COVID Updates

COVID-19 Exposure Prevention and Control Policy                                                                                                   

April 7, 2020

In keeping with our policy to provide a Safe and Healthy Workplace which includes the Physical, Psychological and Social Well Being of all our employees, business partners and all worksite parties the following guidelines apply for the Exposure Prevention and Control of spreading the Flu or COVID-19 Virus.

If you are not feeling well, and have or are showing symptoms of a Flu or COVID – 19

• contact your supervisor
• do not come to work, you will be required to stay home and self-isolate for the 14-day period (the incubation period of Coronavirus based on current information)
• do not go to an ER or clinic
• take the COVID-19 self-assessment test
• contact your medical provider/ healthcare professional or call Health Link 811
• For additional COVID-19 information for Albertans go to the following GoA Web Page https://www.alberta.ca/coronavirus-info-for-albertans.aspx

If you require an extended leave of absence due the Flu or COVID-19

• all employees will be entitled to 14 days of unpaid leave if they are required to be “quarantined” due to COVID-19 (this extends the previous requirement of a 5-day unpaid leave of absence for personal health or family responsibility reasons
• employees are considered to be “quarantined” if they are in any self-isolation or self-quarantine as a result of COVID-19, as may be recommended or directed by the Chief Medical Officer of Alberta
• employees that are required to self-isolate or self-quarantine due to COVID-19 do not have to provide a doctor’s note to support their absence from work
• employees are not required to provide their employer with written notice of the date they intend to return to work
• Ferguson will issue a ROE indicating a lay off due to illness entitling persons to immediate EI Benefits

Return to Work Protocol

1. If you were off for a few days (2 or 3) due to a common cold and once feeling better you will have to make arrangements to come in and see Lisa Siborne (SR. Office Manager) to complete a the “Health Risk Assessment Questionnaire” and the “Request to Return to Work Risk Assessment Form” 
   1. following the assessment if you are considered to be “no risk” you can return to work on the date specified on the form
   2. if Lisa is unavailable to personally conduct the assessment he will delegate it to the appropriate person i.e.; Department Manager or NCSO
   3. if not completed by Jeff all completed forms must be submitted to Jeff for review and final sign off

Isolation following a return trip from outside of Canada

If you have not had symptoms of fever, cough and/or breathing difficulties during your 14 min. day isolation period you may return to work

1. Once you have completed the 14-day isolation period and have remained symptom free you will be required to complete a the “Health Risk Assessment Questionnaire” and the “Request to Return to Work Risk Assessment Form”

1. If you experienced any of the symptoms (fever, cough and/or breathing difficulties) during your isolation period, and were not hospitalized for this problem, before returning to work you must:
   1. no longer have a fever for at least 48 hours (without taking medication to lower body temperature);
   2. no longer have acute symptoms for at least 24 hours (excluding residual cough that may persist); and
   3. wait a minimum period of 14 calendar days from the date of your first symptoms
   4. and item 2 as specified above must be completed

1. If you experienced any of the symptoms (fever, cough and/or difficulty breathing) during your period of isolation, and had to be hospitalized for a probable or confirmed infection with COVID-19, you must follow a, b and c in item 3, and should before requesting a return to work:

1. have obtained two negative tests for COVID-19 on two respiratory samples taken 24 hours apart, if public health has deemed these tests necessary
2. a medical note will be required to authorize the return to work
3. and item 2 as specified above must be completed

Isolation following the onset of any of the following symptoms: fever, cough, difficulty breathing

Item 3 and 4 as specified above apply

Isolation of a person who has been in close contact * with another person who has returned from traveling outside the country since March 12 and who had symptoms of fever, cough and/or breathing difficulties

1. Anyone who had to go into isolation for these reasons can return to work after:
   1. having received a COVID-19 negative test confirmation from the person returning from the trip and who had symptoms of fever, cough and/or breathing difficulties
   2. and item 2 as specified above must be completed

Isolation of a person who had close contact * with a person confirmed with COVID- 19

Anyone who has had to go into isolation for this reason, but has not experienced any symptoms of fever, cough and/or breathing difficulties, must, before returning to work:

1. 1. make sure to respect the public health instructions which will determine the need for a COVID-19 screening test, or which will state the duration of the possible contagion.
   2. you must provide medical confirmation by a doctor who authorizes the return to work
   3. and item 2 as specified above must be completed

Completing the “Health Risk Assessment Questionnaire” and the “Request to Return to Work Risk Assessment Form”

1. Lisa will complete a “Post Illness Return to Work Risk Assessment Form” with you to determine if you are fit to return to work
   1. following the assessment if you are considered to be “no risk” you will be required to stay home for an additional 2 days min. (48 hours) as a precaution. The official return to work date will be indicated on the form
   2. if Lisa is unavailable to personally conduct the assessment he will delegate it to the appropriate person i.e.; Department Manager or NCSO
   3. if not completed by Jeff all completed forms must be submitted to Jeff for review and final sign off
2. employees will be provided a copy for their own records
   1. Employer and employee signatures are required
3. you will be required to provide a signed copy to your supervisor either in advance of returning or on the date of return before you will be allowed to start work
4. all forms completed are subject to the privacy act and must only be shared or distributed to those “who need to know”