SpaceFitters ‘Return To Work Protocols’ Covid 2019
Please know that, as a company, we have been taking the threat of coronavirus disease [Covid 19] seriously and have proactively taken steps to minimize our risks. Based on the guidance provided to businesses from The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, we have implemented the following:
We are actively monitoring and following the guidelines promulgated by the State of Connecticut:
The governor has signed an executive order regarding face masks – The order states that cloth face masks or higher protection is required by any person in a public place unable to or does not maintain social distancing of 6FT. This also includes anytime our employees are ride sharing – all of our employees riding in a SpaceFitters vehicle must be wearing a mask. We require all of our employees to wear masks while on jobsites. We have an on staff seamstress who is working to ensure every employee has a face mask. We have also made disposable face masks to be available for our employees. We provide gloves and require our employees to wear them at all times.
We are actively encouraging sick employees to stay home:
Employees who have symptoms of acute respiratory illness are recommended to stay home and not come to work until they are free of fever (100.4° F [37.8° C] or greater using an oral thermometer), signs of a fever, and any other symptoms for at least 24 hours, without the use of fever-reducing or other symptom-altering medicines (e.g. cough suppressants). Employees should notify their supervisor and stay home if they are sick.
We have enacted sick leave policies that are flexible and consistent with public health guidance and that employees are aware of these policies.
We are actively talking with our partners and subcontractors that provide our business with contract or temporary employees about the importance of sick employees staying home and encouraging them to develop non-punitive leave policies.
We do not require a healthcare provider’s note for employees who are sick with acute respiratory illness to validate their illness or to return to work, as healthcare provider offices and medical facilities may be extremely busy and not able to provide such documentation in a timely way.
We maintain flexible policies that permit employees to stay home to care for a sick family member. We are aware that more employees may need to stay at home to care for sick children or other sick family members than is usual.
We are prepared to separate sick employees:
We separate employees who appear to have acute respiratory illness symptoms (i.e. cough, shortness of breath) upon arrival to work or become sick during the day and send them home immediately. We instruct sick employees to cover their noses and mouths with a tissue when coughing or sneezing (or an elbow or shoulder if no tissue is available).
We emphasize staying home when sick, respiratory etiquette and hand hygiene by all employees:
We encourage staying home when sick, cough and sneeze etiquette, and hand hygiene in our workplace.
We provide tissues and no-touch disposal receptacles for use by employees.
We instruct employees to clean their hands often with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60-95% alcohol, or wash their hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Soap and water should be used preferentially if hands are visibly dirty.
Provide soap and water and alcohol-based hand rubs in the workplace. Ensure that adequate supplies are maintained. Place hand rubs in multiple locations or in conference rooms to encourage hand hygiene.
We perform routine environmental cleaning:
We routinely clean all frequently touched surfaces in the workplace, such as workstations, countertops, and doorknobs. Use the cleaning agents that are usually used in these areas and follow the directions on the label.
We advise employees before traveling to take certain steps:
While we do not have employees who frequently travel, we do recommend that our employees check the CDC’s Traveler’s Health Notices for the latest guidance and recommendations for each country to which they may travel.
We advise employees to check themselves for symptoms of acute respiratory illness before starting travel and notify their supervisor and stay home if they are sick.
We ensure employees who become sick while traveling or on temporary assignment understand that they should notify their supervisor and should promptly call a healthcare provider for advice if needed.
We take additional Measures in Response to Currently Occurring Sporadic Importations of the COVID-19:
We encourage employees who are well but who have a sick family member at home to notify their supervisor and refer to CDC guidance for how to conduct a risk assessment of their potential exposure.
If an employee is confirmed to have COVID-19, we would inform fellow employees of their possible exposure to COVID-19 in the workplace but maintain confidentiality as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).