COVID-19 – PIPELINE CONSTRUCTION UPDATE
Due to the recent outbreak of COVID-19 globally, the Pipe Line Contractors Association of Canada (PLCAC) is proactively trying to limit the spread of infection in the workplace.
Our priority is the health, safety and welfare of our signatory contractors and their pipeline craft employees.
Although the Public Health Agency of Canada has assessed the public health risk associated with COVID-19 as low for the general population, we must all remain vigilant in order to protect public health.
Health Canada recommends the following procedures to increase proper hygiene and reduce the risk of infection or spreading infection to others:
- wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after using the washroom and when preparing food;
- use alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available;
- when coughing or sneezing:
- cough or sneeze into a tissue or the bend of your arm, not your hand
- dispose of any tissues you have used as soon as possible in a lined waste basket and wash your hands afterwards;
- avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands
SYMPTOMS: The following are common symptoms of COVID-19:
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Dry cough
RISK: You are at a greater risk for COVID-19 If:
- You have recently traveled to a COVID-19 impacted area
- You have been in close contact with a confirmed or probable case of COVID-19
- You have been in close contact with a person with acute respiratory illness who has been to a COVID-19 impacted area
If you experience the symptoms above AND/OR you have a higher risk of developing COVID-19, please contact your health care provider.
**Please note that the federal government has announced changes to the Employment Insurance program waiving the mandatory one-week waiting period, allowing those who self-isolate or quarantine to apply for support immediately.
The PLCAC will continue to monitor the outbreak and provide guidance as directed by public health agencies.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Health Canada
https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection.html
World Health Organization
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019
Here are three of the top reference materials that focus on our pipeline construction industry:
- INGAA Foundation – Interim Guidance for COVID-19 Prevention and Control
https://www.ingaa.org/Foundation/FDNreports/37787.aspx – This Guide (May 5, 2020) is “primarily intended to address construction activities in a fieldwork setting, some of the practices may also be considered for other settings such as routine pipeline operations activities.”
- Government of Alberta – COVID-19 Information – Guidance for Managers and Operators of Industrial Work Camps (April 2020)
https://www.alberta.ca/assets/documents/covid-19-work-camps-fact-sheet.pdf – This document (April 2020) is designed to “support managers and operators of industrial work camps with guidance on risk assessment and management as it relates to COVID-19. Work camp managers and operators must implement measures to provide for the protection of all individuals at the camp, including staff, clients and visitors (i.e., anyone coming on-site that does not register as an overnight client, such as social visitors, delivery persons, repair persons, etc.).”
- Government of Ontario – Construction Site Health and Safety During COVID-19 (May 8, 2020)
https://www.ontario.ca/page/construction-site-health-and-safety-during-covid-19 – This information keeps the “health and safety of workers is the top concern amid the global COVID-19 pandemic: … and provides a set of resources, tips and best practices to help employers prevent the spread of COVID-19 on construction worksites.”
Updated: May 25, 2020