COVID - 19 safety recommendations and action points for the corporate industry

Introduction

Coronavirus is an acute respiratory disease caused by a new  Coronavirus called SARS-CoV-2, transmitted into human respiratory thorough droplets, direct contact with infected persons, and also through contaminated surfaces and objects.

Though the virus can remain intact and survive on the material surfaces for different time spans and can be transmitted through human touch to the respiratory system through Noise, Mouth, and Eyes.

To ensure the safety of staff, customers, and visitors in the corporate industry below are the important recommendations and action points proposed.

Facility* is a term used for a set of purpose full buildings includes Offices, washrooms, walkways, meeting rooms/halls, waiting for areas, and common rooms.

 Health and Safety Recommendations 

Surveillance & Awareness 

• Risk Assessment to be performed by employees via daily health screening before reporting to work by observing the following in the last 24 hours?  If anyone symptom is present; they should not come to work and refer to the health board via calling on the emergency helpline 

1. New onset of sore throat,   
2. Cough
3. Body aches

• In contact with a person having COVID-19                                                                         
• The temperature should be checked at the entrance and if it is equal to or greater than 99ºF than the individual must not be given entry
• Frequent hand hygiene to be encouraged 
• Respiratory etiquette to be observed 
• As recommended by the World Health Organization, spraying individuals /surfaces with disinfectants are not suggested under any circumstances
• Fortnight staff refresher to be organized to keep them informed about the Covid-19 situation and sensitized about the importance of safety /preventive measures
• Noncompliance to be managed effectively
• Staff observed frequently showing absence based on health screening would be recommended for a fitness test by a family medicine physician    
• Staff to ensure daily showers and personal hygiene
• Staff is advised to decrease the usage of paper. Suggestions were made to reduce paper use.  

Housekeeping & cleanliness

• All frequently touch surfaces including Tables, Chairs, Cubicles, workstations, boards, doorknobs, light switches should be cleaned and disinfected every 4 hours with 70% alcohol-based liquid or bleach solution (90% of water and 10% of bleach).
• Low touch surfaces or areas like floors, walls, ceilings, blinds, etc. should be cleaned and disinfected daily
• Carpet needs to be washed monthly or preferably twice a month with proper shampooing.
• The workstation needs to be cleaned every 4 hours along with the telephone sets, keyboard, mouse, stationery, tissue box, remote control, or any material which is used by the staff.
• Markers and dusters near the whiteboard need to clean every 4 hours
• Paddle operated closed dustbin is suggested with room wise dusters
• All unused things need to pack in the cartoon or box.
• The conference room should be a paperless environment and also cleaned at all times.
• Washrooms need to be cleaned every 2 hours. Checklist/log sheet should be maintained to monitors the cleanliness of washrooms
• The plastic sheet should be removed from the dining table
• 70% Alcohol-based wipes can be used to clean and disinfect  surfaces  where the use of bleach is not suitable

Others Recommendations

• Every entrant must sanitize hand before entering the office
• Ventilation is required in all the rooms. Open doors and windows to expose offices to natural light and air once in a day.  A/C filters need to be cleaned frequently.
• Sanitizer composition should not be less than 60% to 70 % alcohol. Refilling of the purl bag is not recommended.
• Surgical Mask (3ply) must be used before entering the office and wearing it at all times is mandatory. Surgical mask certification needs to be checked (EN-14683) from vendor
• Social distancing must be maintained at all times in all rooms along with board rooms (minimum 2 meters / 6 feet) distance should be maintained. Take the extra chairs out or mark X to maintain social distancing.
• Front desk (reception) staff is recommended to wear a face shield.
• The sanitizer bracket needs to be fixed outside the finance department near the fingerprint machine.
• Photocopy machines should be used by 2 deployed persons.
• The kitchen staff needs to wear masks and hand gloves while making or serving tea, coffee, or snacks.
• Disposable utensils, plates, glasses, water bottles must be used in kitchen and dining areas. Particularly for water bottles, staff should be advised to bring their own water bottles (self-water bottles)

Action Plan

How to ensure staff health surveillance?

1. Nominate staff health Surveillance checker at the security desk at the entry point for one month (Record staff health status that includes COIVD- 19 Symptoms)
2. Introduce What's App Group for all staff where they update their health status in the morning (except for support staff their supervisors will do the same)
3. Introduce departmental level whats App group where the department can nominate one person to share the health status of staff of the respective department 
4. Reinforce COVID - 19 Safety SoP for Access point and ensure all entrains must go through;  (a) Facemask (3ply)  (b) Temperature check (c) Hand Sanitization
5. Prepare and communicate COVID -19 emergency response plan to handle any COVID -19 emergency situation at the entry point
6.  Allocate a separate space for staff who found with any COVID - 19 symptoms (Facilities: Wel ventilated room, Telephone set, and comfortable seating)

How to manage COVID - 19 Safety non-compliance?

