General biosafety protocols

1. SCOPE OF APPLICATION:

Public and private employers, apprentices, cooperative members of cooperatives or associated work pre-cooperatives, ARLs, public and private contractors and workers and contractors linked by service provision or work contract in the different economic, productive sectors and government entities that require to develop their activities during the period of the sanitary emergency are obliged to comply with the provisions, which will be set forth below.

2. RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Resolution specified the responsibilities of each of the following recipients:

Employer or contractor: They will have the support of the ARLs for the application of biosecurity protocols.

1. Adopt the norms contained in this resolution and in the biosafety protocol.

2. Replicate to their workers and contractors the measures indicated in the protocol.

3. Implement the actions that allow guaranteeing the continuity of activities and the integral protection of workers or contractors.

4. Adopt administrative control measures to reduce exposure.

5. Report suspected and confirmed cases of Covid-19 to the EPS and ARL.

6. Incorporate information related to the prevention, spread and care of Covid-19 in the official communication channels.

7. Support the ARL and EPS in terms of identification, risk assessment and technical advice.

8. Request assistance and technical advice from the ARL to verify measures and actions taken.

9. Provide employees with the personal protection equipment to be used.

10. Promote the use of the CoronApp application to record their health status.

Worker or contractor:

1. Comply with the biosafety protocols adopted and adapted by the employer or contractor.

2. Report to the employer or contractor any case of contagion that may occur in their workplace or family.

3. Adopt health care measures and report any alteration.

3. SURVEILLANCE AND COMPLIANCE:

They will oversee the municipal or district secretary, corresponding to the economic, social activity or public administration sector, according to the administrative organization of each territorial entity. In case of non-adoption and non-application of the biosafety protocol by the employer, worker, or contractor, they must inform the Territorial Directorates of the Ministry of Labor, so that they can take the corresponding actions.

As mentioned above, this Resolution, through its technical annex, establishes in detail the biosafety protocol for the prevention of Covid-19 transmission, which is described below:

4. BIOSECURITY MEASURES: 

Hand washing:

The employer and contractor shall have and ensure the following:

- Supplies to perform hand hygiene (clean water, soap and disposable towel).

- Glycerin alcohol minimum 60% maximum 95%.

- Common areas and areas for frequent hand washing.

- Hand washing at least every 3 hours.

- Those responsible for occupational health and safety systems should establish follow-up, monitoring and self-control mechanisms for this activity in all workplaces.

- Intensify information and education actions to avoid contagion.

Physical distancing:

The employer or contractor must ensure the maintenance of a space between people:

- Maintain at least 2 meters of distance from other people and between workstations. For this purpose, technical assistance may be requested from the ARL.

- Control the capacity of workers in the work area.

- The same distance should be maintained in places where food is consumed.

- Do not allow group meetings in which the distance of 2 meters cannot be guaranteed.

- Avoid the physical exchange of work documents.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE):

Those responsible for the company's Occupational Health and Safety Management System must define these elements in accordance with the work they perform within the company and industrial hygiene.

- Deliver these elements, guarantee their replacement and availability.

- Inform the recommendations for efficient use.

- The use of gloves is recommended only for handling items such as waste or cleaning activities; for other activities, continuous hand washing is recommended.

- Non-disposable PPE should be washed and disinfected before being stored in a clean and dry area.

- Install adequate containers for the destination of PPE.

- No worker should wear PPE outside of their work activities.

Masks:

- The use of cloth masks may be used, as long as they comply with the indications of the Ministry of Health.

- The manufacturer's instructions must be taken into account when putting on and using the mask.

- Their use is mandatory in public transportation and areas with massive affluence.

Cleaning and disinfection:

- Implement cleaning and disinfection processes for frequently used elements and supplies, surfaces, and frequently used equipment.

- The frequency of cleaning should be increased and two disinfection procedures should be carried out (before opening and after closing).

- Rodent and insect control should be carried out to avoid contamination.

- Prepare technical sheets and instructions on cleaning and disinfection processes. These should ideally be digital.

- Have wipes and disinfectant gel available for cleaning and disinfecting contact areas.

- The areas (floors, bathrooms, kitchens) should be washed with a common detergent and then disinfected with the above-mentioned products. The supplies used for this activity must be subject to constant cleaning and disinfection.

- If specialized companies are contracted, they must have a sanitary concept issued by the Territorial Directorate.

- The chemical inputs used for cleaning must have a safety data sheet.

Handling of supplies and products:

- Ensure that the supplier of inputs and products complies with the protocols established by the Ministry of Health.

- Establish a protocol for receiving cleaning and disinfecting products.

- Ensure quality and hygienic conditions during storage.

- Finished products: it is recommended to use tamper-resistant seals or double bags.

- Labeling of prepared dilutions.

Waste management:

- Identify waste generated in the work area.

- Inform about the correct separation of waste.

- Place sufficient containers and bags for waste separation. Masks and gloves should be separated in double black bags.

- Permanent waste collection.

- Clean and disinfect containers.

