COVID-19 Health & Safety Policy
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Effective Date
June 2, 2021
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Purpose
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To support and promote the health and safety of all employees in our workplace during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Policy
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All Verso Corp’s employees must comply with the health and safety measures outlined below. These measures are being put in place not only for each employees’ own protection, but also for the protection of their co-workers, visitors to the workplace and our surrounding communities.
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Health Protection – General Measures
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Employees are expected to always wear masks in the workplace, except when eating or when working in a private office with the door closed. To support mask use:
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Verso Corp will provide you with disposable masks.
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Verso Corp will maintain a supply of disposal masks which can be used if you forgot to bring your mask to work on a particular day, but these occasions should be rare.
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Verso Corp will provide instruction to all employees on proper mask use.
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Cleaning and sanitizing will occur more frequently.
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Hand soap and sanitizer will be provided at every entrance to the workplace and other high-traffic areas. Please wash or sanitize your hands frequently for at least 20 seconds.
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Disinfectant swabs and wipes will be provided. Shared equipment must be wiped down after every use. Phones, keyboards, and workstations should be wiped down at least daily.
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Signs will be place at appropriate locations in the workplace to provide information on proper handwashing and mask use.
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Please take your temperature regularly (at least once per week) as a proactive measure to help identify if you may be ill but otherwise not symptomatic. If you have a temperature reading of 38 degrees C or over, you must self-identify to your supervisor and may be asked to remain at home as a precaution.
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If you feel unwell or have symptoms of COVID-19, you must self-identify to your supervisor and may be asked to remain at home as a precaution.
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If you or a person with whom you have been in close contact receives a positive COVID-19 test result, you must self-identify to your supervisor and may be asked to remain at home as a precaution.
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Physical Distancing
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The commonly cited advice of keeping 6 feet / 2 metres of physical distance is a bare minimum, best suited to outdoor environments and indoor spaces with good air circulation. Verso Corp aims to exceed these bare minimums and asks you to protect yourself and your coworkers by maintaining as much physical distance as reasonably possible. i.e., no shaking hands or hugging etc.
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Verso Corp will limit the number of people present in the workplace at any one time through measures which may include staggering hours, alternating shifts, where reasonable and appropriate to business needs, offering remote work arrangements. The specific measures to be taken for a particular employee will be determined on a case-by-case basis.
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Verso Corp will place signs and floor markings to enforce appropriate distancing. 12. Hallways and staircases will be “one way” and signs will be placed to confirm the direction of travel.
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As talking or yelling increases the potential for viral spread, face-to-face verbal conversations are to be limited to situations in which they are strictly necessary. For most verbal communications, please consider alternatives such as phones or online audio or video. If face-to-face conversations are necessary, they should occur in a well-ventilated indoor area at a distance of at least 6 feet / 2 metres.
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Lunchrooms / Eating Areas
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A maximum of 5 people will be permitted in the lunchroom as any given time to ensure appropriate physical distancing. Verso Corp will make best efforts to stagger lunch and break times so that the maximum capacity can be observed.
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In addition to lunchrooms, you may choose to eat in your personal vehicle or at an outdoor area on our premises.
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Within lunchrooms or eating areas, each employee must sit at a separate table.
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Hand sanitizers and alcohol-based disinfectants will be made available in the lunchroom. You must wash your hands or use sanitizer upon entering the lunchroom, and wipe down every surface after use (e.g., fridge handles, chair, etc.)
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Washrooms
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Only one person at a time will be allowed inside a washroom even if the washroom has multiple stalls or urinals.
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You must wash your hands after using the washroom.
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After washing hands, please use a paper towel to open the door. Wastebaskets will be provided close to the washroom doors for paper towels to be disposed.
Additional Measures – Sales
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Sales meetings should be e conducted via telephone or video call rather than in-person.
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Where in-person visits to customer sites are required, Verso Corp employees must comply with all health and safety measures put in place by the customer or potential customer for visitors to its site. As well, Verso Corp employees should observe the following safety precautions: a) Maintain physical distancing of at least 6 feet / 2 metres.
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b) Avoid handshakes or other physical greetings.
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c) Hold meetings in well-ventilated areas wherever possible.
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Visitors
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Visits from individuals external to Verso Corp should be done virtually whenever possible.
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In-person visitors (other than regular suppliers of equipment / material) should only be invited with advance approval.
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Visitors will be screened upon arrival at the site using a short questionnaire which will require them to disclose it they have travelled outside of Canada, experienced any symptoms consistent with COVID-19, or been in contact with anyone who has travelled outside of Canada or experienced COVID -19 symptoms within the 14 days prior to their visit.
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Visitors will be asked to wear masks while on site.
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Visitors will be asked to clean their hands with alcohol-based hand sanitized before entering the premises.
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Review of Measures
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As the governments recommended public health measures are adjusted, Verso Corp will review and adjust their health and safety measures accordingly.
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Verso Corp’s health and safety committee has reviewed these measures and measures will continue to be reviewed monthly for ongoing recommendations.