Department / Faculty

School of Engineering / APSC

Work Unit / PI

Researchers and Technicians

Work Unit Manager

PI with support from Alec Smith

Facility Location

1137 Alumni Ave

Workspace Location

EME South Tower and Lab Wing

Proposed Re-opening Date (if applicable)

Scope and Rationale for Opening

The technical group (totalling 11 employees) will support research groups that are operating under COVID-19 exemptions.  The technical group will support research groups that have applied to resume research under the Return to Research Guidelines.  The technical group will monitor all research groups according to their posted Safe Work Plan.  The technical group will also work with TAs and professors to generate virtual undergrad lab content.

Employee Input/Involvement

Upon posting of the COVID-19 Safe Work Plan, the JOHSCs will review and may provide input or recommendations. If the development of the Unit COVID-19 Safe Work Plan has involved input by unit workers or supervisors, please describe it below.

• Technicians have provided guidance on the development of the Return to Research Plan
• Technicians have produced an overall traffic flow plan for the EME research wing

Contact Intensity (proposed COVID-19 Operations)

Describe the type of contact (close/distant) and duration of the contact (brief/prolonged) under COVID operations - where do people congregate; what job tasks require close proximity; what surfaces are touched often; what tools, machinery, and equipment do people come into contact with during work

• Where more than one student is required to perform a task, or a technician must assist a researcher in close proximity, the task will be assessed according to the risk assessment tool (elimination, engineering controls, administrative controls, PPE).

Contact Frequency (proposed COVID-19 Operations)

Describe the frequency of contacts in your proposed COVID-19 operational setting (# of people present in setting at same time) 

• Researchers that book the fume hood in EME 1207 will book the entire room
• The occupancy of EME 1207 will not exceed 3 people

Work from Home/Remote Work

Detail how/which workers can/will continue to work from home (WFH); this is required where it is feasible

• Researchers who book EME 1207 for the fume hood will not use the room to do any computer work or paperwork that can be accomplished outside of the laboratory

Health Screening & other Self-Isolation Requirements

Describe how workers will be informed of Health Screening and other Self-Isolation requirements.

• All workers must complete the required online UBCO Preventing COVID-19 Infection in the Workplace training (includes health screening information)
• Entry Check Posters are located outside each main entrance of campus buildings
• Students will self-check every day for signs and symptoms using the BC COVID-19 Self-Check.

Symptoms that Develop at Work

Describe how supervisors will ensure that workers are able to get home safely if workers develop symptoms while at work.

• Researchers commute to work in personal vehicles as well as public transit
• Researchers using public transit should wear a mask
• Workers that develop symptoms will be asked to identify themselves at the onset of any symptoms to the supervisor and return home as soon as practical
• Masks can be provided to anyone returning home with any symptoms

Physical Distancing: Process Changes

Detail what process changes you have made to ensure workers can maintain physical distance (2m) from others in the workplace.

• All researchers are to be aware of the Return to Research Guidelines
• The researchers are to be familiar with the traffic flow plan for the EME research wing
• Researchers will plan experiments in the fume hood to allow physical distancing as much as possible

Physical Distancing: Occupancy limits

Using UBC building keyplans:

1) Identify and list the rooms and pre-COVID-19 occupancy for each workspace/area)

2) Illustrate a 2 metre radius circle around each stationary workspace;

3) Identify areas where occupancy reduction is required to provide for physical distancing

• EME 1207 has a normal occupancy of 15 and will only contain 3

Physical Distancing: Circulation Routes

Using UBC COVID-19 Circulation Floor Plans:

1) Highlight Unit Managed Spaces

2) Identify routes where bi-directional circulation may result in high frequency and intensity of contact

3) Determine where one-way directional traffic flows (exit/entrance; circulation routes) are appropriate

4) Mark-up Circulation Floor Plans for use in employee training and posting at entrance to work area

• Traffic flow diagrams attached

Physical Distancing: Work Schedules

Detail how rescheduling of workers (e.g. shifted start/end times) will be applied in order to limit contact intensity by reducing the number of simultaneous workers at any given time within the work area; describe how you may group employees semi-permanently to limit exposure to specialized workers, if applicable.

