HomeMy WebLinkAboutWorkplace Safety GuidelinesCOVID-19 Workplace Safety Guidelines —July 21, 2021 Comprehensive Update
The following information is provided to work in conjunction with the Municipality of Bayham
Health & Safety Policy, Municipality of Bayham Personnel Policy Manual and Collective
Agreements. Please do not hesitate to contact your Supervisor to further discuss these matters
if required.
Section 1 -Overview
1.1 Coronaviruses are spread through coughing and sneezing, personal contact with an
infected person, or touching an infected surface and then your mouth, nose, or eyes.
Here are some helpful tips to prevent the spread of infection:
Wash your hands often and thoroughly with soap and water or alcohol -based
hand sanitizer.
• Sneeze and cough into your sleeve.
• If you use a tissue, discard immediately and wash your hands afterward.
• Avoid touching your face, eyes, nose or mouth.
• Avoid contact with people who are sick.
• Stay home if you are sick.
= Avoid high -touch areas, where possible, or ensure you clean your hands after.
• Where possible, wear gloves when interacting with high -touch areas. Do not
touch your face with gloved hands. Put on and remove gloves in a manner that
avoids contamination of the hands. Ensure you wash your hands afterremoving
gloves.
• Practice physical distancing of two metres.
* Where physical distancing of two metres is not possible wear a face covering.
Complete the mandatory daily COVID-19 Assessment and follow the instructions
you get.
If you are ill or unable to attend work, notify your supervisor immediately.
f' Employers and Employees have obligations as set out in the Occupational Health and
Safety Act (OHSA) and its regulations and the directives coming from the Chief Medical
Officer of Health.
3 The Municipality of Bayham's Community Control Group will continue to meet as
needed to discuss health and safety matters as updates become available through
Southwestern Public Health or other Health Authorities. All information for employees
will be provided via email and posted on applicable message boards in Municipal
facilities.
Section 2 - Health Promotion and Protection Act
2.1 The Municipality will follow the medical advice and direction from the appropriate
medical authorities (the Medical Health Officer, Ministry of Health, and Health Canada).
t'. The Medical Officer of Health has the responsibility to protect the health of the public
and has corresponding powers under the Health Promotion and Protection Act for
dealing with infectious diseases. The Medical Officer of Health will act if there are
reasonable and probable grounds to believe that an infectious disease exists or that
there is an immediate risk of an outbreak of an infectious disease in the area for which
she has responsibility.
2 3 The Municipality will follow the Municipality of Bayham Emergency Response Plan to
deal with the planning and response to communicable diseases in accordance with
medical advice and direction from the appropriate medical authorities. Action may
include:
• Provide information, instruction and supervision to employees to protecttheir
health and safety, which includes protection from the hazards of infection.
• Take reasonable precaution to protect workers, which includes protection from
the hazards of infection.
Provide the required equipment, materials and protective devices.
24 Individual employees who have or suspect they may have a communicable disease are
required to report their concerns to their health professional and adopt responsible
health care practices including advising the Municipality of any hazards created by or
associated with the same.
Section 3 —Human Resources
? 'I The Municipality of Bayham remains open for business with alternative access
procedures.
• The option for residents to attend the office for appointments will recommence
August 3, 2021, save and except Financial services dealing with bill payments
and tax matters, which will recommence August 9, 2021.
• As posted, the Municipality of Bayham will continue to encourage the public to
conduct business with the Municipality online or via phone where possible and
avoid unnecessary trips to the municipal office or municipal facilities to promote
physical distancing.
3.2 Staff who are unable to attend work for childcare or other family responsibilities may
utilize leave provisions within the Municipality of Bayham Personnel Policy Manual or
relevant Collective Agreement.
■ Please do not hesitate to contact your Supervisor to further discuss these matters
if they arise.
Complete the mandatory daily COVID-19 Assessment. Staff are reminded to monitor
themselves for illness and stay home when they are sick.
• An employee that has received a COVID-19 vaccination in the last 48 hours
and are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms such as headache, muscle and
joint aches, fatigue, and/or extreme tiredness can select "NO" on the
Assessment.
