Staying safe while going back to work during COVID-19

All workplaces are different, but some precautions are universal, writes Vaughan fire Chief Deryn Rizzi

Yorkregion.com
June 11, 2020
Chief Deryn Rizzi

Throughout Vaughan, some businesses have started to reopen their doors and employees are gradually returning to work. While we proceed, we must continue to be vigilant. Each of us, whether an employer or an employee, has a part to play in ensuring safety while at work and in our community.

Vaughan Fire and Rescue Service (VFRS) has continued to serve our community around the clock. Like other first responders, firefighters are at a higher risk of exposure to COVID-19 through our job -- our work frequently requires us to be in close quarters with colleagues and the people we help during emergencies.

As an employer, VFRS is taking the necessary steps to protect our staff. Some of the precautions we are taking are specific to our jobs, such as modifying protocols for on-scene patient care, dispatch questioning, contact-trace logs and implementing exposure protocols.

We have adjusted the way we decontaminate our fire trucks, gear and personal protective equipment (PPE). These steps not only help to protect staff from COVID-19, but they also help to prevent its further spread to the people we serve in our community.

While certain workplaces may require protocols that are specific to their situation, some precautions are universal. They include:

• Practise physical distancing and ask staff and clients to stay at least two metres (six feet) apart and limit the number of people allowed in a room at the same time. If you cannot keep staff and customers two metres apart, encourage them to wear a two-layer, non-medical mask or face covering.

• Encourage staff and clients to practise good hand hygiene and sneezing and coughing etiquette. Provide alcohol-based hand sanitizer stations as well as tissues and lined waste bins for their disposal.

• Frequently clean and disinfect common areas and high-touch surfaces.

• Encourage staff to stay home if they are sick.

• Post simple signage to clearly communicate the safety precautions and physical distancing measures that are in place.

Although these steps are simple, it is easy to become complacent as we become accustomed to the new routines created in response to COVID-19. While it is true that employers have a legal requirement to provide a safe working environment, employees also have a responsibility to do their part in ensuring they follow the necessary precautions as outlined by York Region Public Health and the province, particularly when interacting with others.

Up until recently, we have mostly focused on how to protect ourselves and our families against COVID-19 while at home, when going out to get essentials or if we need to travel by public transit. As we look at returning to work, we also need to remember to think about how we protect ourselves and each other when carpooling to and from work.

Whether you are a driver or passenger, many of the steps you are already taking can be applied to help you stay safe during your commute:

• Wash or sanitize your hands before getting into the vehicle and after exiting.

• Limit the number of people in the vehicle and wear a mask or face protection.

• Open the windows to improve air circulation.

• Practise sneezing and coughing etiquette.

• Increase the cleaning and disinfection of high-touch surfaces.

To help businesses and their employees navigate the process of reopening and returning to work, York Region has developed an online tool kit that includes public health resources and guidance that can be found on york.ca/COVID19 in the Re-opening and Resuming Business during COVID-19 section. Within the tool kit, you will also find links to sector-specific COVID-19 workplace guidelines from the Government of Ontario along with other resources.

Finally, it’s also important to stay informed. As the City of Vaughan continues to respond to COVID-19, making citizens aware of the latest developments and precautionary measures is a top priority. To receive the most recent updates and news as they happen, sign up for the City Update eNewsletter at vaughan.ca/CityUpdate or visit vaughan.ca/COVID19.