COVID-19 RESPONSE PLAN

Date of Issue: April 1, 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this response plan is to establish and maintain procedures to respond to the current COVID-19 pandemic in respect to protecting our employees and our customers. The purpose is also to ensure that everyone at Elm Landscaping Ltd. knows his or her roles and responsibilities.

Scope

The scope of this plan will include the protection of employees and customers with respect to social distancing, sanitization, cross-contamination and personal protective equipment. This policy will be used in coordination with Federal and/or Provincial health and safety guidelines.

Responsibilities

It is the responsibility of all member of Elm Landscaping Ltd. to understand and follow all procedures, guidelines and protocols set out in this policy, for the protection of themselves, their families, their fellow employees and the customers.

Procedures

Employees

Elm Landscaping employees who contract the flu, have been exposed to infected individuals, exhibit a low-grade fever of 37.3 degrees Celcius or more, experience a dry cough or difficulty breathing must stay home and seek medical attention as necessary. Employees must notify Dave or Samantha of exposure to illness via phone or e-mail immediately.

Return to Work Protocol

Employees must be completely healthy for at least 24 hours before returning to work. They must also complete the Ontario COVID19 Self Assessment Test found at  https://covid-19.ontario.ca/self-assessment/#q0 and follow the resulting instructions.

Physical Distancing

Employees must exercise Social Distancing Practices at all times. This means avoiding crowded places and gatherings, avoiding direct person-person contact and keeping a distance of 2 meters whenever possible.

Office Protocol

There is to be no more than one person in the office at any time. Do not go into the office unless you have to use the restroom.

Field Employees

When coming into the shop in the morning, please adhere to the following:

  • A staggered start schedule that will be provided.
  • Collect your work orders, stock your vehicle with necessary parts and tools, and get out on the road as quickly and efficiently as possible.
  • Wear PPE (masks and gloves) at all times when 2 meters of physical distancing is not possible, or when the sharing of hand tools is unavoidable.

Hand Hygiene

Employees must practice diligent hand washing practices at all times. This means washing hands with soap and water, or using a hand sanitizer, for at least 20 seconds, then drying with a clean cloth or paper towel.
Hands will be cleaned in this manner before and after occupying a new vehicle, before eating, and upon entering and leaving the shop.

Coughing and Sneezing Etiquette

Practice the following procedures before and after coughing and sneezing:

  • turn head away from others
  • covering nose and mouth with a tissue (into your sleeve if tissue not available)
  • immediate disposal of tissue after use
  • immediate hand hygiene afterwards

Daily Cleaning Schedule

Office

All commonly touched surfaces such as door handles, file cabinet drawers, bathroom taps, flush levers, coffee maker, counter tops, telephones, desktops, mouse and keyboard are to be cleaned by whoever is in the office at the end of each day.

Work Vehicles

Individuals assigned to any work vehicle (both driver and passenger) are responsible for cleaning all common touch points inside and outside the vehicle at least three times daily – upon entering the vehicle for the first time that day, prior to taking lunch break, and upon returning to the shop at the end of the day – with a disinfectant such as disinfectant wipes or sprays.

Hand Tools and Equipment

All hand tools and equipment that are used to complete daily tasks must be cleaned at the beginning and end of each day and before being shared with a co-worker with a disinfectant such as disinfectant wipes or spray.

Access to COVID-19 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Elm Landscaping Ltd. will make COVID-19 PPE accessible to all field employees if available.  It is every field employee’s responsibility to wear this PPE at all times when physical distancing of 2m from a coworker is not possible. It is important to remember that this PPE is only a partial barrier to the transmission of the COVID-19 Virus, and that other measures of protection and self-sanitization must be employed. The COVID-19 PPE may consists of particle masks, gloves, and sanitization solutions.

Refusal of Unsafe Work

Elm Landscaping Ltd. has the responsibility to keep workers and work sites safe, and free of hazards. This is a reminder that our Employees have the right to refuse unsafe work. The Work Refusal Process is as follows:

  • Worker considers work unsafe
  • Worker reports refusal to Health and Safety representative or employer
  • Worker Health and Safety representative, and employer investigate
  • If the issue is resolved, the Worker goes back to work
  • If the issue is not resolved, the worker or employer contact the Ministry of Labour’s Health and Safety Contact Centre at 1-877-202-0008

Communication

The COVID-19 response plan will be posted on Elm Landscaping Ltd.’s communication board.

Training

This policy will be trained during the Spring Orientation Session.
New employees will be trained during an orientation session held prior to working in the field.

Evaluation

The evaluation of this policy will be performed by senior management in cooperation with the health and safety coordinator. It will be performed on a continual basis during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Acknowledge Success / Make Improvements

The acknowledgement of success will be done once all members of the Elm Landscaping team stay completely well during the outbreak.

Improvements will be based on changes to information and protocol as set out by the government.