COVID-19 Safety Plan: The Hangout Climbing Centre
1. The Risk at Our Workplace
The most common areas of gathering/congestion are in and around the front desk area, upstairs in the training area/room.
The tasks that bring staff into the closest contact with others are those that involve assisting a user to securely fasten safety equipment, and when other users enter into a staff’s two-metre bubble when the staff is required to use the computer at the front desk.
The front desk area including debit terminal, counter tops, and computer keyboard are the most commonly shared tools by staff. Other users will most likely share contact of the door knobs into and out of the facility and the washroom fixtures.
2. Implemented Measures to Reduce Risk:
In order of importance:
Elimination (Social Distancing):
We have created guide markers and regulations for employees behind the desk to avoid unnecessary congestion.
We have implemented a 50% capacity limit. The approximate capacity limit reached can be found on the main page of the website (out of a max of 40 people)
We have suspended all fitness classes to comply with provincial regulations
Engineering Controls (Physical Barriers):
We have installed plexiglass cashier shields to help protect staff and customers from the transmission of airborne virus droplets or particles, while they are seated or standing at the front desk.
Administrative Controls (Rules and Guidelines):
We have reduced the number of total users (30) allowed in the facility at any one time.
We have staff monitors in place to monitor and maintain this limit.
We post updated user counts on our website to allow prospective users to make an educated decision about when the gym may be more or less crowded.
Regular cleaning protocols of all commonly touched surfaces have been implemented.
Hand washing/sanitizing stations (7) have been installed/provided at entrance/exit points and near common gathering areas and at the front desk.
A cleaning policy for high touch surfaces has been developed and implemented (see below).
PPE (Masks):
Disposable masks have been made available for staff/users who do not have their own.
3. Policies and Procedures:
Cleaning Policy:
Based on recommendations made on the BC WorkSafe website, climbing gym safety monitors clean all commonly touched surfaces with either a 2% bleach solution or a 1:64 ratio Lemon Quat commercial disinfectant solution.
Commonly touched surfaces include: Entrance/Exit door knobs, keypad on computer, debit terminal, door knobs and fixtures in washrooms (including toilet and handles), front desk counter surfaces, railings around the facility, and climbing safety equipment (harnesses, carabiners).
Health and Illness Policy:
Any worker who displays symptoms of COVID-19, or is in close contact with someone suspected of having COVID-19 symptoms, is asked to stay home.
Any user with COVID-19 or symptoms is allowed to place his/her membership on hold while he/she stays home to recover.
Spectator Policy:
One parent/Caregiver is allowed to be in the facility with a minor under the age of 12, or if medical reasons require them to be in attendance with an older climber. Caregiver/Parent must wear a mask and respect two-metre social distancing requirements
4. Communication Plans and Training:
We have posters at the entrance, on our website, social media and placed around the facility detailing:
How many total occupants are allowed in the facility while COVID-19 Restrictions are in place
Which symptoms/signs would require a user to stay home
How to social distance properly
How to correctly wash/sanitize hands
We have full staff training sessions at regular intervals (every two months) to review procedures. As well, we have multiple minor updates whenever new protocols are announced by the Province of BC.
5. Plan is Monitored and Updated Regularly
We have a COVID-19 monitor whose job it is to monitor updates to the BC Health policy surrounding COVID-19. Additionally, this person also keeps abreast of the latest development on the BC CDC website and in the hospitals of Vancouver Island to see if outbreaks in our area may be imminent and more strict policies need to be implemented.
6. Addressing Risks of Resuming Operations
Because certain programs are no longer able to be offered, staff are being retrained for other positions, and re-educated on the correct safety procedures (mentioned earlier in this document).