• All researchers will use the SoE ticket system and Qreserve to book the fume hood in EME 1207 and will socially distance when entering and exiting the building

Gatherings

Describe any work that involves gatherings of individuals in groups and what measures will be implemented to ensure physical distancing is maintained.

• Any meetings that must take place will be scheduled in a large room capable of supporting 2m distancing
• Most meetings will continue to use zoom

Work Requirement

Identify tasks/activities/situations where work is required and physical distancing cannot be maintained.

• Some experiments in the fume hood may require two researchers.  In such cases, masks and gloves should be worn if not already prescribed by the experimental process

Partitions or Physical Barriers installation

Describe any inclusion of physical barriers to be used at public-facing or point-of-service areas

• No point of service areas
• Technicians to keep distancing from researchers

Face Coverings

Effective Wednesday, September 16, 2020, UBC students, faculty, staff, and visitors are required to wear non-medical masks, when indoors on our campuses. The requirement to wear non-medical masks indoors recognizes that transmission is reduced when face masks are worn in conjunction with physical distancing and other safety practices. See https://hse.ok.ubc.ca/covid-19-health-safety/non-medical-masks-at-ubc/ for more information on the proper use of non-medical masks.

• All occupants in the lab will abide by the UBC's requirement to wear non-medical masks in the lab.

Cleaning and Hygiene

Detail your cleaning and hygiene plan, including identification for hand-washing stations and the cleaning regimen required to be completed by departmental staff for unit-specific common areas/surfaces.

• Custodial services to continue at the direction of facilities
• The fume hood shall be wiped with an approved disinfectant prior to and after use
• A sign in sheet for the use and cleaning of the hood shall be posted on the door

Equipment Removal/Sanitation

Detail where removal of unnecessary tools/equipment will be performed or additional supplementary cleaning implemented for items that must be shared.

• All equipment that is not in custodial area will be wiped down before and after use if used by the researcher
• Technical staff will train researchers on cleaning instruments before and after use, including fume hoods
• See guidance for Working in Close spaces

Communication Strategy for Employees

Describe how your unit has or will communicate the risk of exposure to COVID-19 in the workplace to your workers and further detail how you will confirm employee orientation to your specific COVID-19 Safe Work Plan.

• The PI is responsible for outlining the expectations for all employees returning to the workplace including EME 1207
• Review this COVID-19 Safe Work Plan

Training Strategy for Employees

Detail how you will mandate, track and confirm that all employees successfully complete the Preventing COVID-19 Infection in the Workplace online training.

• Preventing COVID-19 Infection in the Workplace online training: request training record from your employees
• Sign this COVID-19 Safe Work Plan

Signage

Detail the type of signage you will utilize and how it will be placed (e.g. floor decals denoting one-way walkways and doors).

• Signage and traffic flow attached

Monitoring/Updating COVID-19 Safety Plan

Describe how you will monitor your workplace and update your plans as needed; detail how employees can raise safety concerns (e.g. via the JOHSC or Supervisor) - plan must remain valid and updated for next 12-18 months

• Researchers can raise any concerns to the School of Engineering Safety Committee

Personal Protective Equipment

Describe what PPE you will utilize and how you will/continue to procure the PPE.

• The researcher will procure and provide all PPE required to work in EME 1207
• Given distancing guidelines, PPE should not be used at higher rate than usual
• Gloves are available and are able to be ordered through our regular suppliers

Acknowledgement

Plan must demonstrate approval by Administrative Head of Unit, confirming: 1) the Safety Plan will be shared with staff and how; 2) staff will acknowledged receipt and will comply with the Safety Plan.

• All researchers are to have a valid Safe Work Plan for their research lab prior to booking the fume hood in EME 1207
• All researchers to review this COVID-19 Safe Work Plan and sign prior to returning to work

Date

October 19, 2020

Name (Manager or Supervisor)

PI / Alec Smith

Title

Researcher’s supervisor / Lab Manager

Name

Email

Confirmation of Understanding

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