1.0 PURPOSE
The purpose of this program is to safeguard the health of Nitro employees during a pandemic event.
2.0 SCOPE
This policy applies to all Nitro Construction Services employees.
3.0 COMPLIANCE
N/A
4.0 DEFINITIONS
4.1 Epidemic – an outbreak of a disease that affects a population at a higher than expected rate.
4.2 Mild Disease – outbreak comparable to the seasonal (annual) flue; outpatient treatment of patients; mortality rate under 0.1%.
4.3 Moderate Severe Disease – outbreak that does not yet disrupt public life and/or economic activity but pushes the medical facilities to the brink of their capacity and/or results in a mortality rate of between 0.1% and 1%.
4.4 Pandemic – the epidemic spread of a disease across several populations, i.e., across an entire continent or the world.
4.5 Severe Disease – an outbreak that disrupts public life and/or economic activity, and/or overburdens the medical facilities and/or results in a mortality rate of >1%.
5.0 RESPONSIBILITIES
5.1 Corporate Safety Director – will serve as the Pandemic Coordinator for Nitro Construction Services Inc.
5.2 Corporate Safety Director/Site Safety Reps – as needed, make surgical masks, disposable face masks, impervious gloves, etc., available for use during severe pandemic periods to prevent co-worker infection.
5.3 Purchasing Manager – notifies key customers and vendors in the event an outbreak impacts Nitro’s ability to perform services and when operations resume. May enlist the assistance of other office personnel as needed.
5.4 Site Manager / Superintendents – implement and enforce the contents of this procedure.
5.5 All Employees – if showing symptoms that are compatible with influenza (i.e., fever, respiratory symptoms, sore throat, joint or muscle aches, weaknesses), notify your supervisor, and seek medical attention.
6.0 PROCEDURE
6.1 The Corporate Safety Director will monitor worldwide pandemic threats and will communicate with all employees as needed.
6.2 As the threat of a pandemic event increases, the Safety Department will accumulate appropriate PPE and other supplies to deal with the issue.
6.3 All employees located in the office or the field will focus on maintaining good hygiene and limiting a person to person contact.
6.4 All employees will promote safety and support employee health through the following (not all-inclusive) control measures.
6.4.1 Heightened Hygiene Practices
6.4.1.1 Wash hands often with soap and water or use hand sanitizer
6.4.1.2 Avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands
6.4.1.3 Cover your mouth when you cough and sneeze
6.4.1.4 Stay home when sick
6.4.1.5 Avoid contact with others, including skin-to-skin contact. Stay at least six feet apart.
6.4.1.6 Minimize close contact with sick persons. Early recognition of suspected cases and rapid isolation of the sick person is critical.
6.4.1.7 Clean and disinfect commonly used surfaces.
6.4.1.8 Use infection barriers (gloves, masks, disposable clothing)
6.4.2 Disinfection (See NCS Form 043 for Disinfecting Solutions)
6.4.2.1 Work area and known places where symptomatic persons have been should be cleaned and disinfected after the employee has left the area.
6.4.2.2 Frequently touched surfaces should be cleaned and disinfected at least daily. These may include but are not limited to doorknobs, water cooler taps, telephones, keyboards, keyboard mouse, etc. Other items such as magazines and newspapers should be removed from common areas.
6.4.3 Expectations for Ill Employees
6.4.3.1 Individuals who are sick with pandemic flu or other contagious illnesses should stay out of the work setting.
6.4.3.2 Individuals with symptoms may be asked to stay home until they are no longer contagious. This is referred to as “home isolation” and could be as long as 1-2 weeks after symptoms develop.
• Fever >100.4ºF
• Chills and shivering
• Muscle aches, headache
• Sore throat, dry cough
• Fatigue
6.4.3.3 If an employee feels sick at work, they are to:
• Stay at least six feet away from other personnel
• Put on a disposable mask covering the nose and mouth
• See a family doctor and discuss the symptoms to obtain further instructions
• Note: the employee’s workspace will need to be cleaned and disinfected
6.5 Employees are encouraged to obtain appropriate immunizations to help avoid disease when vaccines become available in the community.
6.6 Business Continuity
A pandemic will likely affect business due to absenteeism. Our office staff is cross-trained and can manage most local outbreaks. Our field staff is local union employees, which we can replace or substitute if necessary.
6.17 If a pandemic affects Nitro’s ability to perform services to customers, the company President, Vice Presidents, Corporate Safety Director and key staff members (i.e., project managers) shall develop a plan and path forward to ensure there is limited or no business interruptions, depending on the current projects at that time. The status of the business and employee status will be tracked as needed.
7.0 EMPLOYEE INFORMATION AND TRAINING
7.1 The employer shall ensure that employees are trained on this procedure initially and when the procedure is updated.
7.2 This plan and emergency communication strategies will be periodically reviewed and tested to ensure it is effective and workable.
7.3 As of 4/1/2020 a nationwide pandemic of COVID-19 is occurring as a result a separate supplemental plan has been written to manage this pandemic dealing specifically with social distancing requirements, PPE, disinfectant requirements, quarantine procedures relative to Cat 2, 3 countries and exposures to infected hosts, etc.
8.0 APPENDICES/TABLES
NCS Form 043 – Disinfecting Solutions
NCS Form 044 – Sample Signs Restricting Access for Symptomatic Personnel