Job BoardUPDATED: Occupational Health & Safety Advice for Preventing the Spread of COVID-19 in Aggregate Pits
Thursday, April 30, 2020
The Alberta Sand & Gravel
Association has prepared this list of recommendations to reduce the risk of the
spread of COVID-19 at aggregate pits. If a conflict between this document and
the advice or policy of the Chief Medical Officer for the Government of Alberta
presents itself, please defer to the Chief Medical Officer.
This list was originally prepared by the OSSGA and NSSGA, with edits by ASGA’s Occupational Health & Safety Committee.
- Alberta has expanded testing to all Albertans, whether they have COVID-19 symptoms or not. Employers and employees are strongly encouraged to book a test appointment if there is any reason to believe there has been exposure to COVID-19, or even as a precaution. Testing can be booked on the Alberta Government website.
- Social distancing is paramount. Workers must make a concerted effort to maintain a two metre distance at all times.
- Encourage
workers to stay home if in a at risk/illness category.
- Wash your
hands primarily with soap and water, or alternately with hand sanitizer,
according to the WHO guidelines.
- A hazard/risk assessment need to be performed when the
possibility of employees exists of employees coming within two metres of each
other.
- If through the hazard assessment process, a task must
be completed where 2M of Physical Distancing cannot be maintained for a
prolonged period of time, control measures such as additional
- PPE such as
masks/respiratory protection should be worn.
- Eliminate time clock – have a single person key in
times from a distance.
- Eliminate congregation in lunchrooms; create outdoor
areas for breaks.
- Ask shared services (i.e. technical services) that if
you don’t need to be there, don’t show up to site.
- Signs on site to prohibit access to any non-essential
visitors.
- Skeleton crews whenever possible and keep the crew
composition consistent. Stagger shift changes to avoid congestion.
- Develop procedures for employees interacting with
drivers to avoid contact.
- Using self-service loading; if paper tickets, use
gloves when handling.
- Split plant staff to reduce risk.
- No unauthorized visitors – in scale house or anywhere
else on property.
- Stop all internal travel – no site visits, suspend
inspections by regulators where feasible.
- Develop procedures for verbal
confirmations vs signing whenever possible. Some companies are using a dated
phone picture to show who is present.
- Isolate shifts – have each use
separate washrooms where possible or clean between shifts.
- Deep cleaning of offices – consider
3rd party specialist if an employee has been ill.
- Maintain inventory of all cleaning
supplies.
- -
- Have operators disinfect equipment
prior to shift/during/end of every shift – and properly dispose of cleaning
materials. - Each operator to operate a designated
piece of equipment as much as possible.
- Ensure an adequate supply of masks,
cleaning supplies if possible/collect inventory from all sites.
- Consider video conferencing or other
broad communication tool for all employees.
- Frequent email /texts with workforce
to alleviate concerns.
- Ensure employees are aware of
Employee Assistance Program if experiencing anxiety due to COVID.
- Carefully respect privacy of
employees who are ill.
- Consider policies for sick
leave/childcare leave/layoffs before you need them.