COVID-19 Response, Planning and Preparations
COVID19: Action Plan for the Workplace course is designed to help employers and managers prepare and respond to exposure and illness caused by viruses. Organizational plans that take into account policies and procedures, human resources matters, and supply and production issues can help companies and employees prepare for responding to this pandemic.
Being prepared, yet flexible enough to adapt to an ever-changing situation is crucial for business continuity and success.
Potential Hazards
Not being prepared to respond to potential COVID-19 pandemic situations in the workplace is unacceptable in today’s world of increasing virus related risks. Not identifying business critical roles and responsibilities could have negative long term consequences. Not understanding the implications of remote workplace settings and their impact on mental wellness of your employees can increase your business exposure and risk to related incidents that you as an employer are responsible to manage.
All of these items have underlying consequences if not dealt with in an engaged and holistic manner that reflects on business continuity, transition of responsibilities, being adaptable and safeguarding your employees during this and future pandemics.
Safe Work Practices
- Anyone in a setting or working area where potential exposure to biological dangers can occur requires site specific and task specific training. For example, available now at Industrial Safety Online is our Laboratory Safety Course Click Here for more details.
- Always have an Emergency Response Plan that accompanies potential health related failures related to COVID-19 or other viruses.
- Plan your response effort and travel path to emergency services.
- List resources and major response actions related to lack of available civil service resources such as Ambulance, Fire Departments, Police Services and more.
- Plan to self-isolate and quarantine all personnel in the event of an outbreak, be sure to have Emergency Contact Numbers for all personnel and staff.
- Continuously check the integrity of communication equipment, access to backup power, clean water, heat, air conditioning, ventilation and other crucial utilities and their availability.
- All Emergency Response Kits, Medical Kits and related PPE (ie. N95 Masks, N100 Air Purifying Respirators and more must be preserved and stored to help prevent damage related to the local environment, office or work site conditions, parallel hazards, employee activities and misuse.
- Ensure training in Fire Extinguisher Safety and other potential incident responses are up-to-date because availability of traditional Emergency Services and First Responders may be limited.
- Always strive to ensure that training in Workplace Violence and Mental Health Awareness are available and key leadership are identified and trained to act as a Emergency Response Marshall.
Summary
This is not an exhaustive list of hazards and safe work practices related to the COVID-19 Pandemic and other potential bio-hazards in the workplace.
Ensuring you participate in field level validation, online courses and proper classroom training can increase your knowledge of current and new testing, response and emergency procedures available in ever increasing quantities to businesses and the public. Ensure you have an adequate Health, Safety and Environment Program that is in compliance with industry laws, codes, regulations and standards with clearly defined work instructions and best practices.
Proper planning and forethought is important to eliminate hazards and avoid incidents. Be aware of the hazards that affect you and your coworkers on each unique lift that is completed. Find out more Click Here to find out how you can keep yourself safe while working with a potential workplace virus outbreak, quarantine situation or public relations scenario.