:} 4 Generally, employees that become ill and/or are required to self -isolate and not report to
work as a result of COVID-19 will be able to utilize the following:
■ Sick time
■ Vacation Time
Banked Time
STD
• Statutory leaves
3.5 The Municipal Employee and Family Assistance provider, Homewood Health has advised
that all counseling services are available telephonically. It is recommended that staff who
are feeling overwhelmed or otherwise struggling during this difficult time to call 1-800-
663-1142.
Section 4 — Preventative Measures
4.1 In accordance with the advice and direction from the appropriate medical authorities (the
Medical Health Officer, Ministry of Health, and Health Canada) the Municipality has
taken the following preventative measures to date:
• Daily enhanced cleaning and sanitation at the Municipal Office, Public Works
Garage and Wastewater Treatment Plant, including specific department
cleaning after a scheduled appointment or meeting.
Postponement of non -essential business trips to minimize exposure from others
■ Restricted facility access
■ Provision of individual sanitation wipes and hygiene supplies
• Provision of alcohol based hand sanitizer
■ Provision of gloves
o Single use gloves help limit contact with certain surfaces, products, etc.
■ Provision of face coverings
o Staff may utilize their own face coverings at the discretion of the
employee if it meets the definition of face covering as provided by the
Medical Officer of Health for Southwestern Public Health.
4.2 The Municipality recommends staff review the personal belongings that you have in your
respective workplace and eliminate any unnecessary clutter. The less items that you
have in the workplace the easier to clean.
4.3 Any appointment or meeting with a member(s) of the public should be scheduled with
enough time before any subsequent time slot to limit the number of public members in
the office at one time.
4A Meetings should be held in a dedicated location to limit access to the building for
members of the public.
• Any meeting is required to be physically -distanced (two metres or more between
all parties). When this is not possible, Zoom meetings are required_
4.5 Due to the nature of the Council Chambers and committee meetings, Council meetings
will continue to be held via Zoom and committee meetings are still on hold.
Section 5 — Face Coverings
5.1 The public, non -municipal employees, shall be required to comply with the Province of
Ontario Ontario Regulation 364/20 Rules for Areas in Stage 3 to require any person in
an indoor area of the premises of the business or organization, or in a vehicle that is
operating as part of the business or organization, wears a mask or face covering in a
manner that covers their mouth, nose and chin during any period when they are in the
indoor area.
5.2 Pursuant to Section 25 and 27 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act, R.S.O. 1990,
c. 0.1 (OHSA), effective immediately, the Municipality of Bayham is designating face
coverings as a mandatory component of Personal Protective Equipment and wearing of
a face covering in accordance with the Face Covering Policy as a bona fide
occupational requirement for all employees. The Municipality of Bayham will
operationalize this requirement pursuant to the Face Covering Policy attached hereto as
Appendix'A'.
Section 6 — Potential or Suspected Exposure
6 'I The Municipality of Bayham requires anyone who develops new or worsening symptoms
of COVID-19 (as per the COVID-19 Assessment) to not come into work or if already at
work, to go home and self-isolate/self-monitor and not return to work until symptom -free
for 24 hours unless the symptoms are attributed to a recent COVID-19 vaccination as
noted in Subsection 3.3 or another known condition unrelated to COVID-19 (i.e. allergies).
G.2 Symptomatic employees who have been in contact with someone who tested positive will
be required to self -isolate and self -monitor and to make an appointment at the COVID-19
Assessment Centre for testing. The employee is not able to return to work until test results
show negative and shared with their Supervisor. Even if the employee is symptom -free for
24 hours and is still waiting for a testing appointment, employee is not able to return until
test results show negative.
6 `i Self -isolate if you live with a symptomatic individual waiting for test results unless fully
vaccinated (14 days after fully vaccinated) and not symptomatic.
G r If negative, discontinue self -isolation; if positive, continue isolating as directed by public
health.
C� Employee that has tested positive will be required to follow direction as per Southwestern
Public Health. Any contact tracing and self -isolation directed by Southwestern Public
health will be strictly adhered to by the Municipality of Bayham.
