Rudy Penner - Director, Risk Management
Provincial governments continue to adjust restrictions on business operations as the COVID-19 pandemic evolves. For many, this may mean continued closures, however if your business is considered an essential service there are steps you can take to improve safety while in operation.
Perform Routine Cleaning
Routinely clean and disinfect all frequently touched surfaces in the workplace, such as workstations, countertops, and doorknobs. The Government of Canada has published a list of hard-surface disinfectants that are effective against COVID-19. It is best to provide employees with disposable wipes so that commonly used surfaces can be wiped down before each use. Professional cleaners should be brought in to do a deep clean of the complete premises on a regular basis.
Post Information on Good Hygiene
Remind employees that the best way to prevent the spread of the illness is to regularly wash their hands and avoid touching their mouth, eyes or nose. Signs should be posted around the workplace to advise employees to wash their hands for 20 seconds with soap and water, or alcohol-based hand sanitizer. These signs should be in all washrooms as well as in any lunchroom. Cleaning should also take happen on all fridges, dishwashers, and microwaves if so equipped.
Implement Physical Distancing Practices
Physical distancing continues to be one of the most important tools to help slow the spread of COVID-19. Consider ways that employees could practice physical distancing within your workplace, such as increasing distance between desks and workstations. If your workplace is open to the public at this time, consider minimizing interactions between clients and your employees. This can be done by limiting the number of customers permitted in your establishment or serving customers over the phone if possible.
Implement COVID-19 Policies
Communication with your staff is essential during this time to ensure that staff know what to do if they believe they have been exposed to COVID-19. If possible you should implement the following policies, as recommended by the Government of Canada:
- Non-essential business travel should not occur at this time
- When returning from any travel staff should be encouraged to self-isolate for 14 days.
- encourage employees to stay home if they are sick or have been exposed to someone who is sick
Visit the Government of Canada’s COVID-19 Resource Centre for more information and regular updates on the virus’s spread within Canada.