1. Establish a clear chain of command and communication to report all non-compliance
2. Constitute COVID safety Committee where all report non-compliances are review and respond
3. Nominate monitors to ensure all staff follow COVID - 19 Safety SoPs within the office (Also define their reporting mechanism and frequency)

How to maintain the workstation clean?

1. Prepare instructions/guidelines for staff on "How to clean workstation" 
2. Provision of Alcohol-based swapes to staff (Alcohol spray can be dangerous due to lower flash point)
3. Workstation cleanliness checking mechanism

How to maintain physical distancing?

1. Floor Making in all public areas (Reception, entry gate, waiting room, canteen)
2. Keep only one chair in from workstation for visitors
3. Relocate staff where the distance between staff is less than 2 meters
4. Mark cross on the conference/meeting table to ensure physical distancing between attendees
5. Display physical distancing signs at common workplaces and meeting rooms

How to protect frontline workers?

1.  The face shield will be provided to all staff who directly expose to the public and staff includes; 1. Security Guard who operate Gate & check temperature 2. Front desk Staff 
2. Emergency response team (prepare COVID-19 Emergency kit (Facemasks (05), Gloves (05 Pairs), Faceshield or Safety Goggles(05))

COVID – 19 Safety Guidelines for Cashier/Cash Handler & Cash Receiver

These guidelines are proposed to avoid the spread of COVID -19 between below;

1. Surface or environment to casher/cash handler 
2. Casher/Cash handler to surface or environment
3. Casher/cash handler to cash receiver/staff
4. Cash receiver / Staff to casher/Cash Handler

General Guidelines

• All staff (Casher, Staff, Support staff) involve in the cash distribution activity must wear Facemask (3ply) during the whole activity 
• Ensure the mask is well fitted to the face and there should be no gap in between
• Don’t touch face while handling cash 
• Don’t remove facemask in the room where cash handling activity has done
• Dispose-off or wash mask after removal and put in the close led dustbin
• Sanitize your hand with 70% alcohol-based hand sanitizer after entertaining each staff 
• Wash your hands after entertain 20 staff and take 10 minutes breaks to ventilate the room properly
• Maintain Physical distance of 6 feet (2M) between the cashier and cash receiver
• Use fingertip moistener as when need during cash counting (Don’t share fingertip moistener with staff/cash receiver)
• Nobody is allowed to spend  extra time in the cash dealing room and request staff to leave the room very after to receive cash
• Drinking, each and use of the mobile phone is prohibited in the cash dealing room
• Don’t entertain staff who came to the cash dealing room without a facemask and report to the safety officer 
• Other Guidelines

Some specific guidelines are as under;

• Time table must be established and communicate with each staff for their time slot
• The cash voucher signing procedure should be replaced with digital acknowledgment 

1. E-mail
2. SMS or WhatsApp message
3. Voice Call

•  The cash handling room must be well ventilated and windows must be open to ensure fresh air exchange
• Cash must be given in envelops
• Cash must be counted and kept to complete its delay time (at least 24 Hrs.)

COVID – 19 Daily Report Sample

Daily Health and Safety Compliance Report |COVID -19|

Date: July 30, 2020 

Report No: 01

Facility Name: Threshold Concept

SUMMARY

The staff is found vigilant and cautious about their health and safety and they are following SoP includes maintaining physical distancing, wear a face mask, and hand sanitization at the entry point. However, some staff and visitors need more awareness and sensitization on the importance of health and safety specifically in the COVID – 19 contexts.

Furthermore, with daily and regress supervision and surveillance of the departments we can get 100% compliance of COVID – 19 Health and safety SoP.

OBSERVATIONS

Observations are based on physical visits, staff feedback, and CCTV Surveillance.

All staff and visitors are fully screened at the entrance gate by security guards and ensure compliance of temperature check, facemask, and hand sanitization on the entry desk (All person’s details are logged).

All support staff working with facemask as per SoP

AC vendor is found wearing a mask but his nose is uncovered 

CORRECTIVE MEASURES

• On-site briefing to staff and visitors/vendor who are found noncompliance COVID – 19 Health and safety SoP
• Arrangements of Chair and table (One share one Table Setup) at the social area to ensure physical distancing 
• Pasting of COVID – 19 Safety Signs