White Rock COVID-19 Safety Plan-1

Orders from the Provincial Health Officer (PHO) or a Medical Health Officer (MHO) take precedence over this policy.

All employers in British Columbia have an obligation under the Workers Compensation Act to ensure the health and safety of workers and others at their workplace and to implement polices and procedures to protect workers from the risk of exposure to COVID-19.

At West Coast Seniors Housing Management we have developed a COVID-19 Safety Plan (Safety Plan) mandated by the order of the Provincial Health Officer. This plan outlines the policies, guidelines, and procedures put in place to eliminate, and where elimination is not possible, to reduce, the risk of COVID-19 exposure to West Coast Seniors Housing Management workers, contractors, volunteers, residents, and visitors.

This Safety Plan addresses current operating status of White Rock Seniors Village. As services are gradually  increased within the care home, this plan will be  updated.

As a part of assessing the risk of transmission of COVID-19 in the workplace, the following groups and information sources  were consulted:

• White Rock Seniors Village staff, including front line workers, supervisors, and managers .
• Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committee (JOHSC).
• West Coast Seniors Housing Management ERT team.

The following documentation was used to assist in developing West Coast Seniors Housing Management COVID-19 Safety Plan:

• information about COVID-19 (BCCDC)
• SafeCare BC’s COVID-19 Safety Inspection Tool
• SafeCare BC’s Hierarchy of Control for Long-Term Care
• British Columbia Center for Disease Control
• WorkSafeBC
• Orders, guidance, and notices issued by the provincial health officer relevant to long term care.
• Infection prevention and control interim guidance for long-term care and assisted living facilities (BCCDC)
• Overview of Visitors in Long-Term Care and Seniors’ Assisted Living (BCCDC)
• West Coast Seniors Housing Management Exposure Control Plan
• West Coast Seniors Housing Management COVID-19 and Outbreak Management Prevention Audit Tool

This plan applies to all workers, including management, supervisors, front line workers, volunteers, and visitors to West Coast Seniors Housing Management

Current Control Measures in place at White  Rock Seniors  Village

Workers  (including Contractors & Volunteers)

• White Rock Seniors Village is limited as per the direction of the Provincial Health Officer (PHO), which limits workers from working at more than one Long Term Care Home (Facility Staff Assignment Order – Dated April 1                  5th, 2020)
• Workers are encouraged to use the BCCDC Health-Care Worker Self- Check and Safety Checklist before each shift and are instructed not to come to work ifthey are experiencing or have COVID-19 like symptoms .
• Workers with signs or symptoms of illness, as well as those in self-isolation or quarantine in accordance with public health directives, are not permitted to enter the care home.
• Signage is posted at points of entry indicating people are not to enter ifthey are sick or ifthey are required to self-isolate in accordance with Public Health directives .
• Entry points to the care home have been limited, and are actively screened seven days a week, 24 hours/day.
• Protections for screeners have been put in place (i.e.,maintaining 2-meter distance, transparent barriers).
• A list of all workers and visitors is maintained seven days a week, 24 hours/day .
• Procedures are in place for workers to follow should they develop symptoms consistent with COVID-19 while at work or after work .
• All workers are actively screened for signs and symptoms of illness, including COVID-19 prior to every shift. Screening results are documented.
• Vaccination requirements for all staff are in place as per Provincial Health Officer order(s)
• Rapid Point of Care Testing procedure in place at White Rock Seniors Village follows current guidance from the provincial health office.
• Workers who are working alone are required to follow White Rock Seniors Village Working Alone Policy.
• Workers have received training and strategies to address the risk of violence that may arise and follow White Rock Seniors Village violence prevention program.
• Workers are aware of how to report hazards in the workplace .
• Workers have received refresher training on infection control practices.
• Workers are required to wear dedicated work clothing during their shift. After their shift, they change into street clothes/shoes and place work clothes in a bag to be laundered.
• Supervisors have been trained on how to support workers in following the policies/procedures and know how to monitor/respond to identified hazards.
• All training has been documented and can be provided upon request.