6.6 When a potential exposure has been identified, the employee's work location will be
cleaned and sanitized.
G.- Employees will be notified of a confirmed case as per Southwestern Public Health
direction. Contact tracing and follow up will be conducted by Southwestern Public Health.
6.`3 If an individual is sick but chooses not to get tested, all household members are advised
to self -isolate for at least 14 days.
p If an employee is fully vaccinated (this takes effect 14 days after being vaccinated
with the second COVID vaccination), they will be cleared to work even if they:
• have been identified as a close contact
received a COVID exposure alert from the cell phone app
• have travelled outside of Canada
• are living with someone experiencing COVID symptoms and/or waiting for test
results
Section 7 —Continuous Evaluation
COVID-19 has presented challenges never seen before. It is important to consider that
any of the adjustments made today, may need further refinement tomorrow. Medical
Officer of Health preventative measures are reviewed on an ongoing basis, and adjusted
if they are not working well enough or causing other issues.
�b4portunwy
i
Municipality of Bayham Face Covering Policy
Section 1 — Overview
1.1 Pursuant to Section 25 and 27 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act, R.S.O. 1990, c.
0.1 (OHSA), effective immediately, the Municipality of Bayham is designating face
coverings as a mandatory component of Personal Protective Equipment and wearing of a
face covering in accordance with the Face Covering Policy as a bona fide occupational
requirement for all employees.
1.2 The Municipality will provide single -use, non -medical masks for employee use.
Section 2 — Definitions
2.1 For the purposes of this policy:
2.1.1 'Enclosed Public Space' means indoor public spaces of businesses or
organizations including all Public Transit Vehicles and Commercial
Transportation Vehicles;
2.1.2 'Face Covering' means a non -medical mask or other Face Covering such as a
bandana, scarf, or cloth (including hijab and niqab) that covers the nose, mouth
and chin that provides a barrier that limits community transmission. Face
shields (clear plastic coverings to protect the eyes and possibly the lower part
of the face) are not an acceptable alternative to a Face Covering for the
purpose of these instructions (as they are less supported by research regarding
their effectiveness). However, they may be used by individuals in addition to a
Face Covering for added protection; in addition, anyone exempted in this policy
from using a Face Covering may, but are not required to, use a face shield for
added protection.
2.1.3 'Person' means any customer, client, patron, employee, or visitor, who enters
the Enclosed Public Space.
Section 3 — Application - Enclosed Space
3.1 No Person is permitted to enter or remain in an Enclosed Space unless they are wearing
a Face Covering at all times in a manner that covers the mouth, nose and chin without
gaping.
3.1.1 Section 3.1 does not apply to:
* An employee who is consuming food or drink, separated by two metres or
more, in a location designated by the Supervisor.
* An employee who is seated at a desk, separated by two metres or more, in
a location designated by the Supervisor.
• An employee in a municipal vehicle with no other employees in the same.
Section 4 — Donning & Doffing Mask Guidance
4.1 How to wear a mask:
■ Before putting on your mask, wash your hands with soap and water for at least
15 seconds or use alcohol -based hand sanitizer.
+ Secure the elastic loops of the mask around your ears. If your mask has strings,
tie them securely behind your head,
• Cover your mouth and nose with the mask and make sure there are no gaps
between your face and the mask.
• Do not touch the front of the mask while you wear it. Wash your hands with soap
and water for at least 15 seconds or use alcohol -based hand sanitizer if you
accidentally touch your mask.
4_2 How to throw away your mask
■ Do not touch the front of your mask to remove it.
Remove the elastic loops of the mask from around your ears or untie the strings
from behind your head.
Hold only the loops or strings and place the mask in a garbage bin.
+ Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 15 seconds or use alcohol -
based hand sanitizer after you have discarded your mask.
4.3 More information about masks:
• When a mask becomes damp or humid, replace it with a new mask.
o Do not reuse a single -use mask. Discard your mask when you have finished
using it.
4.4 Southwestern Public Health has provided a guidance video on how to properly use a
non -medical mask. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s45OUvY81QI&feature=voutu.be