Unilogik Systems Inc: COVID-19 Safety Plan

A guide to procedures set out to manage the safety of staff members.

Statement of Purpose

Our company is committed to providing a safe and healthy workplace for all staff members. A combination of measures will be used to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission in our workplace as we resume the “new normal” level of operations.  Our Safety Plan will protect not only our own Staff Members, but also others who enter our premises. All Staff Members must follow the procedures outlined in this plan to prevent or reduce exposure to COVID-19.

Development of the Safety Plan

Unilogik’s COVID-19 Safety Plan is developed in accordance with guidance published by the Provincial Health Officer (“PHO”), the BC Centre for Disease Control (“BCCDC”) and WorkSafeBC’s “Offices: Protocols for returning to operation”.

COVID-19 Transmission and Symptoms

The virus that causes COVID-19 spreads in several ways. It can spread in droplets when a person coughs or sneezes. It can also spread if you touch a contaminated surface and then touch your face. The risk of person-to-person transmission increases the closer you come to other people, the more time you spend near them, and the more people you come near. The risk of surface transmission increases when many people contact the same surface and when those contacts happen over short periods of time.

The symptoms of COVID-19 are similar to other respiratory illnesses including the flu and common cold. They include:  fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat and painful swallowing, stuffy or runny nose, loss of sense of smell, headache, muscle aches, fatigue and loss of appetite. Other symptoms have been reported such as skin rash and gastrointestinal symptoms.

Step 1. Risks at the workplace

Identified areas of risk:

High contact surfaces includes handles, doors, kitchen area, and boardroom.

Step 2. Measures in Place to Reduce the Risk

1st level protection: Elimination

Involves removing the risk of exposure entirely from the workplace. We have limited the number of people at the workplace. At a time, only 2 members can be in the kitchen area. 2-meter physical distancing reminders have been posted on office walls. Doors and handles are cleaned every evening.

2nd level protection: Engineering Controls

Workspace areas are separated using a barrier to separate from others. Places such as boardroom where barriers are not feasible, social distancing should be followed.

3rd level protection: Administrative Controls

Signage have been posted on the main door, kitchen and office walls for practicing effective cleaning and hygiene practices such as frequent hand washing/sanitizing throughout the day. Hand sanitizer will be available in the main area next to the main entrance door.

4th level protection: PPE

Sanitize hands and wear a mask when entering office premise. Masks should be worn when you are in the office building (example: in elevators, going to washrooms etc. to minimize transmission to others)

Step 3. Policies

Safety Policies/Protocols:

• Frequent Hand Washing and use of Hand Sanitizers
• Follow Cough/sneeze etiquettes
• Practice Physical Distancing
• Use masks while entering the office and accessing elevators and washrooms
• Any staff member developing symptoms of COVID-19 or identified by Public Health as a close contact of someone with COVID-19 must stay at home and inform their supervisor as soon as they can.
• Building Access/Elevator Use:

1. All members using office elevators must wear a mask that covers their mouth and nose.
2. Use hand sanitizer made available before entering the elevator.
3. Comply with 2 person occupancy limits on elevators.

• Stairwells: Maintain the required 2 meters physical distancing while on the staircase and wash your hands or use hand sanitizer before and after travel between floors

Step 4. Communication plan and training

• Staff are required to read through the safety protocols and procedures before returning to work.
• Signage will be posted on the main door, kitchen and office walls for practicing effective cleaning and hygiene practices
• Staff Members will be forwarded a copy of our policies in their email.

Step 5. Monitoring the workplace and updating plans

• There will be an ongoing discussion and changes of the policies as the COVID-19 pandemic evolves.

Published: January 4^th 2021