, number for medical authorities, etc.
• We will ensure our COVID-19 Workplace Safety Plan is up to date.
• We will employ various engineering and administrative controls as listed in Section 3.
• We will provide a copy of the plan to all workers and post one for the public.

2. How We Will Screen for COVID-19

Actions: Worker Screening

• Workers must be well to enter the workplace. Each worker will complete a daily self assessment questionnaire composed of basic questions about their physical health and symptoms using the provincial list of COVID-19 symptoms. This assessment will be completed before entering the workplace where workers will have individual log books where they will be required to sign off on the attestation.
• If workers are exhibiting symptoms they should contact Telehealth Ontario at 1-866-797-0000 prior to entering the workplace in order to be assessed.
• If workers are advised by authorities to be tested, they must remain home until a negative test result is obtained and it is safe to come back to work. This may require consultation with a medical doctor. If workers are experiencing 2 or more COVID-19 symptoms they are required to stay away from the workplace until these symptoms clear.
• A current list of symptoms will be provided to each worker and will be posted in each facility as well as on the entrance doors to the facilities.

3. Controlling the Risk of Transmission in the Workplace

Actions: Office Controls

• Employees will be encouraged to work from home in order to avoid person to person contact with workers.
• When an employee must work at the office, they must first ask permission from his manager. Permissions will be granted on a need-to basis and only for a limited amount of time. There will be a limit of one employee per room in the building at any time.
• The windows shall remain open on nice days to allow more air to circulate and to provide better air quality.
• Hand washing facilities shall be readily accessible for workers.
• Workers must practice physical distancing at all times.
• Workers are encouraged to wash hands frequently and refrain from touching their faces.
• When leaving a work station to another worker, the first worker leaving must sanitize the area and equipment for the incoming worker.
• Hand sanitizer (at least 70% alcohol) shall be available for workers (e.g. at entrance and at work stations). Employees will be required to use hand sanitizer upon entrance to the building.
• Tissues and no-touch garbage cans shall be available for workers.
• Doors shall be kept closed when not in use.
• Workers will sanitize work surfaces and door handles as required.
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as face masks and gloves will be available for workers’ use. Workers must wear face masks in the office.
  • When employees are using PPE, proper training will be provided.
• Office availability will depend on the current situation, and the advice of governments.
• The Workplace Safety Plan will be posted in a visible place in all facilities/departments.
• A large “STOP’ sign will be placed outside the front and back doors of the facility advising workers of current safety precautions and/or service protocols.
• Signage on physical distancing and what to do if experiencing symptoms will be placed in visible locations.
• Signage on proper hand-washing procedures will be posted in washrooms and kitchens.
• Whenever possible, graphics shall be used on signage to provide increased visibility and impact.
• Enhanced cleaning/disinfection procedures (especially for high touch surfaces like door knobs, hand railings, bathroom areas, etc.) will be employed.
• Workers performing cleaning shall have the proper education to do so.
• Members of the Senior Management Team are expected to be role models and to uphold the protocols listed in this plan.
• A contact tracing protocol will be in place to track workers/visitors entering the building; this information will be provided to Public Health Officials if required.

4. How we will Handle a Potential Case, or Suspected Exposure to, COVID-19 at the Workplace

Actions: Office Lockdown Protocol

• If there is a potential case or suspected exposure of a worker to COVID-19 in our workplace, the worker will be asked them to wash hands thoroughly, don a mask and isolate in a designated area, until transportation is arranged.
• The affected worker will be sent home and be advised to call a medical authority to report symptoms – Telehealth Ontario at 1-866-797-0000.
• If the worker is severely ill, i.e. struggling to breathe, we will call 911.
• At that point, the office will be closed in order to protect the health and safety of other workers as well as the privacy of the affected worker and be reopened when safe to do so.
• We will clean and disinfect the office building to ensure all areas the worker has come into contact with are sanitized.
• We will proceed with contact tracing protocol by contacting the proper governmental organization.

5. How we will Manage New Risks Caused by Operational Changes

Actions: Keeping in Touch with Employees

• We will keep employees informed of our protocols and plan.
• We will discuss risks regularly at staff meetings in order to identify new risks and to assess the success of the measures already in place.
• We will do weekly check-ins with workers and ensure eligible workers have access to the Employee Assistance Program. We will supply a list of alternate mental health resources to all workers.
• We will educate workers on proper and safe techniques for using industrial strength cleaners as well as provide the Material Safety Data Sheets for the products.

6. How we will Know our Plan is Working?

Actions: Retrospectives & Updates

• We will monitor workers’ health as well as interactions between workers.
• We will review our plan after one month of operations, and if changes are required, will do a subsequent reviews monthly. Following this the plan will be reviewed and adapted as circumstances change.
• We will evaluate and adapt the plan in consultation with staff.
• The CEO will be responsible for evaluation and adapting the plan as necessary.
• Changes to the plan will be provided to workers via the Intranet website and email.
• Changes to the plan will be posted on the public website.