TSSA Continued Response to COVID-19 (March 19, 2020)
As TSSA continues to closely monitor the coronavirus (COVID-19) status in Ontario, TSSA team members have been instructed to take all precautions to reduce exposure to the virus and protect their health. These safety measures include:
- washing their hands often with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand sanitizer
- sneezing and coughing into their sleeve
- avoiding touching their eyes, nose or mouth
- practicing social distancing
Moreover, if any TSSA employee, or someone with whom any employee has close contact, has recently returned from travel outside of Canada, TSSA will make arrangements where possible to allow the employee to work from home and self-monitor for 14 days.
Site Visits
Before visiting any site, local TSSA inspectors will call ahead to discuss the current COVID-19 situation with the site owner or manager to determine the level of risk. Inspectors will inquire about policies and procedures in place at the site to protect its workers, residents and visitors, and ask the following questions:
- Has anyone at the site been exposed to COVID-19?
- Has anyone at the site recently shown symptoms similar to that of COVID-19?
- Has anyone at the site had close contact with anyone who has been exposed to or recently shown symptoms similar to that of COVID-19?
- Has anyone at the site travelled outside of Canada within the last 14 days or had close contact with anyone who has travelled outside the country in the past 14 days?
If the answer is “yes” to any of the above questions, the employee will not proceed with the inspection and advise his/her supervisor.
If the answer is “no” to all of the above questions, the inspector will advise the site representative that he/she will only enter the site if social distancing of at least two metres between persons can be maintained at all times.
As a part of COVID-19 precautions, TSSA staff have been advised to stay at home if they are sick, have travelled outside of Canada within 14 days, or come into contact with someone who is sick or has travelled outside of Canada within 14 days – these employees will self-isolate, as recommended by Public Health Authorities. TSSA expects the same from other organizations. Inspections will be rescheduled if an organization’s onsite personnel are symptomatic or not following the self-isolation guidelines.
Home Inspections
Out of an abundance of caution and TSSA’s commitment to protecting the health and safety of its employees and customers, effectively immediately, TSSA is temporarily suspending non-emergency in-home visits this week. We are looking for alternative ways to confirm compliance.
If a TSSA employee must enter a home for an emergency, the employee will practice social distancing.
In emergency cases, inspectors may accept pictures, videos (live or recorded) or other evidence, in lieu of physically being present during an inspection.
Non-Serviced Facilities
Effective immediately, TSSA inspectors will not enter occupied areas of the following facilities, to protect the residents of those facilities, as well as TSSA staff, from unnecessary exposure:
- Long-term care homes and seniors residences
- Hospitals
- Retirement homes
- Personal dwellings – including homes, apartments and condos
- Community housing for non-critical routine inspections
Examinations
Exams at TSSA’s head office have been cancelled and will resume on April 3, under controlled conditions. TSSA will consider requests for special exam sittings for persons who urgently require certification.
Licence and Certification Renewals
TSSA continues to renew licences and certificates; however, those unable to renew their licences or certificates as a result of COVID-19-related issues should contact TSSA.
TSSA is regularly assessing and modifying how it delivers on its safety mandate, as the COVID-19 situation evolves. TSSA will continue to provide regular updates on changes to services and operational procedures, as we take action to help reduce and contain the spread of COVID-19.