1. PREVENTION AND MANAGEMENT OF CONTAGION RISK SITUATIONS:

It is important to emphasize that for the prevention of Covid-19 contagion, it is necessary to know the organization of the company, the production process, tasks, procedures, work teams, among others. In addition, it is necessary to identify, with the help of the Occupational Health and Safety Management System, the health conditions of workers such as: health status, habits, lifestyle and risk factors.

On the other hand, companies must ensure compliance with the following activities:

Surveillance of workers' health:

- Ensure compliance with the provisions and recommendations of the health authorities.

- Establish a verification system for control at the time of positive notification, in which each worker records all persons and places visited inside and outside the operation.

- Do not allow the entry and/or accompaniment to the facilities of people showing symptoms of flu or fever.

- Daily report on the health status and temperature of personnel working at home or in remote work. This report may be made by e-mail, by telephone or through CoronAPP.

- Encourage self-care.

- Consolidate and keep updated a complete database with workers and other personnel providing services in the Company.

- Daily monitoring process of health status and temperature of personnel (at the entrance and exit of each worker's shift), using laser or digital thermometer.

- Disseminate guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health and Social Protection regarding alarm symptoms.

Remote work or telecommuting:

- Ensure continuous training on available technological tools.

- Workers over 60 years of age and workers with pre-existing morbidities identified as risk factors must perform remote work (diabetes, cardiovascular diseases - arterial hypertension - HT, stroke - CVD), HIV, cancer, use of corticosteroids or immunosuppressants, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease - COPD, poor nutrition (obesity and malnutrition).

The following profiles will be able to work remotely:

- Advisors who have connectivity at home.

- Telemarketing activities.

- Sales in general.

- Collections.

- Transversal and administrative support areas.

Face-to-face work:

The company shall train workers on aspects related to how Covid-19 is transmitted and ways to prevent it. As a minimum it should contain:

- Information on the places in the company with risk of exposure.

- Individual, household and community risk factors.

- Signs and symptoms.

- Importance of the health report.

- Protocols for action in case of symptoms.

- Leaving your clothes and accessories in a locker when entering your shift.

- Advice and support from your ARL to address mental health needs.

- Encourage healthy lifestyle habits, including active breaks.

Work organization alternatives:

- Operational schemes and flexible working hours may be implemented in order to avoid agglomerations of workers.

- Determine the maximum number of workers per shift.

- The use of alternative means of transportation can be encouraged.

Interaction at feeding times:

- Limit the number of people feeding in the same place, since it is necessary to guarantee the minimum physical distance.

- In the event that the worker must heat their food in the company, cloths and glycerin alcohol should be available to allow the control panel to be cleaned.

Premises measures:

- Provide sufficient toilet facilities for frequent hand washing and disinfection elements.

- Provide double lockers so that their ordinary clothes do not meet work clothes.

- Ensure that disinfectants are available in movement areas.

- Ensure proper air circulation and avoid the use of air conditioning or fans.

- Provide bins with lids for the disposal of biosafety items.

- Eliminate fingerprint entry control systems.

1. TRAVEL TO AND FROM THE WORKPLACE:

The company shall train its workers on how to comply with the protocols for transportation, especially when traveling on mass transportation services, in which case they shall wear masks and, as far as possible, latex gloves.

In those situations, in which the Company provides transportation, the surfaces where passengers will have contact must be clean and disinfected. In addition, it is recommended to keep a seat distance between workers and avoid making unauthorized or unnecessary stops.

2. MEASURES IN COORDINATION WITH LABOR RISK ADMINISTRATORS (ARL):

ARLs should provide technical assistance for health surveillance, guide companies on occupational risk management, and have a technical team responsible for guiding the handling of protective elements.

1. MANAGEMENT OF RISK SITUATIONS BY THE EMPLOYER:

The employer shall take the following measures:

1. Define a referral protocol for the treatment of persons with symptoms.

2. Implement a priority corporate hotline to receive immediate information on any health eventuality that occurs within the company.

3. Develop surveillance processes to detect sick workers or workers with respiratory symptoms.

4. Handling of situations of detection of any sick worker and cross-checking with the information of personnel with whom he/she has been in contact.

5. Among others.

Additionally, the employer and contractor must follow a procedure in case of presenting a person with symptoms compatible with Covid-19, which is detailed below:

1. Communicate with your immediate boss.

2. Place him/her in a previously identified isolation area and verify that he/she is wearing a mask in the appropriate manner.

3. The worker should report if he/she has traveled to areas considered as foci of infection or has been in close contact with a confirmed case of Covid-19.

4. Report the case to the EPS and to the corresponding health secretary, who will indicate the procedure to follow according to the symptoms presented.

In case the worker is at home and presents symptoms, he/she should:

1. Communicate by telephone with his immediate boss to bring the situation to his attention.

2. Both the employer and the worker must report the case to the EPS.

3. Once these procedures have been completed, the employer shall:

1. Make a list of all persons who have been in close contact with the confirmed case in the last 14 days.

2. All surfaces, workstations, among others, should be cleaned and disinfected with 70% alcohol on a frequent basis.

2. COMMUNICATIONS PLAN:

All companies must have a communications plan where the following information is disseminated:

- The measures contained in this Resolution and its respective annex.

- Provide continuous messages on self-care and active breaks for disinfection.

- Conduct periodic informative talks to workers and personnel providing services in the companies.