The COVID-19 crisis has had a huge impact on business operations worldwide. While many companies have been forced to close their doors until the spread of the virus has been contained, Giroux Glass, along with other construction-related enterprises, is considered an “essential business” according to the criteria established in California, Arizona and Nevada. As such, we’ve been able to continue to operate across all locations, provided we comply with the guidelines set forth by the CDC and OSHA to limit exposure to and prevent the spread of Coronavirus.
To minimize the risk of becoming infected with COVID-19, all Giroux Glass offices and job sites have implemented the following procedures based on recommendations from the CDC’s Risk Assessment and Management Criteria. We are strictly enforcing the following infection prevention measures for all employees, whether they are working in the field or operationally:
Health and Hygiene
- Throughout the day, all partners must wash hands often with soap and water, for at least 20 seconds.
- If soap and running water are not immediately available, alcohol-based hand sanitizers that contain 70% isopropyl alcohol have been distributed for our workers across all offices and active job sites.
- Avoid touching the eyes, nose, mouth, or face with unwashed hands.
- Cover mouth and nose with a tissue whenever coughing or sneezing.
- Immediately dispose of used tissue in a wastebasket – then wash hands.
- If tissues are not available, cough or sneeze into the upper sleeve, not into hands.
- Do not use other workers’ phones, desks, offices, or other work tools and equipment.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Avoid handshaking – encourage the use of other noncontact methods of greeting.
- Visit the coughing and sneezing etiquette and clean hands webpage for more information.
- Above all, if you feel sick, stay home
Social Distancing: General Rules
- Maintain a 6-foot social distancing personal separation rule (per COVID-19 OSHA 3990-03 2020) at all times, whether in the general population, an office environment, or on the job site (e.g. breaks, lunches, fabrication, mobilization, deliveries, site distribution, installation, etc.)
- All workers and visitors onsite must avoid physical contact with others and direct employees/contractors/visitors to increase personal space to at least six (6) feet apart. Attendance will be collected verbally by the assigned foreman/superintendent.
- Restrict the number of people attending any meetings to ten (10) or less, as required by OSHA 3990-03 2020 on Guidance on preparing workplaces for COVID-19.
- All meetings and breaks while on the job site are to be taken outside or in an open air space, in an area large enough to allow employees to stay a minimum of six (6) feet apart. Attendance will be collected verbally and the foreman/superintendent will sign-in each attendee.
- Where work trailers are used, only necessary employees should enter. All employees should maintain social distancing while inside the trailers. Visitors should only enter the trailer if it is absolutely necessary, and must call office staff for permission prior to entering.
- All in-person meetings will be limited. To the extent possible, meetings will be conducted by telephone or video conferencing.
- Workers will be encouraged to stagger breaks and lunches to reduce the size of any group at any one time to less than ten (10) people at any one location and allow for a minimum of 6’ between employees.
- Employees shall not ride-share. While in vehicle, employees must ensure adequate ventilation is in effect. Ride-sharing in Giroux Glass-owned vehicles is not allowed at this time.
- If possible, workers should use/drive the same truck or piece of equipment every shift.
- In lieu of using a common source of drinking water, such as a cooler, workers should use individual water bottles. Prior to grabbing a water bottle from the ice chest, workers should wash/sanitize their hands.
- Any doors that can be left open during the workday should be secured open to limit cross contamination caused when opening and closing doors. Consideration shall be given to safety or finished product concerns that may not make it possible to keep doors open.
Workers Entering Occupied Building and Homes
- When workers perform construction and maintenance activities within occupied buildings and other establishments, these work locations present unique hazards with regard to COVID-19 exposures. All such workers should evaluate the specific hazards when determining best practices related to COVID-19 and coordinate activities with the occupants of the building.
- During this work, workers must sanitize the work areas upon arrival, throughout the workday, and immediately before departure.
- Workers should ask other occupants to keep a personal distance of six (6) feet at a minimum. Workers should wash or sanitize hands immediately before starting and after completing the work.
Job Site Visitors
- The number of visitors to the job site, including the trailer or office, will be limited to only those deemed necessary for the work.
- A sign will be posted at the entrance to any trailers instructing all visitors and non-essential workers to remain outside and contact Giroux Glass personnel by phone prior to entering the trailer.
- Site deliveries will be permitted but should be properly coordinated in line with the projects minimal contact and cleaning. Delivery personnel should remain in their vehicles if at all possible. All delivery drivers must be screened by the plan implementer to ensure they are not exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19.
- All visitors shall complete a COVID-19 Screening Questionnaire prior to entering the site.
Sanitizing and Disinfecting
- Giroux Glass offices and jobsites will be supplied with disinfectant and cleaning supplies for frequent disinfection and sanitation of hands and commonly used surfaces, according to COVID-19 OSHA 3990-03 2020 Guidelines.
- Cleaning products will contain a minimum of 60% alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, be a common EPA-registered household disinfectant, or consist of a diluted household bleach solution (if appropriate for the surface).
- Cleaning will be performed a minimum of twice daily to include, but not limited to: door handles/pulls, desks, keyboards, computer peripherals, coffee makers, water dispensers, chairs, gloves, glasses, equipment and tools, gang boxes, and material prior to use.
- Any trash collected from the job site must be changed frequently by someone wearing nitrile, latex, or vinyl gloves.
- Vehicles and equipment/tools should be cleaned at least once per day and before change in operator or rider.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Standard requirements apply for use of PPE:
- Hard hat
- Safety glasses
- Gloves
- Safety vest
- Boots
- Masks are task-specific
For personnel working in close proximity to another worker, when both are healthy and showing no symptoms of illness, i.e. when both are asymptomatic, the following shall be worn:
- Face shield
- Safety glasses
- Hard hat
- Face mask: as mandated by the most current state and local requirements.
- Note: The CDC is currently not recommending that healthy people wear N95 respirators to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Employees should wear N95 respirators if required by the work and if available. Giroux Glass has provided job sites with face masks, but should one not be immediately available, then a homemade face covering may be used, such as a bandana or scarf.
- These will be updated with the latest protocols for masks and PPE on the CDC website.
Note – always disinfect your PPE before bringing into your personal vehicle or into your home.
Leadership
In addition to educating and training all workers, Giroux Glass has tasked leadership with implementing these plans across all locations. These individuals will support and urge adherence to the respiratory etiquette and hand hygiene procedures recommended by the CDC for field crew, and worksite visitors, as follows:
- Provide tissues and no-touch disposal receptacles.
- Provide soap and water in the workplace. If soap and water are not readily available, use alcohol-based hand sanitizer that is at least 60% alcohol. If hands are visibly dirty, soap and water should be chosen over hand sanitizer. Ensure that adequate supplies are maintained and available.
- Place hand sanitizers in multiple locations to encourage hand hygeine.
- Place posters that encourage hand hygiene to help stop the spread at the entrance to your workplace and in other highly-visible workplace areas.
- Discourage handshaking and encourage the use of other non-contact methods of greeting.
- Direct employees to visit the coughing and sneezing etiquette and clean hands CDC web pages for more information.
For More Information
Federal, state, and local government agencies are the best sources of information on the topic of an infectious disease outbreak, such as COVID-19. Staying informed about the latest developments and recommendations is critical, since specific guidance may change based upon evolving outbreak situations.
The most current and accurate information is available at these sites:
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration website: osha.gov
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website: cdc.gov
- National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health website: cdc.gov/niosh