COVID-19 Re-opening Safety Plan

County Department COVID-19 Re-Opening Safety Plan for the Catt. County Board of Elections at the Former School in Little Valley, NY.

Reference Note

This was started from the County Department Reopening Safety Plan form submission #24 (ID: 2895) County Center on 2020-05-29.

Department Information:

Board of Elections

Facility / Location Name:

Old Little Valley School

Address of Facility:

207 Rock City Street, Suite 100, Little Valley, New York. 14755, United States

People

Physical Distancing

  • Provide COVID-19 training as assigned by Human Resources. Yes
  • Ensure 6 ft. distance between personnel, unless safety or core function of the work activity requires a shorter distance. Any time personnel are less than 6 ft. apart from one another, personnel must wear acceptable face coverings. Yes
  • Tightly confined spaces will be occupied by only one individual at a time, unless all occupants are wearing face coverings. Yes
  • Post social distancing markers using tape or signs that denote 6 ft. of spacing in commonly used and other applicable areas on the site. Yes
  • When distancing is not feasible between work stations or spaces, personnel must wear face coverings. Yes
  • Encourage social distancing through telework and flexible scheduling when feasible. Yes

Describe how you will meet the criteria above

The Cattaraugus County Board of Elections will be following physical distancing requirements and safety protocol.
All staff are required to have a mask on when they enter the building and at any time that they are unable to remain 6 feet apart.
All bipartisan duties are continuing with added safety measures, wearing masks when working when distancing is not feasible.
Hand sanitizer and gloves are available for staff use when opening mail.
Our front counter is being wiped down three times a day per recommendation.
We have social distancing posters posted in our office and will have a sign showing 6 feet from the counter in the event that we have more than one person at the counter at a time.

Telework

Protect personnel at high risk for severe illness through telework, or minimizing contact with the public and other employees when able Yes

Limit In-Person Gatherings

Limit in-person gatherings (e.g. interviews) as much as possible and use tele- or video-conferencing whenever possible. Essential in-person gatherings (e.g. meetings) should be held in open, well-ventilated spaces with appropriate social distancing among participants Yes

Describe how you will meet the criteria above

All staff meetings/discussions will take place in our main office area, where we can remain six feet apart. Any meetings between Commissioners will take place in our back room where we can remain six feet apart, when meetings take place in an small office space both Commissioners will wear facial coverings.

Remote Work

Identify those employees that can remote work-from-home Yes

What types of positions may do remote work-from-home?

None, at this time all staff are consider essential. All BOE full time staff is required to prepare for the June Primary Elections. We will revisit alternating schedules as soon as we certify the June Elections. We anticipate that will be mid July.

Designated Areas

Establish designated areas for pick-ups, deliveries, and the public, limiting contact to the extent possible. Yes

Identify the designated areas within this location

Polling site delivery is all scheduled ahead of time. Staff will call a week ahead of time to schedule drop off dates/times, they will then call when they are on their way to ensure that the polling site is open and BOE staff can get in/drop off while limiting in person contact.

All public officials who are responsible to pick up supplies for the June Primary will be scheduled to come in the day before the election, between the hours of noon - 5 p.m. they will be told before hand that a mask is required, their temperature will be taken when entering the building and that they may only enter the office if there are no other persons at the counter. They will be asked to wait in the hall until BOE staff is able to assist them (there will be signs marking 6 feet from the counter).
Per Executive Orders from NYS Governor Cuomo, the Cattaraugus County BOE has mailed absentee ballot applications to every active and inactive 'eligible' voter for the upcoming Primary. The absentee ballot application package also includes a paid postage envelope for return. Once the application is received the BOE will process and mail the absentee ballot to the voter, included is also a paid postage envelope for return. We feel that this will limit the number of in person voters this upcoming election season.

Additional Comments

Provide a detailed summary of how you will implement and comply with the social distancing guidelines listed above for your department.

Both Commissioners will oversee and enforce our safety plan. Employees should wear face coverings when unable to maintain a six feet social distance from other employees or the public. All staff will practice personal safety measures to reduce the potential for exposure. They are asked to disinfect their hands with hand sanitizer as needed and frequent hand washing is encouraged.

Places

Physical Space Modifications

Please provide in detail any physical space modifications that are proposed to achieve social distancing requirements. These modifications can include, but not limited to rearranging offices, adding physical barriers, etc.

