Alexandria Township Preparedness Plan

Alexandria Township Preparedness Plan

The Township is committed to providing a safe and healthy workplace and town operations for all officers, employees, and the public. To ensure a healthy workplace and operations, the Township adopts the following Preparedness Plan (the “Plan”), to prevent transmission of the COVID-19 virus in the workplace and community. All Township employees are required to abide by the policies established in this policy.

This Plan is administered by the Township Board, but all employees are responsible for supporting this effort. Township supervisors and managers have authority to enforce the policies established in this Plan. This Plan DOES NOT address safety measures appropriate of emergency services or first-responders.

This plan is intended to ensure: (1) sick workers remain at home or in isolation; (2) social distancing and limited in-person interaction; (3) hygienic practices by all persons; (4) workplace cleaning and ventilation controls; and (5) contactless delivery of materials when possible.

  1. Sick employees must stay home and isolate themselves.

Workers have been informed of and encouraged to self-monitor for signs and symptoms of COVID-19. The following policies and procedures are being implemented to assess workers’ health status prior to entering the workplace and for workers to report when they are sick or experiencing symptoms:

  • Fever- greater than 100.4
  • A new cough not associated with another health condition
  • A new shortness of breath
  • A new sore throat
  • New muscle aches that you cannot attribute to a specific activity
  • A new head ache that you cannot attribute to another health condition
  • New loss of smell or taste
  • Vomiting or diarrhea
  • New onset of nasal condition or runny nose that is not associated with allergies or other health condition
  • To the best of your knowledge, during the past 14 days, that you have not been in close contact (within 6 ft) for more than 15 mins of someone with a lab conformed case of Covid-19.

The Township has implemented leave policies that encourage sick employees to stay home while they or household members are sick, or when they are instructed by a health professional to isolate themselves. The Township’s leave policy is as follows:

  • Employee can use personal leave.

The Township will inform employees if they have been exposed to COVID-19 at the workplace, and will require the exposed persons to stay home for the required amount of time. Employees that have or are suspected of having COVID-19 should remain home until: (1) the employee feels better; and (2) it has been 10 days since the employee first felt sick, and (3) the employee had no fever for at three days without the use of medicine that reduces fevers.

The Township will strive to protect the privacy of employees’ health status’ and health information.

  1. Social Distancing of at least 6 feet must be maintained while working on Township Business.

Social distancing of at least six-feet will be implemented and maintained between employees and the public in the workplace and during all township activities through the following engineering and administrative controls:

  • Township office suite will remain locked during normal business hours.
  • The township office will be off limits to members of the public.
  • Employees will meet with members of the public in the entrance to the office suite upon request and will remain behind the plexiglass shield. Face coverings will be required.
  • Township buildings open to the public will provide to the public:
    • Permit applications
  • Township Board meetings will be conducted by teleconference if possible. When in-person township board meetings are held, the Board will make zoom remote connection available for officers, employees, and the public who cannot or choose not to attend a public meeting. The meeting room will be arranged in such a way to maintain at least 6 feet of distance between individuals, with at least the same distance maintained along all paths of movement within the building. The board may set a room capacity limit to ensure social distance may be maintained.
  • The public will be encouraged to interact with Township officers and employees by remote means, whenever possible.
  1. Employees must maintain good personal hygiene.

Basic infection prevention measures must always be implemented at our workplaces. Employees must wash their hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water frequently throughout the day, but especially at the beginning and end of their shift, prior to any mealtimes, and after using the restroom. All visitorsto the workplace must wash or sanitize their hands prior to or immediately upon entering the facility. Hand-sanitizer dispensers (that use sanitizers of greater than 60% alcohol) are at entrances and locations in the workplace so they can be used for hand hygiene in place of soap and water, as long as hands are not visibly soiled.

  • Employees are required to wear face masks or shields when leaving their office. Members of the public are required to wear a face mask while in any Township building and during any in-person communication with a township officer or employee.
  1. Workplace will be ventilated when possible.

Operation of the building in which the workplace is located, includes necessary sanitation, assessment and maintenance of building systems including water, plumbing, electrical and HVAC systems. Workplace will be cleaned and disinfected regularly by cleaning contractor.

Township offices, workplaces, and places of public use will be regularly cleaned and disinfected. Items and things handled by more than one person will be cleaned and disinfected regularly.

 

Dated:  January 13, 2021