CoWork Me COVID-19 - Workplace Safety Plan | CoWork Me - Serviced Offices | Business Networking

CoWork Me COVID-19 Workplace Safety Plan

This plan outlines the steps required for CoWork Me to maintain the health and safety of the members and CoWork Me staff.

Principles

Safety comes first: Keeping our staff and members of CoWork Me safe and well is our number one priority
Wellbeing: By looking after our own wellbeing first and foremost during this transition we will be able to keep those around us healthy and well too. This then expands to the wider community.
Align with National COVID-19 Safe Workplaces Principles and local state government guidelines.
Maintain regular and proactive communication so members are aware of what CoWork Me is doing to create a COVID safe workplace.

All CoWork Me Members

Travel	International travel restrictions remain in force, this is in line with government advice. Public transport policy issued to all members which follows government advice.
Self Isolation	Self-isolation for close contact with a confirmed case 14 days of self-isolation after International travel in line with travel guidance provided by the government.
Personal Responsibilities	Regardless of work location, each CoWork Me member is responsible for the following: Maintain 1.5m physical distancing Maintain hand hygiene Practice respiratory hygiene Stay home when sick
Cleaning	Hygiene supplies (e.g. hand sanitiser, cleaning wipes, etc.) will be issued to members CoWork Me staff will be encouraging you to wipe down desks after each use Increase to daily cleaning regimes of workplace and housekeeper duties. Professional cleaners on site bi-weekly to clean common touch surfaces areas (e.g. door handles, bathrooms, kitchens etc.). Increased request for CoWork Me staff members to contribute to cleaning regimes of the workplace, in particular to common touch surfaces areas (e.g. door handles, bathrooms, kitchens etc.).

Keeping CoWork Me Open and Safe

Workforce Screening	Temperature screening is a pre-requisite for ALL people entering CoWork Me. This includes CoWork Me members and visitors If a person coming into CoWork Me has a temperature reading of 37.5 degrees celsius or higher, they will not be permitted into the building Identify members who are considered high-risk workers and ensure they comply with all COVID-19 health advice issued by the government Workforce Screening questions displayed around office and communicated to all members Limited guests and external visitors. Any visitors must be approved by management before entering the workplace.- questions to be asked during the sign in process As of 13th July 2020, the front door of the CoWork Me building will be locked. Members are required to have their access pass with them at all times and to advise guests to buzz in via the intercom
Hygiene Practices	From Thursday 23rd July 2020, face masks are to be worn at all times in the CoWork Me building. This includes but not limited to, reception, cafe, all common areas and the kitchen. If you don’t have a face mask, we will have some available for purchase. Anyone without a mask will be refused entry into the building. Hand sanitiser throughout the workplace. Bottle of hand sanitiser or sanitation wipes on a dedicated desk that each member will have access to. Communal areas such as the kitchen, bathroom, meeting rooms and at each entrance to have hand sanitizer. Soap at all sinks. Hygiene protocol posters around the office to remind employees that they must adhere to these measures to keep everyone safe. Remind members and CoWork Me staff to cough into their elbows or a tissue and to place the tissue immediately into the rubbish bin. Enforce best practice for entering and passing doorways (e.g. using body weight to push through doors where available).
Cleaning	Avoid touching surfaces and objects touched by others where possible e.g. phones, laptops, notebooks All kitchen equipment (toasters, kettles, microwave, fridge etc) to be sanitised after every use. All dishes and cutlery are to be put through the dishwasher – no handwashing. Members may also bring in their own cutlery, crockery and glassware. Ensure supplies of paper towels are topped up Cleaning protocol posters around the office to remind members that they must adhere to these measures to keep everyone safe.
Physical Distancing	Hygiene supplies (e.g. hand sanitiser, cleaning wipes, etc.) will be issued to members CoWork Me staff will be encouraging you to wipe down desks after each use Increase to daily cleaning regimes of workplace and housekeeper duties. Professional cleaners on site bi-weekly to clean common touch surfaces areas (e.g. door handles, bathrooms, kitchens etc.). Maintain 1.5m physical distancing which will be supported by the new office layout, maintained with desks and chairs moved/removed from office space and meeting rooms as required. No more than the suggested number of members in a meeting space or communal area at once based on 1 person per 4sqm. Hot desking minimised. If required, desk and other office equipment to be cleaned at the start and end of the day. Eliminate contact with others, such as handshakes, hugs, etc. Safe distance protocol posters around the office to remind employees that they must adhere to these measures to keep everyone safe. Display posters that communicate how many members are allowed in communal areas at once e.g. bathrooms, meeting rooms. Reconsider non-essential meetings. Using video calls to replace in-person meetings where possible. No events with external speakers or large gatherings should be planned until further notice in accordance with government advice. No group lunches/catering/happy hours or other in-office group events should be planned until further notice.

Pet Policy at CoWork Me

Due to the current COVID-19 hygiene measures, CoWork Me will be implementing a “No Pet Policy” until further notice. In accordance with the RSPCA, the virus could be passed from person to person via a surface such as a dog or cat’s hair/fur, collar or lead (just as it could via the contaminated hand or clothing of a person). Because of this, we are unfortunately asking you to keep your pets at home until further notice. We understand that this may be an inconvenience, however, we are keeping all members, staff and visitors safe during this unknown time. If you have any questions, please let us know.

Actions to be taken if employee contracts COVID-19

In the event that a member of your team becomes infected with COVID-19, it’s crucial that CoWork Me follows strict protocol to stop the infection spreading to other members. To prevent incidents occurring, we need to strictly follow the above controls and make sure members are not coming into the office if feeling unwell. Below are the steps outlined for if a member is confirmed or suspected of contracting COVID-19.

After a confirmed case of COVID-19

According to SafeWork Australia, it is not a requirement to instantly close the office, however as CoWork Me is an open plan all staff and members will be required to Work From Home until further notice. This is to ensure thorough professional cleaning can take place. CoWork Me staff and members who may have been in contact with the confirmed case will be required to self isolate based on government advice.

Returning to work after recovering from COVID-19

CoWork me staff and members who have been isolated after having tested positive for COVID-19 can return to work when they have fully recovered and have met the criteria for clearance from isolation.This criteria will be determined by the public health authority or the employees treating clinician.

Even after recovering from COVID-19, people should continue to be diligent regarding hand hygiene and cough etiquette and practise social distancing.

Reducing the stigma

It is important members and CoWork Me staff support staff who are returning to work and workplace discrimination does not occur. We can take steps to reduce stigma around COVID-19 for those returning to work after a period of precautionary self-quarantine or illness. These include:

Encouraging members not to make determinations of risk based on race or country of origin
Maintaining confidentiality regarding staff members confirmed to have COVID-19
Inviting members to discuss, in private, any concerns about COVID-19 in the workplace

If you need any further information please contact CoWork Me staff via hello@coworkme.com.au. If you need any specific COVID-19 related information, please ring the coronavirus hotline.

CoWork Me COVID-19 – Workplace Safety Plan

CoWork Me COVID-19 Workplace Safety Plan

This plan outlines the steps required for CoWork Me to maintain the health and safety of the members and CoWork Me staff.

All CoWork Me Members

Keeping CoWork Me Open and Safe

A summary of our communications to our members regarding COVID-19

CoWork Me SARS-CoV-2 Update