Coronavirus safety program

The risks associated with the work task (e.g., risk of cutting your hands) or work environment (e.g., risk of falling objects) determines the required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Through job hazards analysis and workplace risk assessments, Environmental Health & Safety established PPE requirements.

PPE prevents the spread of COVID-19 to workers who are required to complete work tasks that that necessitates being less than 2 meters from other people when no other control measures are possible. The type of PPE required is dependent on the situation.

The directives below are specific for COVID-19 and are in addition to any PPE required due to the nature of the task (e.g., hard hat, safety shoes).

Reference: CNESST website 

WORKING MORE THAN 2 METERS FROM OTHERS

NO personal protective equipment for COVID-19 is required when maintaining the minimum 2 metres of physical distancing from others (colleagues, students, etc.).

WORKING LESS THAN 2 METERS FROM OTHERS

The type of personal protective equipment (PPE) required varies depending on the situation. When possible, modify the work task to allow 2 metres of physical distance from others.

WITH A PHYSICAL BARRIER

NO personal protective equipment for COVID-19 is required.

WITHOUT a PHYSICAL BARRIER

A procedural mask (also referred to as a surgical mask) AND eye protection (safety glasses, goggles, or visor covering the face up to the chin) are required.

Eye protection must cover the sides of the eyes, either with side shields or using wrap-around safety glasses. Prescription glasses are not eye protection. See Concordia’s Policy of Personal Protective Equipment.

EXCEPTION

According to the CNESST, a worker can work less than 2 meters from others FOR A MAXIMUM of 15 MINUTES without any procedural mask, however always respecting hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette guidelines.

Example: When you cannot maintain at least 2 metres of physical distance from others when moving around in the workplace that is NOT an indoor public space (e.g., walking to the photocopier) no procedural mask or face covering is required.

RISK ASSESSMENT

For those activities requiring employees to work less than 2 meters from each other or from students, without a physical barrier, a risk assessment must be carried out to ensure that the appropriate personal protective equipment is used. Contact EHS at extension 4877 or ehs@concordia.ca.

Are Face Shields and Visors sufficient to replace face covering?

According the CNESST and to current scientific knowledge, wearing a visor (covering the face up to the chin) alone DOES NOT offer the same level of protection as the procedural mask combined with eye protection when within 2 meters of others.

Wearing only a visor is a potential last resort solution when the working conditions cause issues of misting the eye protection with the procedural mask and fogging that poses an immediate risk to worker’s safety.  As well, in situations where the effectiveness of the procedural mask is jeopardized (inclement weather, oppressive humidity, etc.) and no other solution is possible.

If you are facing this type of situation, please contact EHS at extension 4877 or ehs@concordia.ca.

Should I wear disposable or reusable gloves?

Only wear hand protection, such as disposable gloves, if normally required to complete the work task.

Wearing gloves does not offer protection against COVID-19 and is a risk since it provides the wearer with a false sense of security. Gloves can become contaminated and can contaminate the person when they touch their face OR can contaminate surfaces.

Under certain circumstances, health care professionals and emergency response are required to wear gloves to protect against COVID-19. At Concordia, wearing gloves to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 is not required.

The use of gloves when cleaning and disinfecting can protect hands from irritation caused by these products. Gloves used for cleaning and disinfecting should not be worn after the task is complete or when circulating. This is applicable yearlong and is not COVID-19 specific.

Can I use an N95 respirator?

Only use a N95 respirator if normally required to complete the work task.

Health care professionals and emergency response personnel when within 2 metres of a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19 use N95 respirators.

Do I need to wear protective clothing?

Only wear protective clothing, such as disposable gowns or lab coats, if normally required to complete the work task.

Under certain circumstances, health care professionals are required to wear protective clothing to protect against COVID-19. At Concordia, protective clothing to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 is not required.

How do I disinfect reusable PPE?

Disinfect reusable personal protective equipment, as well as the work surface where they are placed during disinfection. Disinfect with a product suitable for the equipment. Check with the user manual or manufacturer to ensure the disinfectant does not damage the PPE.

Transport and store used PPE in a bag while waiting to disinfect it. Discard the bag (or wash if reusable) once the PPE is disinfected.

Disinfected PPE must be stored in a clean bag. Reusable bags are acceptable and encouraged.

Questions? Concerns?

• Contact us at ext. 4877 or at ehs@concordia.ca is you have any questions regarding face coverings.
• Additional information is available on the Quebec government’s website on Face Coverings: 

   https://www.quebec.ca/en/health/health-issues/a-z/2019-coronavirus/wearing-a-face-covering-in-public-settings-in-the-context-of-the-covid-19-pandemic/

Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) assessed all In-Person Teaching Activities in order to ensure that these essential academic activities can take place in a safe manner in the context of COVID-19. The assessment included visits to the teaching space, calculating the capacity of the teaching space given the physical distancing directives and understanding the activities that would take place. EHS established the maximum capacity for each course and activity in each teaching space such that students will be able to maintain 2 metres of physical distancing from one another and therefore no face covering or personal protective equipment to prevent the spread of COVID-19 is required for students.

The In-Person Teaching Activities – Student Directives for students describe what is expected and permitted during In-Person Teaching Activities on campus. These preventative measures are applicable for the majority of In-Person Teaching Activities. For a limited number of courses and activities, additional safety measures are required. Departments will inform students enrolled in those courses of the additional safety measures.

• In-Person Teaching Activities – Student Directives (EHS-DOC-183)

This Procedure for Suspected or Confirmed COVID-19 Case for Students defines roles and responsibilities in the event that there is a suspected or confirmed COVID-19 worker case on university property and describes the procedure that must be immediately implemented in order to assist the individual experiencing the symptoms and to prevent the spread of the virus on campus and beyond.

This procedure meets the requirements of the Commission des normes, de l’équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail (CNESST) as indicated in the « Guide de normes sanitaires en milieu de travail pour le réseau de l’enseignement supérieur – COVID-19 ».

• Procedure for Suspected or Confirmed COVID-19 Case (EHS-DOC-173)