he City is doing its part to keep our facilities safe, and our employees will follow enhanced safety procedures:
Active Screening
Prior to each working shift and before arriving at the workplace, employees are required to fill out a Daily Active Screening check via an online application or a phone line. If they report any symptoms, they are asked not to report to work or enter the building. Their leader is automatically informed in real-time and the employee is asked to contact their health care provider or public health for advice and direction.
Face Coverings and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Three cloth face coverings are provided to each employee by their leader to be used in indoor public spaces that are openly accessible by the public; and in workplaces when physical distancing (2m) cannot be maintained, unless a physical barrier is present.
Where a face covering is required by the by-law:
Indoor workspaces accessible to the public, including:
• Hallways/aisleways
• Cashier area/queues
• Service desks/counters
• Publicly accessible washrooms
• Public Transit: buses and terminals
• Indoor parking garages
• Indoor dining area when not eating or drinking
• Kitchen/kitchenettes
• Board rooms/meeting rooms
• Elevators
Where a face covering is not required by the by-law:
• Outdoor areas open to the public
• Outdoor dining area
• Line-ups to enter building
• Shipping / receiving area not open to the public
• Staff lounge
• Stock / storage room
• Workshop / service area
• Administrative offices, service areas or other areas not open to the public
• Private office
Public Facing Counter Barriers
Public facing service delivery counters have acrylic separation barriers installed to ensure there is separation between the employee and the customers. Based on the office layout and hazard assessment, barriers may be installed in specific department workspaces as well (e.g. between workstations), after all other physical distancing strategies have been explored.
Sanitizing
Hand sanitizing stations are available throughout facilities, including at entrances, lobbies, exterior washroom areas, elevator lobbies, boardrooms, lunchrooms and kitchenettes. Hand sanitizer has a minimum 60% alcohol based formulation that is proven to kill 99.9 % of germs and is fragrance free. City vehicle operators are provided with hand sanitizers/wipes for personal use.
Cleaning and Disinfecting
Departments responsible for building operations and maintenance have established standard cleaning and disinfecting procedures to perform regular cleaning and disinfecting to reduce the risk of potential exposure to COVID-19:
- High frequency touch points in common areas (e.g. doorknobs, handrails, elevator buttons, washrooms, lunchrooms, boardrooms) are cleaned and disinfected minimally once a day. Employees responsible for cleaning and disinfecting have been trained on procedures using sanitizing wipes and disinfectant sprays.
- Fleet vehicles, including Transit buses, Fire apparatus, Enforcement vehicles and Maintenance and Operations vehicles are also cleaned with increased frequency based on operational needs.
- Vehicle operators have been trained and provided with adequate supplies to clean and disinfect their vehicles and minimizing driver change-outs. Staff have been provided with extensive/additional cleaning checklists to ensure vehicles are cleaned and disinfected.
- Mild disinfectant Lysol wipes may be used for cleaning equipment such as Laptops, Keyboards, Mouse and Cellphones, as long as the wipe has been wrung out of all excess moisture and a dry clean cloth is used after the wipe to remove any excess moisture.
Signage
Signageis available throughout the facilities. The signage raises awareness and reminds employees of the potential risks of exposure to COVID-19 and the measures that are necessary to stop its spread, such as signs and symptoms of COVID-19, personal hygiene practices, physical distancing, and how to self-screen.
Signs, posters, floor markings, or other visual cues are used to promote control measures (e.g. decals or coloured tape on the floor, placed 2m apart, to indicate where to stand when physical barriers are not possible), where needed. Signage is posted at but not limited to entry/exits, lobbies and common areas, boardrooms, enclaves, lunchrooms/kitchenette, washrooms, elevators and customer service counters.
Capacity Control
To limit building occupancy numbers to a maximum of 25%, staff that can work remotely have been encouraged to do so since the pandemic. Other than essential services staff and those required to operate public-facing duties, the remaining employees continue to work remotely. Even when more facilities reopen, staff returning to work after Labour Day, not exceed 25% of each area’s workforce. This may be increased to allow a 50% capacity in November. All indoor public spaces will have limited occupancy in order to physically distance and abide by public health guidance.
Online Offerings
Public feedback(External link) from the Reopening and Recovery Survey favoured the availability of online and over the phone services where possible. Several new tools and processes have been introduced to help make it easier for our community to access City programs. Learn more.(External link)
Shared Workspaces and Meetings
Employees are discouraged from using each other’s workstations, keyboards, phones, offices, or other work tools and equipment, when possible. Where workstations and work tools and equipment are shared (e.g. customer service counters, cash registers) – they are expected to clean and disinfect them with supplies provided before and after use.
Employees are encouraged to continue with virtual meetings. If an in-person meeting is necessary, it must only take place in a workspace where all participants can maintain physical distancing (2m) at all times. Boardroom capacity has been reduced to assist in this regard.