Agree to discuss space modifications with Public Works / Building Maintenance. Yes

Describe in detail the modifications that are proposed & possible costs associated, if known

We have been in contact with Jim, he will be visiting our office next week to discuss space modifications. We will work with Public Works/Building Maintenance to comply with guidelines. At this time we have desk that are not 6 feet apart, employees affected by this are wearing their facial coverings.

Protective Equipment

Employers must provide employees with an acceptable face covering at no-cost to the employee and have an adequate supply of coverings in case of replacement. Yes

Face coverings must be cleaned or replaced after use or when damaged or soiled, may not be shared, and should be properly stored or discarded. Yes

Limit the sharing of objects and discourage touching of shared surfaces; or, when in contact with shared objects or frequently touched areas, wear gloves (trade-appropriate or medical); or, sanitize or wash hands before and after contact. Yes

Detailed Summary Options

Detailed Summary of Personal Protective Equipment

All BOE staff has been given cloth face coverings provided by Cattaraugus County. We have a supply here in case an employee should forget to bring their mask to work or it becomes soiled. All employees understand that they are responsible to keep their face coverings washed and if they need additional they will contact their direct supervisor.
Gloves, hand sanitizer, paper towels and disinfectant are available at all times.

Hygiene and Cleaning

Adhere to hygiene and sanitation requirements from the CDC and NYS Dept. of Health. Yes

Provide and maintain hand hygiene stations for personnel, including handwashing with soap, water, and paper towels, or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing 60% or more alcohol for areas where handwashing is not feasible. Yes

Conduct regular cleaning and disinfection at least after every shift, daily, or more frequently as needed, and frequent cleaning and disinfection of shared objects (e.g. tools, machinery) and surfaces, as well as high transit areas, such as restrooms and common areas, must be completed. Yes

Detailed Summary Options

The BOE office has multiple rest rooms for hand washing. We will make sure that we have enough antibacterial soap and paper towels at all times. Hand sanitizer is at every desk including our from counter.
The front counter of the BOE office will be wiped down three times daily as well as after any visitor leaves. It is the responsibility of the employee to wipe/disinfect their desk daily. Each employee shall only use their own office equipment, if sharing occurs it will be disinfected.

Communication

Post signage throughout the site to remind personnel to adhere to proper hygiene, social distancing rules, appropriate use of PPE, and cleaning and disinfecting protocols. Yes

Establish a communication method for employees, visitors, and customers with a consistent means to provide updated information. Yes

If a worker tests positive for COVID-19, department head must immediately notify the County Health Departments and cooperate with contact tracing efforts, including notification of potential contacts, such as workers or visitors who had close contact with the individual, while maintaining confidentiality required by state and federal law and regulations. Yes

Detailed Summary Options

Signs for our office are posted. They include 6 feet distancing, reminders to please wear a mask and hand washing information. The signs are posted in sight for any BOE visitors to see before entering the office.

In the unfortunate event that a BOE employee should test positive for COVID-19 the direct supervisor of that employee will be notified by the employee. The Commissioner will then notify the County Health Department and follow all guidelines set forth.

Process

Screening

All employees shall self-monitor and check his or her temperature every 12 hours whether at work or at home. Yes

All employees shall also undergo a pre-shift temperature screening when reporting to work at the beginning of each shift. Yes

All employees shall report at the beginning of each shift to a central designated point of entry which shall be determined by the County Administrator. Yes

For employees that do not report to a physical building and instead travel from home to places in the community, each shall perform a pre-shift temperature screening before each shift. Leaving the home and reporting to your work site is the equivalent of your attestation that you are without a fever. Yes

Symptom Screening

If you have any of the following symptoms, staff shall not enter the workplace and shall contact his or her supervisor and refer the employee to contact the EOC nurse. Yes

Where is the designated point of entry for this/each location within your department?

Our entrance is the side door at the old little valley school, which is also the only open door to the facility during the hours of 9a - 5p.
Outside of normal business hours only staff may enter using their scannable badge.

How will you implement the pre-shift temperature screening and symptom screening at each location in accordance with Directive 11-2020?

We will continue to utilize the Cattaraugus County staff members assigned to our site. Every person (employee/public) is screened per County protocol.
If/when they are no longer available, we will work with the EOC to ensure we are meeting any guideless required.
All BOE staff members directly report to their Commissioner if any of the following occur: a temperature 100 degrees or over, cough, loss of taste/smell, headache, sore throat, runny nose, nausea vomiting/diarrhea, difficulty breathing. If any staff member should report an illness, they will be told not to report to the office, they will be asked to call the EOC Nurse at 938-9119 to report they have been told to stay home due to self screening. The Commissioner will follow up with the employee & EOC.