I Additional  Information:

Visitors

• Virtual visitation is strongly encouraged and is supported where in-person visitation is not possible.
• A written plan detailing practice requirements for essential and family/social visits has been developed according to BCCDC Guidelines.
• Social visiting guidelines signage is posted at all points of entry to the care home.
• Family/social visits will only be allowed if there is no active COVID-19 outbreak in the care home.
• Visitors with signs or symptoms of illness, as well as those in self-isolation or quarantine in accordance with public health directives, are not permitted to visit .
• Family/social visits will be scheduled in advance between the visitor and the care home if required.
• All visitors are actively screened for signs and symptoms of illness, including COVID-19 prior to every visit. Visitors with symptoms identified via screening do NOT enter the care home.
• Visitors to the home must provide proof they are fully vaccinated with two doses of COVID-19 vaccine (excluding children under 12 years or those with an approved medical exemption) .
• Visitors who are 12 years of age or older must complete rapid point-of-care testing at the entrance to the care home.
• Visitors must sign in when entering the care home, and a visitor list with contact information is maintained.
• Visitors are instructed to adhere to infection prevention and control guidance regarding safe visitation practices such as hand hygiene, respiratory etiquette and maintaining their physical distance from other visitors and staff.
• Visitors must wear a medical mask in hallways, common areas and multiple occupancy rooms.
• Visitors are instructed on how to put on and remove any required PPE when visiting or caring for residents on droplet and contact precautions. Ifthe visitor is unable to adhere to appropriate precautions, the visitor shall be excluded from visiting.
• Visitors shall be given guidance on limiting circulation/movement throughout the care home while visiting.

Residents

• Residents who leave the care home are encouraged to follow appropriate public health guidelines and infection prevention measures while off site. Residents are screened upon return to the care home.
• Vaccination status will be determined for all new residents moving into White Rock Seniors Village Unvaccinated individuals are required to undergo a 14-day isolation upon arrival. Procedures are in place to isolate new residents who show symptoms of COVID-19, have been directed to self-isolate by public health, or are under order to quarantine after travel outside of  Canada.
• Residents are screened  and assessed for symptoms  on an ongoing  basis as directed by the  BCCDC.
• Procedures are in place if a resident is suspected of having COVID-19.

Additional Information:

Hand Hygiene

Hand hygiene practices are followed as outlined by BCCDC Guidelines

• Hand hygiene audit tool is performed as outlined within Infection Prevention Control Audit Frequency on staff, contracted staff and/or volunteers to ensure understanding and compliance with hand hygiene
• Signs and posters are posted throughout the care home to promote and guide proper hand washing by workers, visitors, and  residents.
• Alcohol based hand rub (ABHR) with at least 70% alcohol content is available at all entry and exit points, common areas, resident areas, and point-of-care in residents’ rooms.
• Workers must practice diligent hand hygiene before, after and during each episode or provision of care – cleaning their hands with soap and water or ABHR .
• Sinks are well stocked with plain soap and paper towels for hand washing .
• Supplies such as disinfecting wipes, tissues and waste receptacles are available as required at point­ of-use.

Respiratory Hygiene

• Signs and posters are posted throughout the care home to encourage and guide workers, residents, and visitors on proper respiratory hygiene .
• An adequate supply of tissues and lidded, non-touch waste baskets are available for use by workers, residents, and visitors .
• Workers are aware and are instructed on the importance of diligent respiratory etiquette. This includes covering coughs and sneezes ,avoiding touching the face, mouth, nose, eyes, and mask.

