Create Career College COVID-19 Safety Plan

Create Career College has developed a COVID-19 Safety Plan, to help prepare all staff and students, to deal with the current COVID-19 situation.  The college has used the WorkSafeBC format as the main guide for creating the plan.

Step 1: Assessing the risks at the workplace

Create Career College understands the nature and risks associated with the virus.  The virus can be spread in various ways.  This can happen when a person coughs or sneezes, or by touching contaminated surfaces.  Person-to-person transmission can occur when more people come closer together, and when more time is spent with people.  Surface transmission can occur when many people touch the same surface, over a short period of time.

  • Various areas throughout the campus have been identified, where staff and students may gather.
  • Various tools and equipment have been identified, that staff or students may share.
  • Various surfaces or areas have been identified, that staff or students may touch.

Step 2: Implementing protocols to reduce risks

First level protection (elimination)

  • Staff will work from home where possible.  
  • Instructors will be teaching online classes remotely from home.  
  • Other staff will work from home whenever possible to minimize the amount of contact between people.  
  • Occupancy in the college will be set at levels to ensure there is plenty of space between students and staff, if all have to be on campus.  
  • Workspaces have been arranged so that all staff are working at least 2 metres apart, and will be given separate offices if available
  • For new students or customers coming to the campus, specific appointments will be made so to stagger the arrivals, in order to minimize the amount of contact.

Second level protection (engineering controls)

  • Where required, plexiglass will be installed if physical distancing between people cannot be maintained.  Only area to make note of at the moment would be the front reception area.
  • Barriers will be cleaned regularly to maintain safe and sanitary conditions as much as possible.
  • All staff must wear masks at all times on campus, if plexi-glass dividers cannot be installed.

Third level protection (administrative controls)

  • Staff and students have been instructed to maintain physical distance whenever in campus.  
  • Staff and students are aware of wash stations in and around the campus.
  • Hand sanitizer has been placed throughout the campus to encourage as much cleanliness as possible.
  • Staff and students have been instructed to bring their own dishware/cutlery, or to use disposables as much as possible, and not to share.  
  • The kitchen area will have very limited use to minimize the amount of contact areas, such as fridge and microwave use.

Fourth level protection (PPE)

  • All staff and students will be required to wear masks prior to entering the campus.
  • All visitors will be required to wear masks prior to entering the campus.  
  • Extra masks will be available on site, if needed, for anyone who does not bring one with themselves.
  • All staff and students have been instructed to wear masks that fully cover the nose and mouth areas.

Cleaning and hygiene practices

  • Cleaning of the campus area is done regularly.
  • Staff will be responsible for cleaning their own workspaces, as an extra safety measure in addition to regular cleaning done by cleaning staff.
  • Unnecessary tools and equipment have been removed to simplify the cleaning process, such as coffee makers, shared utensils and dishware.
  • Posters have been displayed throughout the campus showing the correct procedure for handwashing, covering coughs and sneezes, and mask wearing.

Step 3: Develop policies

The college has put in place policies and measures to make sure anyone showing signs of COVID-19, is prohibited from entering the workplace.

  • All staff and students will be checked upon entry to the campus, with a temperature check.
  • Anyone who has had symptoms of COVID-19 in the last 10 days will not be permitted.
  • Anyone arriving from outside of Canada must self-isolate for 14 days, and monitor for symptoms as directed by the Canada government.
  • Staff will be instructed to work at home if showing any signs of the virus.
  • Visitors will be limited, and by appointment whenever possible.
  • Any staff member or student who is found to be ill on campus, will be asked to immediately leave the campus and go straight home to isolate.
  • Any areas that ill workers come into contact with, shall be cleaned immediately.

Step 4: Communication plans

  • All staff and students have been made aware of the new procedures put in place.
  • All necessary parties have been sent electronic files, outlining the various policies.
  • Signage and posters are clearly displayed on the premises to notify all staff, students, and visitors of the correct procedures.
  • Supervisors are aware of their responsibilities, in monitoring staff and students to ensure compliance.

 

Step 5: Monitoring the workplace and updating plans

  • All staff and students will work together to ensure correct procedures are followed.
  • Risk will be monitored on a daily basis to see if plan improvements need to be made.
  • All staff are made aware of places/people to contact if further clarification or information is needed.

Step 6: Resuming operations

  • The college never ceased operations since the start of the pandemic.
  • All classes and staff were immediately instructed to move to online classes.
  • All non academic staff were moved to remote working conditions.
  • When situation proves to be feasible to allow for on-campus classes to resume, a decision will be made by the College Director, with the guidance provided by the Public Health Authority.
  • Class sizes will be controlled to allow for the appropriate amount of physical distancing, and this will be set at 50% of the capacity.
  • All staff and students are to wear masks at all times while on campus, and in the college building areas.
  • Daily temperature checks are to be conducted by the staff, and all staff and students must conduct their own daily assessment using the following link.  https://bc.thrive.health/
  • Anyone showing symptoms, will be sent home, and will not be allowed back into the campus until mandatory self-isolation is complete.  If symptoms are serious, a COVID test will be needed to determine if the student or staff has contracted the virus.  All Public Health guidelines will be followed in determining whether the test has been contracted or not.
  • Online classes via video-conference will be available for students who must remain at home due to self-isolation, so that nothing is missed from the course itself.
  • Is symptoms persist, the affected individual must contact 8-1-1, or their local healthcare provider for further guidance.
  • While on campus, all staff and students will be permitted to bring food that does not need to be reheated, as the kitchen area will have very limited use and function.  
  • Fridge will not be available for storage, and the microwave will not be available for heating purposes, to reduce the amount of shared spaces and contact areas.
  • All Staff and students will be encouraged to use sanitizer as much as possible, especially where hand washing may not be available.

Outbreak Response Management

In order to deal with any potential outbreak of the virus at the campus, the following protocols have been put in place.  

  • The outbreak response manager for Create Career College is Sophie Miao, Director & CEO.  
  • The outbreak response manager will address any outbreak event on campus.
  • The Public Health Authority will be informed immediately in the case of a potential COVID-19 exposure at the campus.
  • The Health Authority will then conduct contact tracing if it deems appropriate and will advise the college on further steps to be taken.  
  • The Director will notify any potentially exposed individuals based on the guidance of the Public Health Authority.
  • Affected individuals will be notified to take the necessary steps, including self-isolation procedures.
  • Health Canada’s guidelines are to be followed for isolation.
  • Individuals sent home or to quarantine facilities, will not be permitted back until officially cleared by local health authorities, with evidence provided by the individual.
  • All necessary contact information and records will be kept to support contact tracing.

College Contact Information

Create Career College                                                                                        

Phone: 778-379-0909

Email: [email protected]

Director & CEO: Sophie Miao 

Phone: 778-379-0909

Email: [email protected] 

Assistant Director: Vinny Pannu

Phone: 778-379-0909

Email: [email protected]