Exposure Control Plan: COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus)
Health hazards of COVID-19
COVID-19 has been declared a global pandemic and a public health emergency in British Columbia. COVID-19 is a virus that can cause respiratory illness and can lead to hospitalization and death. The effects of COVID-19 are expected to be much more severe than for seasonal influenza because most people will not have any immunity to the virus. Seniors and people with underlying health issues (including heart disease, diabetes and lung disease) are at a higher risk of hospitalization and death, but young and healthy people are also at risk.
Symptoms
Symptoms of COVID-19 are likely to include fever, cough, sneezing, sore throat and difficulty breathing.
Transmission
Exposure to COVID-19 can occur by:
Breathing in droplets in the air that are generated when people cough or sneeze
Close contact with other people (e.g. shaking hands or hugging)
Touching contaminated surfaces and then touching the face, mouth, or food.
Note that touching a contaminated surface and then touching another surface may cause the virus to transfer from one surface to another.
COVID-19 can be transmitted even by people who are not displaying symptoms of the disease. People who may be infected with COVID-19 should not come to work. This includes people who:
Have symptoms of COVID-19
Have travelled outside of Canada with then previous 14 days
Have been exposed to someone with COVID-19
Share a home with someone who has symptoms of COVID-19
Share a home with someone who has been exposed to COVID-19
Statement of purpose
Our company is committed to providing a safe and healthy workplace for all of our staff. A combination of measures will be used to minimize worker exposure to COVID-19, including the most effective control technologies available. Our work procedures will protect not only our workers, but also other workers who enter our facilities. All employees must follow the procedures outlined in this plan to prevent or reduce exposure to COVID-19.