Workplace Arrangements

• Hand hygiene stations are available and easily accessible at points of entry/exit to the care home.
• Signs are posted to promote and encourage safe physical distancing by workers and visitors .
• Work areas including the following have been assessed for occupancy limits and arranged (where feasible) to maintain physical distancing:

• Virtual meeting tools and/or phone calls in lieu of in-person meetings or training sessions are held whenever possible. All required control measures, such as physical distancing, must be in place if communication or training takes place in person.
• Workers will maintain physical distancing measures when entering/exiting the workplace, while travelling through corridors and accessing common areas.
• Work tasks have been postponed, re-arranged, or planned in such a way that workers are not required to work in proximity to one another .
• Where 2 meters cannot be maintained between workers, the work task is planned and instructions to workers are provided to ensure that time spent in close proximity is minimized.
• Wherever possible, work processes within the organization are re-organized to designate teams of workers to specific units or cohorts of residents. If dedicated teams or workers for areas housing residents who are ill are not an option, workers must first work with asymptomatic residents before moving on to work with residents who are on droplet and contact precautions .
• Building ventilation systems are properly maintained.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

• Workers are trained on the proper use, care, maintenance, and disposal of personal protective equipment (PPE). This includes donning (putting on) and doffing (removing) PPE Airborne Precaution and  doffing (removing) PPE (droplet  precaution).
• White Rock Seniors Village has trained, tested, and monitored worker compliance to ensure vigilant donning, wearing, and doffing of PPE.
• Signs are posted throughout the care home indicating PPE requirements, and White Rock Seniors Village follows guidelines for PPE use as set out by the BCCDC.
• During the COVID-19 pandemic, all persons working in White Rock Seniors Village wear a medical mask and any other PPE as directed for the full duration of their  shift.
• Workers always follow droplet and contact precautions when entering COVID-19 units or rooms on droplet and contact precautions (i.e.,rooms where residents diagnosed with confirmed or suspected COVID-19)

Cleaning and Disinfection

• Cleaning products and disinfectants used at White Rock Seniors Village are effective against COVID-19. Disinfectants are classed as hospital grade and registered in Canada with a Drug Identification Number (DIN). Manufacturer’s instructions for dilution, contact times, safe use and material compatibility  of all cleaning  products is followed .
• Workers responsible for cleaning resident care equipment have been informed and are trained in and aware of their duties. This training has been documented .
• Equipment and supplies are dedicated to a single resident where possible. Ifthis is not possible, all reusable equipment that is shared between clients must be cleaned and disinfected with a hospital grade disinfectant first.

• All shared equipment (phones, tablets, computers, printers etc.) are cleaned and disinfected regularly .
• Any furniture and surfaces in communal visiting areas will be sanitized as per the BCCDC guidelines at the end of each visit.

Environmental  Cleaning

• White Rock Seniors Village Exposure Control Plan, includes Cleaning and Disinfection process (pg21) and COVID-19 Environmental Cleaning Poster (Appendix F) have been developed that outlines the procedure for enhanced daily cleaning throughout the care home as well as high touch surfaces in nursing areas, staff room, common areas, hallways, resident rooms, bathrooms and other applicable areas. Environmental cleaning guidelines from the BCCDC are followed .
• Cleaning staff are dedicated to specific units or areas where possible. If not possible, cleaning staff should provide service to non-COVID-19 rooms/units first. Rooms on droplet and contact precautions, COVID-19 suspected or COVID-19 positive rooms to be cleaned last.

Expansion of Services

• Any modifications made to the current method of service delivery/work operations will be made in full consultation with those potentially affected by those changes, as well as the latest direction from the PHO, MHO, BCCDC and WorkSafeBC.
• Prior to any modifications being made, workers will be notified of the updated safety controls being implemented, including any new safe work procedures. These changes will be posted on the JHSC Board.

White Rock Seniors Village has reviewed our existing risk assessments for the jobs and areas affected in the workplace. We have considered the effects of control measures discussed in this COVID-19 Safety Plan on existing safeguards and controls and revised our risk assessments and other documentation accordingly

A copy of White Rock Seniors Village COVI0-19 Safety Plan has been posted at JHSC Board as required by the order of the Provincial Health Officer