Prepare for a winter of discontent

Discontent is going around. And just as Shakespeare wrote in Richard III, now is the winter for it.

As we enter our ninth month with the spectre of COVID-19 hanging over us, it gets easier to become lax in our prevention efforts. If the winter months do indeed bring a surge of infections, now is not the time to let down our guard.

The mantra of handwashing and sanitizing has been ingrained into our psyche, but our workspaces also need constant attention and cleaning.

“Every workplace has unique challenges and risks associated with operating during the pandemic. It’s important that workplaces have the comprehensive guidance they need to operate safely and prevent the spread of infection regardless of what stage of reopening or working they are in,” said Anne Tennier, president/CEO, Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS).

To help employers, the CCOHS has launched a new customizable tool kit resource to help owners and managers keep workspaces safe and help prevent spread of the infection. The COVID-19 tool kit of health and safety resources can be found on the CCOHS website at: www.ccohs.ca/products/publications/covid19-tool-kit.

As a business leader it’s important to know how the coronavirus spreads, what your responsibilities are, and what to do in the event of an outbreak. Social distancing, which I have been practicing since well before the pandemic hit, also must remain top of mind.

As advised by the chief medical officer and public health officials, physical distancing and regular sanitizing are required to control the spread of the coronavirus.

In a shop there are several ways to handle this:

1. Add floor markings to manage traffic flow.
2. Stagger start times and breaks.
3. Minimize the number of people using each piece of equipment.
4. Hold meetings outside or in a large space.
5. Install barriers between workers where practical.
6. Provide alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
7. Advise employees to wash their hands before and after breaks and during shift changes.
8. Clean washroom facilities more frequently.
9. Sanitize often-touched surfaces in areas such as entrances, break rooms, washrooms, and kitchens.
10. Sanitize equipment door handles, panels, controls, and other commonly touched surfaces.

It’s also a good idea to provide employees with clear instructions on the steps to take if they develop symptoms of COVID-19. Public health officials will want to perform contact tracing, so taking note of what machines are being operated and what shop areas are being used by each employee is important.

At the end of the day, it’s vital that an employer provides a safe work environment. Productivity, profitability, worker engagement, and culture all start with a safe, secure workspace.