The purpose of this action plan is to limit the potential of adverse health effects from Coronavirus (COVID-19) to our staff, customers and all those we come into contact with while ensuring continuity of service to our clients.
Responsibilities
Managing Director
Responsible for the communication and monitoring of the performance of this action plan.
Managers
Responsible for ensuring the communication, implementation and monitoring of the performance of this action plan including daily check-ins on the team’s well-being and proactively contacting any staff who do not arrive for work.
All Staff
Required to make themselves aware of this action plan and take steps to minimise the risk of exposure to themselves and others to COVID-19 as outlined in this action plan.
COVID-19 Overview
How does the virus spread?
The virus is spread from person to person by respiratory secretions in three ways:
Through spread of droplets from one person to another (coughing, sneezing);
By touching objects that are contaminated by respiratory secretions and then touching the mouth, eyes or nose; and
Through the spread of particles in the air in crowded populations in enclosed spaces.
Symptoms
Often symptoms are like those of a seasonal flu virus; commonly two or more of – high temperature (or fever), muscle aches and pains, tiredness, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat and stuffy or runny nose. The severity of symptoms experienced may be influenced by age, individual health and pre-existing illnesses. In some cases, there may be respiratory complications or vital organ failure leading to death.
How long do symptoms take to develop and how long do they last?
The COVID-19 incubation period, which is the time between when a person is exposed to the virus and when their symptoms first appear, ranges from 1 to 14 days. Most people develop symptoms 5 to 6 days after being in contact with a person with COVID-19.
Australia’s national COVID-19 public health guidelines use a 14-day incubation period to inform many public health measures, such as quarantine and isolation.
How is COVID-19 treated?
There is no specific cure for COVID-19. However, several medicines have been developed that are proving to be effective treatments for people with the illness.
Confirmed cases will be isolated to help avoid spreading the disease to others.
Early diagnosis and general supportive care are important. Most of the time, symptoms will go away on their own. People who have a serious infection, with complications such as pneumonia, can be cared for in hospital.
Reducing risk of infection
There are several measures that an individual can take to protect themselves and others from all respiratory diseases, including COVID-19. These include:
Hand washing (for a minimum of 20 seconds), especially after sneezing or coughing – soap and water or alcohol-based rub.
If unwell with cough and cold like symptoms, stay at home until recovered, most of the time symptoms will resolve on their own. Please advise your line manager that you are unwell. Minimise contact with other team members/members of the public.
If you have a two or more of – high temperature (or fever), muscle aches and pains, tiredness, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat and stuffy or runny nose please contact your doctor for advice on treatment and whether COVID-19 testing is required. Minimise contact with other team members/members of the public. Please advise your line manager that you are unwell.
When attending a medical practice, call the practice in advance to advise them of your symptoms and alert the receptionist on arrival so you can be treated away from others.
If dialing for emergency response, advise the operator you have symptoms or are infected.
Continue to practice general hygiene measures such as regular hand washing/using hand sanitiser.
Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth.
Cough hygiene (cough into your bent elbow and cover your mouth with tissues when coughing or sneezing, disposing of the tissues afterwards and washing hands after disposing of the tissues).
When unwell, avoid public places and contact with children or those with underlying illnesses, or stay home.
Adhere to and practice social distancing as much as possible. Maintain at least 1.5 metre distance between yourself and others.
Stay up to date with relevant and reliable information.
Avoid handshaking when greeting others. This will protect you, your colleagues and customers.
While there are clinical trials happening around the globe for vaccines in development, there are no known or licensed vaccines available for COVID-19. In contrast, there are numerous antivirals and vaccines available for influenza. While influenza vaccines are not effective against COVID-19, it is still highly recommended to get seasonal vaccinations to prevent influenza infection.
Workplace Hygiene
Cleaning regimes for all offices, food consumption and common areas are to be reviewed with regards to frequency and nature of cleaning practices. Food preparation and consumption areas such as tables, bench-tops, appliances etc. are to be regularly wiped down with the use of food-safe antibacterial cleaning products.
Moreover, beginning 11th March 2020, team members who are working at the office will also be required to daily wipe down and/or disinfect their workstations, frequently touched items, hard surfaces such as desks, armrests, keyboards, mouse, phones, mobile devices, monitors, tablets, chairs etc.
AMS have made available alcohol-based hand santisers and anti-bacterial wipes all around the office and and workshop. All team members are to make full use of these before beginning work for the day and right before exiting the office at the end of the day. Site staff have been provided with protective masks, gloves, safety glasses, disposable coveralls and hand sanitisers for use while on site.
Business Continuity
To ensure we minimise the impact of COVID-19, the following information has been provided and measures are in place to ensure we can continue to provide high level service to our clients.
Personal health and well-being
For the health and well-being of yourself and others, we request that any employees displaying cold or flu-like symptoms to:
Seek medical advice as soon as reasonably practical;
Contact your line manager to advise of the situation and for further guidance;
Stay at home until you are medically cleared to return to work; and
To stay informed - follow the advice from the Australian Government Department of Health website on https://www.health.gov.au/news/health-alerts/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov-health-alert#learn-moreabout-coronavirus-covid19.
Clients
Please adhere to the following directives from management:
Employees should liaise with clients to postpone face-to-face meetings wherever possible and instead utilise technology such as telephone conferencing, Microsoft Teams or Zoom. These technologies are designed to enable virtual and remote meetings.
Be agile in responding to client's requests and needs during this time of uncertainty including, where necessary, the rescheduling of works.
Keep clients informed of any required project schedule changes due to COVID-19 impacts such as illnesses of team members or availability of equipment, PPE or materials.
Subcontractors
As the flu season approaches, and while the current Australian Government Health Alert Status is “Active”, subcontractors and visitors to offices and project sites that appear unwell or are displaying cold or flu-like symptoms will be asked to consider the health of others by self-isolating themselves from public and work environments.
Due to the increased concerns over the outbreak of COVID-19, we request that you to consult with your workforce, both direct employees and those of subcontractors in relation to information and precautions to minimise the spread of the virus.
Managing Issues
If you have been in contact, or plan to be in direct contact, with international travelers (including family, friends, acquaintances etc.) that are under self-imposed quarantine, or who have displayed any cold or flu-like symptoms, please contact your manager so an employee health management plan can be considered.
Government Vaccination Mandates
The WA State Government legislation requires anybody working in Category 2 industries and occupations have their first COVID-19 vaccination by December 31, 2021, their second vaccination by January 31, 2022 and a third booster vaccination within the prescribed time since the second dose.
There are additional mandates for Category 1 and 3 industries as per the Government information sheets.
As a result of the Government mandate, AMS Technology Group Pty Ltd trading as AMS Installation & Maintenance Solutions requires that all subcontractors / suppliers and their employees engaged by AMS comply with the requirement to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and instruct that you do not attend sites on behalf of AMS unless you meet the COVID-19 compliance requirements.
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